With roster uncertainty compounding all season long, Platte County went into the final game of the regular season with a chance.
Grain Valley left Pirate Stadium on Tuesday night after enduring multiple lightning delays to earn a 4-1 victory and locking up an outright Suburban Conference White Division. The Pirates (10-11) needed a win to earn a share of the crown but continued to play without senior central defender Cosette Stephenson (concussion) and sophomore defensive midfielder Giada Cucchiara (shin) and couldn’t spring the upset.
Platte County went 6-2 in White Division play with both losses to Grain Valley, which took a 3-0 lead in the most recent matchup.
With Stephenson missing a sixth straight game since being injured April 24 in a loss to Blue Springs South, Platte County kept sophomore Madison Palmer in central defense next to junior Alex Beeman while junior Kaelyn Bellach returned from a game out to play outside defense along with sophomore Annabel Beeman. The Pirates also reinserted junior midfielder Marissa Orellana into the starting lineup after a recent back injury had limited her to reserve duty since returning last week, while junior Addison Sloan maintained a midfield spot in the top 11.
Platte County went 3-5 down the stretch as the injuries piled up, and arguably, the Pirates haven’t been at full strength yet this season.
Grain Valley proved dangerous against a still-gelling defense but didn’t score until the 31st minute. The Eagles built the lead to 2-0 and 3-0 with two more goals in the 46th and 52nd minute before Platte County senior Sloan Kassen continued her strong run of play to draw one back in the 59th minute on a solo effort. The Pirates were within 3-1 and sophomore goalkeeper Finley Kaser made an impressive 10 saves but ultimately allowed a fourth off of a cross in the 68th minute.
Two of Grain Valley’s first three goals came on set pieces — one on an indirect free kick headed home and another on a corner.
Platte County opens Class 3 District 8 play as the No. 3 seed with an opening-round match against Kansas City East (6-10) on Saturday in Smithville. The winner advances to play either second-seeded Pembroke Hill (8-13-1) or seventh-seeded Lincoln Prep (6-10) in Monday’s semifinals. Smithville (16-3) took the top seed in the eight-team bracket.
In the regular season, Smithville won both matchups with Platte County, and Pembroke Hill beat the Pirates 2-1 last week.
Platte County advanced to the district championship game each of the past two seasons and will be seeking a second playoff berth in three years. However, the Pirates might have to make the run minus Cucchiara, scheduled for an MRI for a possible stress fracture that could end her season, while coach Ashlyn Brantley hopes Stephenson can be available at some point during district play.
With three potential starters not returning to the team this season, Platte County’s injury problems have further exasperated depth issues. However the Pirates overcame an 0-5 start to briefly go back over .500 at 7-6 before the difficult closing stretch that included three losses to Class 4 opposition (Blue Springs South, Park Hill and Grain Valley) plus one to Smithville.
