Platte County closed the gap but ended up with increasing incentive to hope for a third matchup with Kearney this season. The Bulldogs scored twice in the first half and held on for a 2-1 win in Saturday morning’s North Kansas City Invitational championship game at North Kansas City District Activities Complex in Kansas City.
Kearney (13-2) won the first matchup between the two teams 4-1 in the season opening Platte County Invitational.
Platte County went into that game with a limited roster and continues to build confidence in a previously inexperienced lineup. The Pirates have shown development and look more and more like a contender in a strong Class 3 District 8 field that also includes Kearney, St. Pius X and Smithville.
Kearney opened the scoring early in both wins against Platte County, this time going up 1-0 in the third minute on a long-range strike from Josie Sparks. The lead doubled in the 20th minute on a shot in the box from Addisyn Smith.
The two-goal advantage held until Platte County junior Amela Dzilic stole the ball Kearney goalkeeper Mallyrie Schwab-Wetzel, who made eight saves and scored. The Pirates pulled within 2-1 with less than 7 minutes left in regulation but couldn’t score an equalizer.
Platte County’s record stands at 8-5 after advancing to the title game with a 9-0 shutout of Belton in the first round and a 4-1 victory over North Kansas City in the semifinals.
Forecasted weather moved up Thursday’s nonconference matchup with Belton, and the locations shifted to Platte Purchase Middle School. The game only lasted a half with Platte County sophomore forward Addison Stone tallying four goals. Five other players scored once each with freshman midfielder Mary Dellinger senior Anna Wiesehan putting up the final two in the 34th and 36th minutes to ensure the mercy rule would go into effect at halftime.
Stone accounted for four of the first five goals in the first 21 minutes, while sophomore midfielder Katelyn Newberry put Platte County up 2-0 in the 15th. The five-goal lead held until a late barrage that included goals from senior midfielder Saige Dickens, junior forward Macy Doll, Dellinger and Wiesehan came in a span of just more than 6 minutes late in the half.
Platte County sophomore midfielder Ainsley Habel finished with two assists, while Dellinger set up Stone’s opener.
On Friday, Platte County ran a season-best win streak to six after scoring four unanswered to overcome an initial 1-0 deficit in a semifinal at NKCDAC.
Dzilic leveled the score at 1-1 with a goal in the 29th minute, and the teams went into halftime tied. Stone put up goals in the 51st and 60th minutes — the first set up by senior midfielder Kiara Smith — to put Platte County ahead for good, and Dellinger added the fourth in the 64th minute on an assist from freshman midfielder Ella Miller.
Platte County junior Agum Nak started at goalkeeper and made two saves, while freshman Kylie Hill made another. Hill started and made seven saves in the loss to Kearney.
