Chandler Peterson turned in perhaps the best offensive season in state history.
The Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association made Platte County’s star senior forward a no-doubt pick for the Class 3 all-state team. However, Peterson did not earn offensive player of the year honors despite setting a state single season record with 76 goals.
Peterson made the Class 3 all-state team each of his final three seasons — starting with an honorable mention pick as a sophomore before being a back-to-back first team selection at forward as a junior and senior. He scored 177 goals in four years, a career total ranking him second in Missouri history behind the mark of 182 Aaron Froehlich of Rolla set from 2010-2013.
After scoring a Platte County school record 63 goals as a junior, Peterson opened this season at a blistering pace and passed Ian Malburg’s Platte County career record of 135 early. He broke his own single season school record late in the year and passed the Missouri state record of 72 Eric Ooton of St. Pius X set in 2005 with his four goals in a district semifinal win over Kearney.
Peterson went scoreless in his final game — a 4-0 win for Smithville over Platte County in the Class 3 District 16 title game. The Pirates went 18-7 on the season, and the senior class finished with 68 wins in four years while earning district titles in 2014 and 2016.
Always a speedy threat for Platte County, Peterson went into his junior season with just 38 goals. He developed into one of the most prodigious scorers the state has ever seen.
Peterson finished his senior season with 3.04 goals per game — smashing the previous Missouri single season record of 2.75 that Gary Alsop of St. Charles set with 50 goals in 22 games back in 1992 — with a season-high of seven in a Sept. 26 win over Winnetonka. Peterson’s 1.75 goals per game for his career ranks second behind Alsop’s mark of 2.00 (124 goals in 62 games).
The 76 goals this year tie him for sixth in the National Federation of High School Associations record book with current Sporting Kansas City striker Soony Saad, and the 177 career goals rank tied for seventh most for any American high school player.
SOCCER POSTSEASON HONORS
MISSOURI HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE
Class 3
First team
F — Chandler Peterson, sr., Platte County
MHSSCA ALL-REGION
Class 4 Region 4
D — Zach Nay, sr., Park Hill South; Jack Austin, sr., Park Hill; MF — Isaiah McGilchrist, sr., Park Hill South
Class 3 Region 4
F — Chandler Peterson, sr., Platte County
Offensive player of the year — Chandler Peterson, sr., Platte County
ALL- CLASS 4 DISTRICT 16
First team
MF — Chris Munoz, sr., Park Hill; D — Jack Austin, jr., Park Hill
Second team
MF — Jackson Turner, sr., Park Hill; D — Aaron Simpson, jr., Park Hill
Honorable mention
MF — Nick Bender, so., Park Hill; F — Matt Lachowitzer, so., Park Hill
ALL-CLASS 4 DISTRICT 15
First team
D — Zach Nay, sr., Park Hill South; MF — Isaiah McGilchrist, sr., Park Hill South
Second team
MF — Moti Sarbessa, jr., Park Hill South; D — Carson Lindsey, jr., Park Hill South; F — Isaac Henn, jr., Park Hill South
ALL-CLASS 3 DISTRICT 16
First team
F — Chandler Peterson, sr., Platte County; MF — Chase Peterson, so., Platte County; Carter Hays, so., Platte County; D — Cole Wedekind, sr., Platte County; GK — Kemper York, jr., Platte County
Second team
GK — Turner Hess, sr., Platte County; MF — Hans Thyssen, jr., Platte County; Colton Grisham, jr., Platte County; D — Conor Hunt, jr., Platte County; Andrew Pierce, jr., Platte County
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE GOLD DIVISION
Honorable mention
MF — Chris Munoz, sr., Park Hill; Jackson Turner, sr., Park Hill; Nick Bender, so., Park Hill; D — Jack Austin, jr., Park Hill; Aaron Simpson, jr., Park Hill; F — Matt Lachowitzer, so., Park Hill
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE RED DIVISION
First team
D — Zach Nay, sr., Park Hill South; MF — Isaiah McGilchrist, sr., Park Hill South
Second team
D — Carson Lindsey, jr., Park Hill South; MF — Nate Newton, sr., Park Hill South; Moti Sarbessa, jr., Park Hill South; F — Isaac Henn, jr., Park Hill South
Honorable mention
D — Kyle Werth, sr., Park Hill South; Ty Rouse, so., Park Hill South; F — Jacob Garza, so., Park Hill South; Austin Gates, jr., Park Hill South
Coach of the year — Chris Farmer, Park Hill South
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE BLUE DIVISION
First team
F — Chandler Peterson, sr., Platte County; Blake Cochran, jr., Platte County; MF — Chase Peterson, so., Platte County; D — Carter Hays, so., Platte County; Cole Wedekind, sr., Platte County; GK — Turner Hess, sr., Platte County; Kemper York, jr., Platte County
Second team
MF — Colton Grisham, jr., Platte County; Hans Thyssen, jr., Platte County; D — Andrew Pierce, jr., Platte County; Grant Allen, so., Platte County
Player of the year — Chandler Peterson, sr., Platte County
Co-goalkeepers of the year — Turner Hess, sr., Platte County; Kemper York, jr., Platte County