Platte County scored once on either side of halftime and salvaged the finish of the Park Hill Kickoff Classic with senior forward Gavin Nichols factoring into both goals to overcome an early deficit. The Pirates dropped the first two games in the eight-team bracket but finished seventh after the 2-1 win over Lincoln Prep on Thursday at Park Hill High School in Kansas City.
Platte County junior goalkeeper Paul Havemeier hits a clearance during a Park Hill Kickoff Classic consolation semifinal Tuesday at Park Hill District Soccer Complex in Riverside.
With the two teams deadlocked deep into the second half, Nichols set up Platte County senior Josh Nelson for the game-winner in the 64th minute. The Pirates used juniors Aidan Murray and Paul Havemeier for a half each at goalkeeper, and both made four saves.
Havemeier pitched a shutout in the second half to make the lead hold.
Platte County ended up with just six shots on goal but made them count. Nichols, who led the Pirates in scoring as a sophomore and was No. 2 behind all-stater Aaron Cordova as junior, made it two straight games with a goal after an unassisted marker in the 14th minute to tie it 1-1.
Lincoln Prep needed just 6 minutes to take the 1-0 lead but didn’t score the rest of the way.
Platte County senior midfielder AJ Schrick looks for space with the ball during a Park Hill Kickoff Classic consolation semifinal Tuesday at Park Hill District Soccer Complex in Riverside.
Platte County didn’t have a cleansheet in the season-opening tournament but also tallied at least one goal in each game. Nichols, Nelson and senior attacking midfielder AJ Schrick looked dangerous in leading a potentially diverse attack after having lost Cordova to graduation.
Havemeier started the first two games in goal behind a reformatted defensive backline.
Platte County went to a four-man defense with sophomore Jackson Goodale the only returning full-time starter now paired in the center with senior Daniel Bunge. The Pirates used junior Bresner Garcia and sophomore Ian Mathews on the outside, while senior midfielder Connor Currence sits in front at the defensive midfielder as another key cog back in an important spot.
In addition, Platte County coach Ashlyn Brantley expects more players to compete for spots with a few contributors yet to hit the required number of practices.
Platte County senior Daniel Bunge hits a clearance during a Park Hill Kickoff Classic consolation semifinal Tuesday at Park Hill District Soccer Complex in Riverside.
Platte County returned only five full-time starters from last year but a host of others with significant experience, including Bunge and Havemeier. The Pirates continued to seek out strong early tests in the Park Hill tournament and lost 4-2 to Blue Springs South and 2-1 to Raymore-Peculiar in the opening rounds — both Class 4 schools.
In the first round matchup, Blue Springs South jumped to a 1-0 lead midway through the first half on an own goal then added three in quick succession during a chaotic second half.
Platte County ended up with a pair of penalty kicks but only converted one, while Goodale netted his first career goal on a give-and-go with Nichols late in the second half. Schrick briefly tied the score at 1-1, burying a spot kick into the lower left corner past a diving goalkeeper before halftime.
Platte County sophomore defender Jackson Goodale defends during a Park Hill Kickoff Classic consolation semifinal Tuesday at Park Hill District Soccer Complex in Riverside.
Blue Springs South scored twice in the 50th minute and then again in the 53rd to build a 4-1 lead and then held on with Goodale’s goal coming right before the end of the game.
Havemeier made five saves against Raymore-Peculiar but one spilled out and led to the Panthers’ first goal in the 11th minute. Platte County leveled on Nichols’ penalty in the 33rd minute, but the Pirates went back behind in the 46th minute on a counterattack.
Despite protests from Platte County’s sideline for an offsides, Raymore-Peculiar’s second goal stood with Havemeier unable to make a stop in a one-on-one situation.
Chances were limited from that point, but Schrick threatened multiple times with shots from distance. Raymore-Peculiar’s goalkeeper tipped well-struck curling shots over the bar in the 48th and 57th minutes to keep the 2-1 lead intact. The Panthers created multiple corner kicks late but never truly threatened for a third.
Platte County’s last shot came from Nichols, who took a speculative attempt from 25 yards out with his left foot that went straight at the goalkeeper.
