Platte County lost six seniors from last season’s 10-win team but still brings back a deep list of intriguingly experienced players. Exactly, how those pieces mesh remain to be seen with the Pirates continuing to chase an elusive return to the playoffs.
Out of necessity and circumstance, Platte County went deep into last year’s roster and never truly fielded a consistent lineup. That leads to this year’s roster having 13 players with defined varsity experience with the biggest hole at goalkeeper with the loss of Paul Havemeier — one of six seniors All-Suburban Conference White Division and All-Class 3 District 8 performer. He started the past two years in addition to a significant role as a sophomore.
With that position to be determined, the other challenged for veteran Platte County coach Ashlyn Brantley comes in the defensive backline protecting the new starter. The Pirates do have senior central defender Wally Baldwin back as a second-year starter, while sophomore Kai James-Gallimore and Sawyer Sullins also played valuable minutes last season.
James-Gallimore started a good portion of the season at right back, but Platte County also lost Aidan Murray as the other half of the first-choice tandem in the middle in addition to inside and outside starter Bresner Garcia and rotational left/right back Quinn Traas.
Platte County’s strength should be found in the midfield with seniors Cameron Habel, Abe Norman and Ian Mathews all back after all-conference seasons a year ago. A fourth-year starter, Habel developed into the Pirates’ most consistent scoring threat after playing deeper in the midfield during his first two seasons, and Mathews and Norman were often tasked with controlling the central portion of the field.
In addition to the three full-time starters, Platte County also used junior Ryan Waldman, senior Thien Nguyen and sophomore Josiah O’Rourke on the wings while senior Chaz Cox also returns to the roster after seeing time as a sophomore.
Up front, Platte County junior Camden Noller, who missed his freshman season due to injury, developed into a consistent and imposing target as a solo striker, but the graduation of Tug Thornton leaves a gap at the forward position, even after he missed much of last season due to injury. The Pirates do have sophomore Kayden Roy and senior Andi Sanchez back after playing limited roles a year ago, while freshman Lukas Walton could push for minutes.
Noller made the all-conference first team along with Habel last year.
This eclectic group hopes for a bounceback season and a chance to earn Platte County’s first playoff appearance since 2019. The Pirates finished 10-14 last season on the heels of winning 20, 16 and 15 games in the three seasons before that plus 11 in a COVID-shortened schedule in 2020.
Platte County’s up-and-down season in 2024 included a dramatic win in penalty kicks over Smithville in the 4-5 seed matchup of Class 3 District 8 before the Pirates lost to No. 1 East (Kansas City) in the semifinals. The eight-team bracket featured four teams with 15 or more wins, and Kearney held the No. 6 seed and finished with a 7-10 record.
