Platte County takes 13-game winning streak into difficult matchups with Smithville, Grain Valley

Platte County moved to the brink of a fully healthy roster and continued to reinstall key pieces while maintaining one of the best starts to a season in program history. The Pirates struck twice right before halftime with a pair of goals for senior forward Rylee Burris, while sophomore forward Macy Doll finished into an empty net midway through the second half to put the finishing touches on a 3-0 victory over Truman on Tuesday Pirate Stadium.

Two days later, Platte County blanked William Chrisman 7-0 while celebrating Senior Night and honoring nine players with significant starting experience over the past four seasons. The Pirates have won 13 straight overall with 10 coming during an unbeaten start in Suburban Conference White Division play.

Platte County’s record improved to 14-2 overall in a remarkable run since losing two of three in the season-opening Platte County Invitational.

“I think just the attitude with the girls has made this an all-around good season — on the field, in practice and every match,” Platte County coach Ashlyn Brantley said. “We’ve had some good games in there, and in conference, we’ve been doing what we need to be doing.”

The complexion of the matchup with Truman (8-9) changed when Platte County freshman forward Addison Stone entered off the bench late in the first half. She returned to the lineup after missing a recent stretch of games with an ankle injury.

Stuck in a scoreless tie, Platte County finally broke through in the 35th minute when Stone made a break down the left side and calmly squared a pass to Burris, who finished her first goal with a strong shot from 19 yards out in the middle of the field. The Pirates were mired in a slow start with few dangerous offensive chances to that point.

Addison Stone spent time in the starting lineup prior to the injury and immediately showed how her speed changes Platte County’s offense, especially with senior forward Lauren Stone still out due to a foot injury.

“Whether (Addison Stone) is moving 3 yards or 10, it’s going to be a quick tempo,” Brantley said. “She reads the game well, too, so whether she’s moving inside or taking players on on the outside, it adds a level to our game.”

The opening goal started a flurry of chances late in the first half.

Platte County nearly doubled the lead just two minutes later when Burris set up Stone for a quick break into the 18-yard box from the left side, only to send the shot wide of the near post. Moments later, Burris forced a turnover in Truman’s defensive third and quickly converted another shot from the middle of the field past Patriots senior goalkeeper Camren Pennington to put the Pirates up 2-0, a lead that held going into halftime.

“We’ve been working on finishing,” Brantley said. “As we get into these tough games down the stretch, we know our chances are going to be smaller, so we want to make sure we are capitalizing. (Burris) has been one who has been consistent throughout the season on those close shots and finding corners of the goal.”

Platte County’s defense made sure the lead would stand up and again insulated senior goalkeeper Finley Kaser from facing much pressure. Truman managed just two shots on target, and she stopped both on the way to increasing the Pirates’ shutout streak during the current winning streak to 10 straight. The Patriots best look at goal came on a free kick right before half with junior midfielder Molly Saak sending a ball in from the right with Kaser diving as the effort harmlessly fluttered wide of the far post.

The recent return of senior Madison Palmer helped clarify the preferred starters on the defensive line. She has moved to right back with senior Alivia Juarez now coming off the bench along with junior Kaylee Dixon. The Pirates have kept the central tandem of freshman Emily Fadler and senior Annabel Beeman in place with sophomore Caroline Linn on the left.

Beeman and Palmer have been four-year contributors for Platte County, while injuries last season helped push Linn into a starting spot she held most of her freshman season and all of the current campaign. Despite the rotations and Palmer’s lengthy absence due to a head injury in the season-opener, the Pirates Kaser last allowed a goal in a 4-1 win over Fort Osage back on April 3.

“I think certain games (Kaser) hasn’t been challenged, but in the tough games where they are running at us, I think we can credit our backline and mids for talking, staying organized and getting players marked up quickly, shutting players down quickly and not give them space to play,” Brantley said.

With Truman in check, Platte County slowly built pressure in the second half with the third goal coming on a miscue from Pennington, who mishandled a seemingly harmless long pass in the 60th minute. Doll, receiving additional minutes up top along with Burris, Addison Stone and senior Lily Kytasaari with Lauren Stone out, pressured well, collected the loose ball on the right side of the box and tucked a shot into the far netting with no defenders able work back and try to help.

“(Doll) was pretty far out; it was a different angle,” Brantley said. “That could’ve gone either way, and I didn’t know from where I was whether it was going in until it hit the next. It was a good shot on her part.”

Combining with the win later in the week over William Chrisamn, Platte County has outscored the last 10 opponents by a combined score of 43-0. Kytasaari has been the focal point of the offense but accounted for just one goal this week with seniors Giada Cucchiara and Brooklynne Jenni plus juniors Saige Dickens and Kiara Smith, sophomores Mila Cucchiara, Amela Dzilic and Bella Dean and freshman Katelyn Newberry making up a suddenly loaded midfield rotation likely to shorten up once the postseason hits. The Pirates finished under .500 each of the past two seasons but look to produce the best season since going 24-3 and reading the Class 3 state quarterfinals in 2021 and following that up with a 22-4 season that ended in the District 8 championship game in 2022.

Platte County lost a small senior class and then replenished the roster in multiple ways. Giada Cucchiara came back to man the defensive midfielder role after missing her junior season while rehabbing a torn ACL, while Lauren Stone rejoined the Pirates after not playing as a junior while focusing on basketball. Smith transferred, and other players used previous experience to continue strong development while Fadler and Newberry have made an immediate impact as freshmen.

“We want to make sure we’re all on the same page, whether they’ve been getting the playing time consistently or here and there,” Brantley said. “We know how we want to play — possession, possession, possession — but getting the players in we’re able to get rotations and some rest and hopefully limit some of these injuries.

“Being able to move people around, we’ve looked at other combinations we can work with if needed.”

Platte County 7, William Chrisman 0

Burris netted a hat trick as the Pirates pulled away in the second half Thursday at Pirate Stadium to complete a season sweep of the teams’ two matchups.

Up 2-0 at halftime, Burris scored two of the next three around a goal from Addison Stone to finish her hat trick and give her five goals in two games. Newberry added the first goal of her career late, while Kytasaari finished up the scoring late to give her two in the game. She also finished the opener in the ninth minute on an assist from Burris then set up Burris’ first in the 15th minute.

Giada Cucchiara finished with two assists, while Kaser didn’t have to make a save in her 12th cleansheet of the season.

Platte County returns to action Monday in a nonconference matchup with Smithville (10-3) after the two teams played a scoreless regulation in the recent championship game of the NKC Invitational. Platte County won on penalty kicks. The Pirates then close the regular season with four straight White Division games with Grain Valley (13-2) and Fort Osage (10-5) the biggest obstacles to earning at least a share of the conference title.

In the first meeting of this season, Platte County beat Grain Valley 3-2 in overtime with Kytasaari scoring the golden goal on a penalty kick. The two teams play again Tuesday with the Eagles likely needing a win to earn at least a share of the White Division championship.