The best scenes coming off of a disappointing loss involve the ball hitting the back of the net.
Platte County senior forward Saige Dickens scores the opening goal in Thursday’s win over Ruskin at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County’s scored on the first two shot attempts Thursday evening and dominated the early and late portions of the only half played an 11-0 shutout of overmatched Ruskin at Pirate Stadium. The Pirates dominated possession and played nearly the entire 40 minutes in the attacking third of the field, quickly erasing the disappointment from a Suburban Conference White Division loss to Fort Osage two days earlier.
The goals were spread between seven players with Platte County senior midfielder Saige Dickens and sophomore forward Addison Stone both recording hat tricks. Dickens and junior defender Caroline Linn finished with a pair of assists apiece.
“We did a lot of good moving the ball and just finishing because we worked (that) at practice a lot after that last game,” Platte County sophomore central defender Emily Fadler said. “But we’re just getting better every day so that’s pretty good.”
Platte County freshman midfielder Mary Dellinger scores a goal with a shot from a tight angle in Thursday’s win over Ruskin at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County improved to 3-4 overall and received another jolt of confidence for a youthful lineup that featured just two seniors against Ruskin — Dickens and senior central defender Aleah Dixon. The Pirates’ current starters include three sophomores (Fadler, Stone and midfielder Ainsley Habel) and four freshmen (midfielders Ella Miller, Greta Espeer and Mary Dellinger plus defender Addison Linn).
Dickens tallied the opener against Ruskin in the first minute, making a long run down the right before a clean finish. Stone followed with her first of her three barely 30 seconds later and then struck again in the fifth minute to push Platte County’s lead to 3-0. The Pirates’ went up five by the seventh minute through Miller and Dellinger.
With the result well in hand, Platte County took one of the limited opportunities to push players like Fadler, Dixon and Caroline Linn forward into the attack while also liberally using a deep bench. However, the Pirates ended up stuck at 5-0 for a lengthy stretch before taking advantage of easy opportunities in front of goal late in the half.
Macy Doll, a reserve junior forward, poked home a shot in the 31st minute, and Fadler broke into the 18-yard box and placed a shot into the side netting moments later.
Platte County junior forward Macy Doll pokes home a shot for a goal in Thursday’s win over Ruskin at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County ended up scoring six times in the final 10 minutes. Stone and Dickens accounted for three of the final four, while freshman Lilly Stark tallied her first varsity goal for the Pirates during a late cameo.
Dickens finished her hat trick off of a corner from Platte County sophomore midfielder Katelyn Newberry.
“Just seeing some of our defensive players go up and get to finish in the back of the net was really cool to see,” Fadler said.
Platte County recorded just the second shutout of the season with sophomore Harper Dudley making the start goalkeeper and junior Agum Nak playing the final 15 minutes. Neither faced a shot. The Pirates have been rotating goalkeepers so far and have yet to firm up the spot due to injuries and absences that have limited evaluations while attempting to replace Finley Kaser, a four-year starter and Class 3 all-state performer last season.
Platte County junior defender Caroline Linn sends in a cross against Ruskin on Thursday at Pirate Stadium.
With the win, Platte County improved to 3-2 in White Division play with three more conference matchups this week. The Pirates play at Raytown on Monday and then host the Blue Jays on Friday with a road game at Belton in between.
Fort Osage 3, Platte County 1
The Pirates saw a two-game win streak come to an end Tuesday in Independence.
Dickens also staked Platte County to an early 1-0 lead in this conference game, scoring on a breakaway in the third minute, but Fort Osage rallied and led 2-1 at the break with senior McKenna Simons scoring both off of assists from senior Bailor Perry. The Indians credited the final tally in the second half as an own goal.
Dudley started in goal for Platte County and made seven saves. Stone tallied five shots on goal for the Pirates who went into the game off of back-to-back conference wins over Truman and William Chrisman.
