Jack Girdner made so many important saves, but in the decisive moment, all he could do was watch.
Platte County junior defender Sawyer Sullins takes his penalty kick during a shootout with Kearney on Monday at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County’s junior goalkeeper leaned to the left and then glanced back to watch the final penalty kick of a lengthy shootout with Kearney roll wide of the right post. Teammates then mobbed the hero of another daunting test against a potential postseason opponent.
Regulation and overtime ended in a 2-2 tie Monday at Pirate Stadium with Platte County eventually prevailing 7-6 in a dramatic nine-round shootout.
“I thought it was going in, and it went wide,” Girdner said. “My heart, I was so happy, but it was in my stomach the whole time. But it missed wide, and I was so happy. It was a great feeling.”
Platte County sophomore midfielder Elijah Smith and senior forward Camden Noller — the goal scorers in regulation — opened with makes for Platte County before the first miss, but Girdner immediately answered with a save. The Pirates other scorers in the shootout were junior forward Kayden Roy, sophomore midfielders Ayden Neely and Lucas Walton, freshman Judah Caraballo and junior defender Sawyer Sullins, who netted the winner before the final miss.
Girdner actually stopped two penalty kicks in regulation and two more in the shootout and finished with 11 total saves.
Platte County junior goalkeeper Jack Girdner stops a penalty kick during a shootout with Kearney on Monday at Pirate Stadium.
All four goals in regulation were scored in the second half with Platte County losing a 2-0 lead in a short span. The Pirates took the lead right out of halftime and doubled the advantage through Smith in the 56th minute.
Kearney answered back in the 59th and 63rd minutes.
Moments later, Girdner faced a second penalty kick with the looming possibility of a sudden deficit. Instead, he dove to his left to smother the initial attempt but still had to stop two followups to keep the score tied 2-2.
“I expected my defense to follow, but I guess they were just in awe of my amazing save,” Girdner said. “But I got those, too.”
Girdner made two more saves in the next wave of attacks, impressively sprawling to his right to beat away a well-struck shot.
Platte County’s best chance at taking the lead back came in the 70th minute when Noller sent in a cross from in tight that Smith steered over the bar on a header from close range. The Pirates then saw appeals for a penalty kick in the 72nd minute after Kearney’s goalkeeper appeared to slide in and take down Roy inside the 18-yard box.
Platte County junior forward Kayden Roy goes to take a shot against Kearney on Monday at Pirate Stadium.
From there, the game settled into mostly half chances in the remainder of regulation and both 15-minute halves of overtime.
Platte County never trailed in the shootout with Girdner answering both missed PKs with a save. Sullins made the eventual winner in the ninth round before Kearney’s lone shot off target.
“I love the pressure like that,” Girdner said. “Whenever you get to face someone, and it’s like I can crush their dreams and I can make my dreams happen, it just makes me feel so happy.”
Platte County ended the week at 4-4 overall with all four wins now having come against teams also in Class 3 District 8.
After the win over Kearney, Platte County lost in non conference play 7-0 to Blue Springs South on the road Tuesday and then beat Benton 4-1 at Pirate Stadium. The Pirates return to Class 3 District 8 this season and now have a head-to-head tiebreaker on seeding with Lincoln Prep, Smithville, Kearney and Benton.
“That target, it’s fun. It fuels the fire,” Girdner said.
