Coming off a potentially weighty victory over Park Hill, Platte County remained catalyzed and built an early lead in Wednesday’s Suburban Conference White Division opener against Fort Osage at Pirate Stadium.
The lead didn’t last and a late comeback fell short in 3-2 loss that reset some of the inertia from a few days earlier. The Pirates found their scoring touch this week but ended up splitting the two games in what could have been a bigger opportunity to build much-needed momentum with a mostly inexperienced lineup.
“We’re learning, and we’re seeing growth with what we’ve been talking about within the halftimes, and the games, and at practices,” Platte County coach Ashlyn Brantley said. “So we’re seeing the growth, but it’s being consistent within that and putting full games together. We still aren’t working as a team as a whole unit in a constant manner.”
With Brantley continuing to tinker a lineup filled with players taking on much bigger roles, Platte County (1-4, 0-1) took a 1-0 lead through junior winger Ryan Waldman in the 18th minute when he tapped in a well-placed cross from junior forward Camden Noller. Fort Osage came back to score three straight in a span of less than 10 minutes stretching across either side of halftime. The Indians were level at 1-1 going into the break and led by two by the 44th minute.
Platte County sophomore Jack Girdner, a first-year starter, made six saves while playing behind a backline that includes returning starters in senior Wally Baldwin and sophomore Kai James-Gallimore but also newcomers in sophomore Sawyer Sullins and senior Westin Summers. Sullins played a limited role as a sophomore.
“They’ve all played (soccer) since they were little; it’s getting them to play as one in those new roles,” Brantley said. “Some have new roles and some are growing and taking on different roles, but some are in those same leadership positions and we need them to start leading and being vocal.”
Waldman converted a penalty kick in the 51st minute to bring Platte County within 3-2, but the Pirates could not find an equalizer against an imposing and physical defensive lineup for Fort Osage, which improved to 3-1 and 2-0 in conference play.
The frustrations were clear for Platte County, which comes off a season with a losing record and continues to seek a first playoff appearance since 2019 while facing a move up to Class 4 for the postseason this fall. The Pirates have a deep rotation of midfielders but continues to seek the right combinations senior four-year starter Cameron Habel, Waldman and Noller the most likely candidates to fill the need for scoring.
In addition, Platte County seniors Ian Mathews and Abe Norman both started all of last season, while senior Chaz Cox paired with Noller up top against Fort Osage. The Pirates also used senior Thien Nguyen and sophomore Josiah O’Rourke in the midfield, among others.
Platte County lost all three games in the round robin of last week’s Park Hill Fall Classic with just one goal total before putting up two in both a win over Park Hill on Monday and the loss to Fort Osage on Wednesday.
“We have to have a short memory on these types of games and take what we need to learn from them,” Brantley said. “But at the same time, we have to be able to move on to the next game. We want to keep long-term momentum going.”
Platte County 2, Park Hill 1
Waldman again accounted for both goals, while Girdner made an impressive career-high 19 saves in Monday’s victory at Pirate Stadium — just a week after a 2-0 loss to the Trojans in the season-opener.
This time around, Waldman converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute then put Platte County up 2-0 just seconds later off of another dead ball opportunity. Mathews found him with a free kick for the second goal, and that advantage held until less than 8 minutes remained in regulation.
“It’s nice to see Ryan getting on the end of some nice goals that he’s had the last two games,” Brantley said. “We’re creating chances. We’re getting the opportunities, and it’s good to see him finish.”
Platte County started five midfielders while sophomore Kayden Roy served as the original lone striker. The Pirates produced just five shots but were efficient in attack.
Park Hill managed to put only one of 20 recorded shots past Girdner, who has started all five games this season for Platte County following the graduation of Paul Havemeier — a two-year starter with additional experience from the 2022 season. The Pirates again went with a backline of two sophomores (Summers and Baldwin) and two sophomores (Sullins and James-Gallimore) while also using a total of 22 players.
