A month can make a monumental difference in spring sports, and the Platte County girls soccer team proved just that in a 4-1 conference victory over Fort Osage on May 7 at Pirate Stadium.
It was a much different evening exactly one month prior, when Platte County fell in defeat 3-1 to the same Fort Osage team. It stood as the Pirates’ only recorded loss to Fort Osage in seven meetings all-time, re-opening a troubling wound as the team’s fourth loss from their first six games.
“We had opportunities there, but we didn’t finish them like we did tonight and that’s what we needed,” Platte County head coach Ashlyn Brantley said.
A month later, Platte County used some quality and fortune in the offensive third of the field, a much different disposition than they had at the season’s beginning. They had won nine of 11 matches since and showed an ability to steamroll opponents, outscoring them 59-6.
Saige Dickens was among the eight seniors honored before the game.
“Our style of play is starting to pick up,” Brantley said. “Our speed of play; we are moving the ball and working off the ball that much more, which is giving us more options. Those opportunities to get in behind and create in front of their goal.”
Leading the way for Platte County has been sophomore forward Addison Stone. Time and time again, Stone has provided an offensive spark that defenders have struggled to deal with.
Once again, Platte County’s breakout star showed it in the Pirates’ latest conference victory over Fort Osage. Stone scored a hat trick to guide Platte County back into the win column after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Grain Valley two nights prior.
“Our defense did a really good job of shutting them down because they knew how they were playing offensively,” Stone said. “Offensively, we just kept the ball really well. We had a lot of really good assists and good playmaking to help us win the game.”
It was Platte County’s defense that faced the first few tests of the contest against Fort Osage, but freshman goalkeeper Kylie Hill came up with a pair of saves to keep the Pirates level.
Stone’s first major impression of the contest came 30 minutes in, when she juggled the ball into the box off a throw-in, and after cutting the ball back to her right, narrowly missed with a shot just high.
With less than five minutes remaining in the first half, Stone found the breakthrough after dispossessing Fort Osage near midfield. After stripping the ball away, Stone drove towards the goal solo and skillfully danced past a pair of defenders before blasting a left-footed shot into the back of the net.
Platte County freshman Addison Linn quickly turned defense into offense to make it 2-0 midway through the second half. After stepping up to win the ball, Linn burst towards the box before dishing it to her left for Stone to score her second of the night.
The Pirates added a third just two minutes later when freshman Mary Dellinger drove down the right wing and delivered a looping cross deep into the box, where a Fort Osage defender was unable to keep it out while facing her own goal. Stone came close to completing her hat trick in the 65th minute with another skillful run before being kept out by the post.
Platte County sophomore Addison Stone takes a shot during the Pirates’ 4-1 victory against Fort Osage.
The Indians, who had several half-chances from distance that missed the frame, finally pulled one back inside the final five minutes of the contest to make it 3-1 after the Pirates were unable to clear their lines.
Stone’s hat-trick bid was eventually completed in the 78th minute, when she picked up a loose ball and drove goalwards. After a couple of skill moves, Stone rifled it by the outstretched defender’s leg and past the goalkeeper from 16 yards out.
After missing some of her freshman year through injury, while still managing to score a few goals, Stone has quickly become a centerpiece for a Platte County offense that averages over 4.0 goals per game for the first time since 2022.
“I definitely have more confidence this year,” Stone said. “I think our team just bonded really well. It really helps us work a lot better offensively.”
Stone played the majority of the contest up top before moving to the wing later in the contest to accommodate substitutions. Even out wide, she created several scoring opportunities before completing her fourth hat trick of the season.
“She’s definitely one we can depend on,” Brantley said of Stone. “She’s going to take players on and she’s got a rocket shot. I can play her up top or I can play her out wide, and she’s still able to get in behind.”
With district play opening with a match against William Chrisman on May 16, Platte County remains focused on playing with purpose, creating opportunities and getting on the end of those opportunities.