Kytasaari’s hat trick helps Platte County pull away late from Fort Osage

The confidence seems fully back and an identity reclaimed.

Platte County senior midfielder Lily Kytasaari — a four-year starter and on-field leader — bagged a hat trick in a 4-1 victory over Fort Osage on Tuesday night at Pirate Stadium. The Pirates went on to rout Ruskin the next night to push the current winning streak to five games with all of them in Suburban Conference White Division play.

A combination of high-profile returns for senior midfielders Giada Cucchiara and Lauren Stone, an influx of talented freshmen and inbound junior transfer Kiara Smith have replenished the roster and created depth of talent missing from recent seasons.

“Most of the seniors playing varsity all four years and already being really close has brought everybody up,” said Cucchiara, who missed all of her junior season while rehabbing a torn ACL. “We all really just want to play well and be positive with each other. It’s nothing negative on the field.”

Cucchiara might best represent the difference for Platte County (6-2), which seeks a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Without her a year ago, the Pirates struggled to fill the defensive midfield position in front of an experienced backline.

Still dealing with a pair of key injuries from the season-opening home tournament, Platte County benefits from Cucchiara’s prior starting experience in her natural spot but can also allow her to venture forward during certain substation patterns. She took advantage of an opportunity against Fort Osage with an unassisted goal in the 19th minute to double the Pirates’ early advantage to 2-0.

Cucchiara’s right-footed shot crossed up Fort Osage senior goalkeeper Brianna Aviles, who finished with four saves.

“I like playing defense; I like to sit back, watch, switch the field,” Cucchiara said. “Lily played a really good ball right there, and I just happened to be there to finish. I wasn’t as confident coming in this year with my shooting because it’s my planting leg that’s not the best. I’m definitely getting more confident there.”

Fort Osage (3-4) settled into a strong spell of play in the remainder of the first half, mostly through quick counterattacks.

In the 25th minute, Platte County senior goalkeeper Finley Kaser, a fourth-year starter, made a strong save in a one-on-one situation with the Indians on a quick break. She calmly forced a late decision and easily stopped the shot, a moment made more pivotal moments later.

“We have confidence in Fin and what she does,” Platte County coach Ashlyn Brantley said. “We’ve worked on lots of finishing this week, and some of those were one-v-one opportunities so she got some practice in on that. I think her experience definitely helped her out in that situation and was able to force that girl (to shoot late) and made a great save.”

Fort Osage pulled within 2-1 in the 35th minute when a bounding ball in the middle of the middle of the 18-yard box pulled Kaser off her line. With the goalkeeper caught in between, Indians junior McKenna Simons rose up and headed the ball over Kaser’s outstretched hands and into the back of the net.

With a late flurry before halftime, Platte County nearly regained a two-goal advantage with Cucchiara nearly scoring her second with a deep shot that Aviles tipped over the cross bar at the last moment. The Pirates’ ensuing corner kick resulted in Stone creating a dangerous chance but sending an attempt wide left.

Platte County remained without senior central defender Madison Palmer, yet to be dressed for a game since suffering a head injury in a season-opening loss to Park Hill South. With Palmer absent, the Pirates continued to use senior Annabel Beeman and freshman Emily Fadler in the middle of the back line with sophomore Caroline Linn and senior Alivia Juarez on the outside.

Beeman brings easily the most experience but mostly played right back the past two seasons for Platte County, while Linn started most of last year, taking on an increasingly important role due to last year’s injury issues. With two other first-year starters, Brantley also rotated in junior Kaylee Dixon and sophomore Bella Dean on the outside of the Pirates’ defense, while sophomore Mila Cucchiara and freshman Katelyn Newberry, recently back from her own head/facial injuries in a Platte County Invitational game, into defensive midfield.

Fort Osage at times took advantage with physical play, especially early in the second half to create more possession and chances while searching for an equalizer.

“We definitely talked at halftime, knowing (Fort Osage) was going to come out being aggressive,” Brantley said. “We said we had to match that intensity. We couldn’t sit back and let them push us off the ball, so we knew we were going to have to come out and be aggressive. They scored because we were all bunched up going for the ball, not tracking runs. We talked about that, as well, making sure we were staying organized in the back and through the midfield.”

Platte County survived and went up 3-1 in the 51st minute when Cucchiara slotted a pass through to Kytasaari on the left side, and she slotted her left-footed shot well to beat Aviles before pinging off the far post. Kytasaari then finished her hat trick in the 59th minute with a header off of a corner kick from junior midfielder Saige Dickens, who also assisted on her opener in the third minute.

Fort Osage rarely threatened from there.

Kytasaari continues to thrive mostly in an attacking midfield role after being forced to play forward much of the past two seasons. Using a combination of senior Rylee Burris, sophomore Macy Doll and Stone up front, Platte County continues to utilize multiple options like Dickens, returning sophomore reserve Amela Dzilic, freshman Addison Stone and Smith in the midfield, even while senior Brooklynne Jenni remains out with a head injury suffered in the same game as Palmer.

Kytasaari’s creativity and relentless play in all areas of the field provides Platte County a steady presence influencing the success of others.

“She always has a great shot; I wish she would shoot more,” Giada Cucchiara said.

Platte County hopes to see Jenni return soon and could need the additional option after Lauren Stone, a standout as a freshman and sophomore who took a year away from the team last season, suffered an apparent injury with 11 minutes left in regulation against Fort Osage. She went in hard for a loose ball and collided with a pair of Indians players and left the field in obvious discomfort. Her status for this week’s three games — two against Raytown around a home matchup with Belton — remains to be determined.

Platte County 10, Ruskin 0

Six players factored into the scoring in Wednesday’s resounding conference victory for the Pirates in Kansas City.

Burris completed a hat trick early with three of Platte County’s first four goals, while Fadler and Newberry each scored the first of their careers. Addison Stone, Dzilic and Doll also tallied goals, while taking advantage of increased time on the field with the Pirates going deep into the roster after playing three games the week before and preparing for this week’s busy slate.

Platte County’s sixth win this season came a full 11 days ahead of reaching that mark last year on April 20 in the place game of the North Kansas City Tournament. The Pirates could have as many as six more wins by the conclusion of that tournament, scheduled for Saturday, April 26.