Just as the momentum appeared to build, Platte County suddenly needs a positive result to stop a four-game losing skid. The Pirates won five straight to move over .500 for the first time this season but sits at 6-9 overall after a frustrating 1-0 loss to rival Smithville on Thursday night in Smithville.
Platte County junior forward Camden Noller chests a ball down against Grain Valley on Monday at Pirate Stadium.
Both teams struggled to create offense in a matchup historically important to postseason seeding.
Instead, Smithville scored in the 11th minute and held up from there in what will be the only meeting between the two teams this season. Platte County sophomore goalkeeper Jack Girdner made six saves, but the Pirates managed just three shots on goal.
Platte County still has five games left in the regular season before facing a new challenge in Class 4 District 8, moving up from a long run of seasons in Class 3. In fact, the Pirates knocked Smithville out of last year’s postseason with a victory in a penalty kick shootout in the last meeting between the two teams.
Now scoreless in the past 200-plus minutes of game play, Platte County plays at Raytown on Tuesday and hosts William Chrisman on Thursday in a return to Suburban Conference White Division play.
Truman 1, Platte County 0
Truman applied consistent pressure and used a cutback off of a Girdner save in the 34th minute to earn a conference victory Wednesday in Independence.
Platte County senior midfielder Ian Mathews dribbles up field against Grain Valley on Monday at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County senior midfielder Abe Norman and junior forward Camden Noller each put a pair of shots on goal in the second half but couldn’t break the shutout. The Pirates lost both White Division matchups with Truman this season and didn’t score in either.
Girdner made 11 saves total, but Platte County dropped to 3-5 in conference play, having lost three straight.
Grain Valley 6, Platte County 2
The Pirates never led but did draw even twice thanks to a pair of goals from Noller, both on assists from junior midfielder Ryan Waldman, on Monday night at Pirate Stadium.
Grain Valley took the lead for good in the 59th minute, and Platte County nearly came up with a third equalizer moments later when Waldman ended up open down the left side. However, his cross just missed senior midfielder Cameron Habel streaking unmarked toward the back post.
In the 62nd minute, Girdner made an initial save on Grain Valley’s free kick shot from the right, only to see the rebound hammered home to put the Eagles up 4-2.
Platte County junior midfielder Ryan Waldman controls the ball near the sideline against Grain Valley on Monday at Pirate Stadium.
Grain Valley added two more goals in the 65th and 66th minutes to pull away. Platte County trailed 1-0 after nine minutes but came back with Noller taking in a cross from Waldman and converting a tying goal in the 24th minute. The Pirates went into halftime down 2-1, but Waldman’s through ball into space allowed Noller to hit a well-placed shot for a second equalizer in the 45th minute.
Girdner made 13 saves and kept the 2-2 for another 15 minutes.
Belton 4, Platte County 3
After going behind 2-0 after just 8 minutes, Platte County never drew level in the loss that started the current losing streak last Thursday in Belton.
Platte County senior defender Wally Baldwin turned home a corner kick from Habel in the 26th minute to help close the gap to 2-1 only to face a 3-1 deficit at halftime. Noller’s rebound goal in the 49th minute pulled Platte County back within one, and senior midfielder Ian Mathews’ free kick goal in the 77th minute did the same.
Unable to come up with an equalizer in the remainder, Platte County saw a five-game winning streak end that led to the current skid.
