Platte County lost four seniors with significant starting experience, but a pair of returners — one expected and the other a pleasant surprise — offer the potential of a strengthened and deeper lineup. The Pirates experienced critical injuries each of the past two seasons, which both ended with losses in the Class 3 District 8 semifinals.
The biggest questions likely revolves around the defensive backline in front of senior goalkeeper Finley Kaser.
However, Platte County does have seniors Madison Palmer and Annabel Beeman plus sophomore Caroline Linn with diverse experience. Palmer and Beeman have spent time as inside and outside defenders, while Linn became a full-time starter as a freshman due to injuries. The Pirates have a slew of talented returners at forward and midfielder with senior Lily Kytasaari the headliner.
Platte County finished 2024 at 9-11 but showed signs of potential, briefly pulling the record to .500 twice in the middle of the schedule before losing four of the final six to close the regular season. In districts, the sixth-seeded Pirates avenged a loss to Smithville in the opening round before suffering a third loss to Kearney in the semifinals to end the year.
In addition to three defensive starters, Platte County also brings back senior Giada Cucchiara after she missed all of last season while rehabbing a torn ACL. She started as the defensive midfielder in her sophomore season, and her absence caused a lot of shuffling a year ago. For much of the season, the Pirates tried to use Brooklynne Jenni, a first-year transfer into the program, in that role before mostly using Mila Cucchiara in that spot in the closing stretch.
Jenni, now a senior, can now move into a more natural midfield role that puts her more in Platte County’s multi-pronged attack. The Pirates graduated both Marissa Orellana and Addison Sloan, but junior Saige Dickens does return while a deep group that includes Kytasaari, senior Rylee Burris sophomore Amela Dzilic provides flexibility up front.
A four-year starter, Kytasaari often served as a facilitator in the attacking midfield but also thrived as the go-to scorer at forward.
Platte County can likely keep Kytasaari from being the main target up top with the return of senior Lauren Stone, a starter as a sophomore who opted not play last year while focusing on basketball. Burris and Dickens have both been multi-year contributors but should take on even bigger roles, while Dzilic impressed as a key substitute in and every-game contributor as a freshman.
Jenni brings not only passing and defense but a dangerous foot on free kicks that became a weapon for Platte County a year ago.
With three projected starters in place on defense, Mila and Giada Cucchiara plus junior Kaylee Dixon and sophomore Macy Doll can help fill out the defensive backline in front of Kaser, a fourth-year starter who recorded seven cleansheets a year ago. Last year, Palmer started in the middle next to Alex Beeman, a four-year starter who graduated along with second-year left back Kaelyn Bellach. Annabel Beeman also spent time at defensive midfielder early in the year before moving to right back, and Linn spent time on both wings based on availability.
Platte County was forced into a shorter rotation last year but some injury luck should deepen the options for a program that made the district finals in 2022 and the state quarterfinals in 2021.
The loss to Kearney in the district semifinals marked just the sixth time in 20 games Platte County went scoreless. The first of three losses to the Bulldogs came during an 0-4 start and the second occurred in the semifinals of the North Kansas City Invitational. The Pirates were at .500 going into that matchup and improved to 6-6 after beating Harrisonville in the tournament’s third-place game.
The Class 3 District 8 bracket ended up being loaded with Van Horn the top seed. Platte County dominated a shootout with Smithville after the two teams finished regulation and two halves of 15-minute, sudden-death overtime tied at 1-1. Pembroke Hill, the tournament host, upset Van Horn in the other semifinal and then topped Kearney to reach the playoffs.
Platte County lost 2-1 to Pembroke Hill during a regular season matchup, showing the balance in a district that could look very similar this season.
