For the third time in four years, the Park Hill South boys soccer team can claim ownership of the Park Hill Derby after completing the two-game sweep of Park Hill on Oct. 7.
The Panthers scored a goal in each half as they defeated the Trojans 2-0 to remain perfect in conference play. South has now gone nearly 270 minutes without conceding a goal to their district rival, outscoring the Trojans 7-0 with three consecutive shutouts in that timeframe.
Park Hill South had an opportunity to take the lead three minutes into last week’s contest, but had a shot on goal blocked by a defender before another shot from inside the box was sent over. On the ensuing possession, Park Hill worked the ball quickly upfield with Gabe Anderson, who sent his shot wide past the outstretched goalkeeper.
Nathaniel Bartram drives in search of a goal against Park Hill’s Brady Corbin.
Park Hill South did find the breakthrough from a fortunate deflection off Ty Zimmerman 12 minutes into the contest for his fifth goal this season. Nick Parra delivered a ball for Zimmerman at the back post, but the ball was floating harmlessly wide until the Park Hill goalkeeper intervened, slapping the ball into Zimmerman’s chest and bouncing in.
The Panthers continued to dominate, but the second goal never came as they took a 1-0 advantage into the second half. Park Hill found another chance to level the score, but the shot was pushed wide 14 minutes into the second half.
Set pieces presented opportunities for Park Hill South to double its advantage with Zimmerman as a target. His best opportunity came midway through the second half when Zimmerman rose high to meet a corner kick service from Parra, but the shot was headed off the line by a Park Hill defender.
South finally found its second goal after preventing a counterattack in the final six minutes of the contest. With Park Hill searching for an equalizer, they pushed three attackers forward until Logan Curtis stepped in to win the ball near midfield before dishing it off to Noah Stephens, who delivered a long diagonal ball for Nazzal Odeh.
Racing down the right side, Odeh squared the ball across the six-yard box, which froze the Park Hill defender and goalkeeper. With neither Trojan making a play on the ball, Nathaniel Bartram ran in unmarked at the back post to slide the ball into an empty net for his fourth goal of the season as the Panthers secured the 2-0 victory.
Park Hill junior Kace Pohl dribbles through the midfield against Park Hill South’s Nick Parra.
Park Hill South kept its fourth shutout of the season as senior goalkeeper Everett Grower took credit for three saves.
The Panthers extended their winning streak to four games on Oct. 9, when they earned a 4-0 senior night victory against North Kansas City. Will Bowne scored six minutes into the contest before a pair of strikes from Zimmerman and one from Bartram delivered the 4-0 result as they earned their third consecutive shutout.
Park Hill returned to winning ways with a successful trip to St. Joseph, where they defeated Central 2-1 on Oct. 9. The Trojans went up 2-0 with strikes from Kace Pohl and Collin Keller before conceding in the final five minutes of the contest.
The Panthers improved to 8-3 on the season and 5-0 in conference play. The Trojans moved to 6-5-1 on the season, 3-2 in conference with both defeats coming to South.