Even as the missed opportunities accumulated, Ian Mathews — and likely all of his teammates — could sense the breakthrough approaching.
Platte County sophomore defender Kai James-Gallimore controls the ball in a game against William Chrisman on Wednesday at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County’s senior midfielder eventually came up with the game-winner in the second half of sudden-death overtime when he whistled a right-footed shot from the left side into the top left corner for the golden goal in the Pirates’ 2-1 win over William Chrisman on Wednesday night. His effort from just inside the 18-yard box stayed just inside the near post and left the Bears goalkeeper with no chance and helped avoid the possibility of a penalty kick shootout against a one-win team.
“I mean it felt great,” Mathews said. “We had a couple chances late there before overtime. Couldn’t put any away. Finally, pulled through. Took a lot of effort. We all just came together at the end.”
With back-to back comeback wins in Suburban Conference White Division play this week, Platte County moved back to 8-9 overall after stopping a four-game losing skid.
However, William Chrisman (1-13) held a lead for much of the matchup after a penalty kick in the 25th minute. Platte County outshot the Bears by more than a two-to-one ratio of 22 to 9. However, the Pirates didn’t level until senior midfielder Chaz Cox well-placed shot with less than 13 minutes left in regulation.
Platte County junior midfielder Ryan Waldman hits a pass against William Chrisman on Wednesday at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County appeared set to score a potential winner in the remainder, consistently applying pressure. The best moment came in the final seconds when senior midfielder Cameron Habel managed an off-balance overhead kick that William Chrisman’s goalkeeper managed to reactively punch over the bar. However, the ball caromed off the football field goal post and back into play before ending up in the back of the net. The Pirates’ celebration eventually proved premature with the referee making the correct call and awarding a corner kick that came to nothing.
With two 10-minute sudden-death overtime periods, Platte County remained the aggressor, but the missed opportunities, which included a shot Mathews’ frustratingly scuffed wide, put the possibility of penalty kicks in play.
“We felt great. We were connecting balls all over the field,” Mathews said. “We really weren’t missing any passes. We were missing goals left and right. I mean we had so many shots, but I mean that last 10 minutes felt great. We just played so well I felt like.”
Mathews’ unassisted winner came in the 92nd minute and rescued Platte County’s offense, which played without injured junior forward Camden Noller (back) in both games this week. His status remains uncertain with three games left in the regular season, causing a shuffle that often involves the Pirates’ utilizing midfielders in attack in addition to sophomore forward Kayden Roy.
Habel, Cox, senior Thien Nguyen and junior Ryan Waldman become more important in Platte County’s attack while Mathews and senior Abe Norman have more responsibility in buildup and defense for the midfield unit.
Platte County senior midfielder Chaz Cox controls the ball under pressure against William Chrisman on Wednesday at Pirate Stadium.
“All the leaders always keep everybody positive, always keep everybody’s heads up,” Mathews said.
Platte County sophomore goalkeeper Jack Girdner ended up making five total saves but didn’t have a cleansheet due to the first half penalty kick. The Pirates allowed 12 total goals during the four-game losing streak but two of those were 1-0 losses to Truman and Smithville behind solid efforts from the center back combo of senior Wally Baldwin and sophomore Kai James-Gallimore with senior Westin Summers on the right and sophomore Sawyer Sullins on the left.
The recent skid followed Platte County’s season-best five-game winning streak that put the Pirates’ over .500 for the only time so far this season. The next chances comes while hosting Ruskin (4-13) for senior night Monday and then Belton on Wednesday.
Platte County’s last three games are all in conference play with the Pirates currently at 5-6 in the White Division.
“It feels like any game we really want to win, we can,” Mathews said. “We can beat really good teams, and we have the talent to do so.”
Platte County sophomore forward Kayden Roy heads the ball against William Chrisman on Wednesday at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County 3, Raytown 2
The Pirates scored three unanswered starting late in the first half Monday in Raytown to earn the comeback victory.
Waldman accounted for the final two goals, providing the winner on a shot from distance the Raytown goalkeeper couldn’t keep out in the 66th minute. Habel assisted his equalizer 10 minutes earlier to help erase a potentially disastrous start for Platte County, which trailed 2-0 near the midway point of the first half.
Raytown opened with a penalty kick in the sixth minute and doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute.
Habel pulled Platte County within 2-1 in the 31st minute with a well-placed shot into the bottom right corner to start the comeback. The Pirates used both Girdner and freshman Cooper Miles at goalkeeper, and they recorded four saves each in the victory.
Minus Noller and Mathews, Roy started at forward, while freshman Ethan Smith opened in the midfield with Cox, Habel, Norman and Waldman.
