In a developed pattern over the course of an increasingly successful season, Platte County’s offense followed the lead of Addision Stone in Thursday’s regular season finale.
Platte County sophomore forward Addison Stone takes the shot that resulted in the opening goal of an 8-0 victory over Belton on Thursday at Pirate Stadium.
The standout sophomore forward broke a scoreless tie in what quickly devolved into a dominant route of Belton at Pirate Stadium. She netted the opener in the 16th minute, and six players factored into the goals — all of which came before halftime and resulted in a mercy rule victory.
A big part of the emergence for a rebuilt and youthful roster, Stone slowly embraced the role of a go-to offensive weapon for Platte County (14-6), winners in 12 of 14 heading into Class 3 District 8 play. Teammates have continually encouraged her to develop a little selfishness, often as the key to unlocking the offense like in Thursday’s win over Belton.
“It definitely feels really good to have my teammates lift me up like that and then just motivate us whenever we’re down or whenever we really need a goal,” said Stone, who added an assist during the dominant stretch of attacking play.
Platte County improved to 3-0 this season in games against Belton — shutouts of 9-0, 8-0 and 7-0. Two of those were in Suburban Conference White Division play with Thursday’s improving Platte County’s league record to 11-3.
Platte County senior midfielder Anna Wiesehan tries to control a ball in the air against Belton on Thursday at Pirate Stadium.
Two of those losses were to conference champion Grain Valley and one to Fort Osage.
Platte County avenged the first loss to Fort Osage during the run of positive results after a slow start. The Pirates have followed up a 20-win season with another winning record despite a lineup regularly featuring five freshmen and four sophomores.
Belton held strong early in the third matchup between the conference foes this season.
Stone finally broke through in the 16th minute, set free into the open field by a through ball into space and finishing with a strong shot. Just over a minute later, she ended up with an assist, eventually collecting a free ball off of a corner kick from senior midfielder Saige Dickens.
After a few quick touches, Stone dropped off a pass to Platte County freshman Greta Espeer, who took a shot from right at the edge of the 18-yard box to double the lead to 2-0.
Stone’s second breakaway goal increased Platte County’s advantage to 3-0, and in the 26th minute, sophomore central defender Emily Fadler played a pass to open up freshman midfielder Mary Dellinger down the left side. She forced Belton goalkeeper Katie Belske way off of her line.
Platte County freshman Greta Espeer takes a shot against Belton on Thursday night at Pirate Stadium.
Dellinger waited and tucked a pass over to Platte County junior forward Macy Doll, who finished into an open net.
“A lot of times in games, after we get the first goal, we start playing a lot better as a team,” Stone said. “After we get the first goal, we just get a lot of momentum, and it really lifts us up.”
Belton trailed 4-0 after the 26th minute and then gave up four more in the remainder of the first half. Espeer netted her second after Belske parried away a shot from Platte County junior forward Amela Dzilic. The carom fell to senior midfielder Anna Wiesehan, whose mishit shot ended up along the end line.
Dickens kept the ball inbounds and provided the assist to Espeer.
Dzilic and Dellinger were then rewarded for strong play with goals, and Platte County sophomore midfielder Katelyn Newberry poked home a goal in the final minute of the first half to set up the early finish. This marked the sixth mercy rule victory of the season.
Platte County freshman defender Addison Linn heads the ball upfield against Belton on Thursday night at Pirate Stadium.
“They were fighting (to keep the game going). You could see it in them,” Stone said. “It was just really nice to get that because then we get to go home early.”
This marked Platte County’s second consecutive cleansheet with freshman goalkeeper Kylie Hill not having to make a save, credit to an improving backline with Fadler and senior Kaylee Dixon in the middle and the sister combo of junior Caroline Linn and freshman Addison Linn on the outside.
Platte County has allowed just seven goals total in the past 14 games.
Now the focus shifts to William Chrisman (10-10-1) in Saturday’s Class 3 District 8 opener at Kearney High School. Platte County won both regular season conference matchups with the Bears this season — 4-0 in early April and 6-2 a little over two weeks ago.
Platte County owns the No. 3 seed in a strong bracket and hopes to earn a third meeting with No. 2 seed Kearney (20-3) in Monday’s semifinals, also at Kearney. The Bulldogs won the first two by margins of 4-1 and 2-1.
Platte County senior defender Kaylee Dixon controls a pass against Belton on Thursday night at Pirate Stadium.
“I think Saturday we need to go in with our heads up but obviously not too confident or anything,” Stone said. “I think we just need to play as good as we can as a team and then just keep the ball, connect the ball, put away as many chances as we can to prepare if we go and see Kearney in the next game.”
St. Pius X (18-2) owns the top seed and enters as defending champion, having beat Platte County 1-0 in last year’s final.
Platte County 14, Ruskin 0
The Pirates dominated from the outset of another conference shutout Tuesday in Kansas City, scoring off the opening whistle and netting the 14th goal with 2:50 left in the first half.
Dixon ended up with a hat trick, scoring three times in a span of 3 minutes late in the first half, and Hill even came up and ended up credited with a goal that increased the lead to 9-0. Dellinger opened the scoring after 11 seconds, Stone scored the next two and Fadler, junior defender Kaylee Woods, freshman midfielder Lilly Stark, senior defender Kyla Donley and Dzilic also ended up on the scoresheet.
