Chandler Peterson’s early goal gave reason for Platte County to believe the pace of play could be changed.
Instead, Rockwood Summit continued to control possession Saturday, Sept. 10 at Pirate Stadium, keeping up the pressure and waiting for the offense to come. The Falcons leveled by halftime and pulled away for a 6-1 victory in a special afternoon matchup between teams from opposite sides of the state.
Platte County showed off its frustrations late with a pair of yellow cards, and Rockwood Summit tallied the last of four second half goals on a penalty kick.
ROSS MARTIN/Citizen photo
Platte County sophomore forward Blake Cochran chests a ball down in front of a Rockwood Summit defender Saturday, Sept. 10 in a game at Pirate Stadium.
“I was hoping we’d get a little more momentum because even before that we were chasing a little and then we got that free break,” Platte County coach Ashlyn Brantley said.
Against the run of play, Platte County unexpectedly found a lead in the 11th minute.
A long free kick from Noah Pasch bounded into the path of the speedy Peterson, who collected the loose ball and touched past onrushing goalkeeper Peter Baker. The goal came after the Pirates endured intense early pressure with senior goalkeeper Bailey Ride making three of his nine saves in addition to a header bounced off the crossbar.
Rockwood Summit leveled moments later on a third corner kick opportunity. Billy Hency sent a ball to the near post, and Corey Goede poked home past a motionless Ride for the first of his three goals.
The tie nearly lasted until halftime, mostly thanks to Ride’s play in net. He made back-to-back sprawling saves in the 24th and 25th minute to keep Rockwood Summit from taking the lead, but the Falcons broke back through prior to halftime and led 2-1 at the break.
Up 3-1 early in the second half, Rockwood Summit rattled the bar with another header in the 49th minute, granting the Pirates a brief reprieve.
Platte County showed some better spells halfway through the final 40 minutes. In the 58th minute, midfielder Mason Heys sent an unmarked diving header over the bar off of a pinpoint cross from Peterson, and four minutes later, sophomore forward Blake Cochran fired a left-footed shot straight at Baker, who made four saves.
Rockwood Summit’s final three goals came between the 67th and 73rd minute. Eric Gerstein scored the fifth, breaking loose from Hays in the box and beating Turner Hess, who had just come on in relief of Ride.
Hays then drew a yellow card for questioning the official’s no call of a perceived trip from Gerstein that freed him. A minute later, defender Zach Rolofson gave up a penalty kick, which Rockwood converted into the left netting past Hess diving to his left.
“During those frustrating moments, we’re just struggling to get through it,” Brantley said. “We’re looking to the wrong places, and we need to think about better ways we can cope, ways that we can come out of it and get through it as a team.”
Belton 3, Platte County 2
Platte County faltered in the second half while playing down a man Monday, Sept. 12 at Pirate Stadium.
Goals from Peterson and Hays gave Platte County a 2-0 lead at halftime, but Belton struck back late, scoring three times in the second half. The final two goals came back to back with about 8 minutes to play.
Platte County dropped to 4-4 overall with a loss in the Suburban Conference Blue Division opener.
Platte County 3, Liberty North 0
Peterson tallied a hat trick in a Tuesday, Sept. 6 matchup at Pirate Stadium. Rolofson tallied an assist for a second straight game from his center back spot, while Hays — the other center back — also notched an assist.
Ride and Hess combined on the shutout — the first for Platte County since a season-opening 10-0 win vs. La Monte.