The Platte County boys soccer team lost some talent, but a quartet of senior leaders remain for 2025 as they embark on a new season with an experienced midfield.
Longtime head coach Ashlyn Brantley is back for another season with the program. She expects her team to connect on and off the field, which will help produce a more efficient offense and reconstruct the team’s new-look defense.
“The biggest reasons for us being successful would be us all buying into the same purpose,” Brantley said. “We want to come together, play good soccer, and win some games. We’ll have fun doing it.”
Coming off a 10-13 season in 2024, where they faced elimination in districts against East for the second consecutive year, the Pirates are hoping to mold together a team that can win the program’s first district title since 2019. With some veterans returning, the Pirates will also introduce some new players who can become key contributors.
Platte County returns junior all-conference first team forward Camden Noller to lead the attack alongside a strong all-conference midfield trio of seniors Cameron Habel, Ian Mathews and Abe Norman. Sophomore Kayden Roy will assist in the forward line with Lukas Walton also potentially seeing minutes as a freshman.
The Pirates’ defense will look different this year with the loss of all-region goalkeeper Paul Havemeier, all-conference and all-district defender Bresner Garcia and all-district second team defender Aidan Murray. Walter Baldwin can be expected to provide senior leadership while sophomores Kai James-Gallimore and Sawyer Sullins look to provide stability to the back line.
Platte County’s season begins in the Park Hill Invitational after Labor Day before a home match on Sept. 8, when they host Park Hill to begin a five-game homestand with additional home dates slated for Sept. 10, 15, 17 and 18. After a long summer, the Pirates are ready to showcase their hard work and hope to bring a consistent level of play throughout the upcoming season.
“We are excited just to get to game play,” Brantley said. “It seems we practice, practice, practice but now we’re ready to put it all together. We’re excited to see how our new players will fit in with the team and how they will stand out through the season.”