KEARNEY, Mo. — There were no late dramatics this time around, but the result proved just as difficult to reconcile.
Platte County freshman goalkeeper Kylie Hill sprawls to her left while trying to make a save in the Class 3 District 8 championship game against St. Pius X on Wednesday at Kearney High School in Kearney.
Platte County went into Wednesday’s Class 3 District 8 championship game looking to reverse the result of the same matchup in the same round a year earlier but with an almost entirely reset roster. Instead, St. Pius X struck early and pulled away for a 5-0 victory at Kearney High School — a much different way to earn a playoff a berth. The Warriors need a goal in the closing minutes of regulation a year earlier.
A frustrating playoff drought grew longer for Platte County (16-7), which entered off of the defining performance for a lineup featuring nearly a dozen players finishing either their freshman or sophomore seasons.
“I think we thought we could stay in this one. It was definitely still possible today,” Platte County coach Ashlyn Brantley said. “It was not quick and immediate; this game took its time. We just need a better plan when things aren’t going our way.”
Just two days earlier, Platte County sophomore forward Addison Stone scored twice in a 2-1 district semifinal win over Kearney, which beat the Pirates twice during the regular season.
Platte County sophomore forward Addison Stone runs in while St. Pius X senior goalkeeper Michaela Hawkins makes a save in the Class 3 District 8 championship game Wednesday at Kearney High School in Kearney.
Platte County slowly defined a winning identity after a slow start with only four total seniors on the active roster by the end. That included four-year starting midfielder Saige Dickens and defender Kaylee Dixon, who paired with sophomore Emily Fadler in the center of defense but ceded some of the playing time to emerging freshman Lilly Stark. The other two seniors were reserve midfielder Anna Wiesehan and defender Kyla Donley.
Even with the talented youth development, Platte County — the No. 3 seed in the bracket — advanced to the district title game for the third time in the five seasons since advancing to the Class 3 state quarterfinals in the program’s most recent playoff appearance in 2021.
“That’s what I told them. This wasn’t how we wanted to send the seniors off, but they need to know they made an impact on this program and what we’re building,” Brantley said. “They’re good leaders, and with us being so young, they helped us mature throughout this season. We still have some learning and growing to do, but they were players we could lean on to help with that.”
Top-seeded St. Pius X (21-2) didn’t provide any time for acclimation to the championship atmosphere. The Warriors were in control of possession from the outset and created three early chances.
Platte County junior forward Macy Doll takes a shot in the Class 3 District 8 championship game against St. Pius X on Wednesday at Kearney High School in Kearney.
Platte County goalkeeper Kylie Hill made a pair of early saves, but in just the third minute, St. Pius X sophomore Kate Sell found herself played into space before a hitting a shot that beat the sprawling first-year freshman to her left. The Warriors remained in control from there with their experienced senior center back combo of Caroline McCoy and Frannie Hess limiting any offensive opportunities.
The best chances for Platte County to net an equalizer came in a short spell of the first half. In the 12th minute, sophomore midfielder Katelyn Newberry popped a pass over the top, but St. Pius X goalkeeper Michaela Hawkins cut out the bounding ball before Stone could catch up. Dickens then fired a harmless shot on goal in the 14th minute with Hawkins making one of her four saves.
“Hopefully in the future, we can start stronger (in big games),” Brantley said. “It’s never good to come out and let the other team have an early goal. I think we were sitting back a little bit, but I thought we reacted well.”
Platte County’s task became significantly more daunting just moments after Dickens’ shot. The Pirates were in the attacking third when a wayward throw-in toward the middle of the field became a costly giveaway.
Platte County senior defender Kaylee Dixon plays a pass under pressure in the Class 3 District 8 championship game against St. Pius X on Wednesday at Kearney High School in Kearney.
St. Pius X speedy sophomore forward Ila Abella eventually dribbled into open space on a quick counterattack and finished past Hill, who totaled 12 saves. The Warriors’ 2-0 lead held until halftime.
Platte County managed just one other notable shot when freshman midfielder Mary Dellinger connected with junior reserve forward Macy Doll in the 29th minute, but her shot under pressure ended up in the side netting and out for a goal kick.
“It’s hard to stay in the game, especially when it’s not going your way,” Brantley said. “You see a little light at the end of the tunnel, and then suddenly that’s taken away. I think the girls did a good job of staying in the game for the most part and still creating there at the end (of the first half).”
Platte County received an opportunity to regroup but then were put completely on the back foot less than four minutes after the break.
St. Pius X senior midfielder Greyson Vacanti’s speculative long-range shot in the 44th minute eventually settled over Hill’s outstretched hands and into the far back right corner of the net to increase the lead to 3-0. Abella added her second in the 51st minute, and junior Annie Broadrick capped off a scramble in the front of the net off of a Hill save in the 65th minute to close out the scoring.
Outside of the four seniors, nine of Platte County’s 17 players to see the field in the district title game were either freshmen or sophomores. Fadler and freshman Addison Linn were in the starting defensive back four alongside Dixon and junior Caroline Linn while Donley, junior Kaylee Woods and Stark also saw time in front of Hill, who earned the starting role in goalkeeper despite having no experience in the sport prior to this season. Outside of Dickens and Wiesehan off the bench, the midfield included freshmen Greta Espeer and Dellinger plus sophomores Ainsley Habel and Newberry.
Stone saw few open touches but still served as the focal point of the offense, along with junior Amela Dzilic and Doll.
Platte County’s young contributors Wednesday didn’t include freshman Ella Miller, who started most of the season but appeared only briefly in the semifinal win over Kearney and not at all against St. Pius X due to a foot injury. The Warriors advance to play St. Michael the Archangel in Saturday’s Class 3 state quarterfinal.
Still looking to earn that type of opportunity, Platte County hopes the experiences of this late-season run — 15 wins in the last 18 games — prove beneficial to that pursuit.
