With an understanding of the disparity between the two teams and coming to the finish of a busy week, Platte County intentionally utilized a deep rotation and staggered opportunities for players to have a role in the offensive attack. The Pirates ended up with an 8-0 victory over Raytown on Thursday at Pirate Stadium but almost extended the game longer than expected.
Platte County senior defender Kara Donley watches her shot during a win over Raytown on Thursday at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County sophomore forward Addison Stone converted a shot with just 11 seconds left before halftime to invoke the mercy rule, and the unconventional “buzzer beater” nixed the need to come out for the second half.
“It was just nice, I think, especially because it was last second. We were all just very hype on the bench,” Platte County senior defender Kara Donley said.
On Monday, Platte County defeated Raytown by the same score with Stone putting up four goals with the Pirates going up 6-0 after just 11 minutes. Six different players tallied a goal in the rematch just three days later with the offense coming in bunches but much more delayed.
Platte County broke a scoreless tie in the 11th minute Thursday when junior forward Macy Doll tapped in a cross from freshman defender Addison Linn — playing in the midfield at the time. The Pirates then quickly upped he lead to 5-0 in short order with goals from Stone, Donley, junior Amela Dzilic and freshman Greta Espeer.
Platte County freshman midfielder Greta Espeer goes for a shot that results in a goal against Raytown on Thursday at Pirate Stadium.
Stone took advantage of a cross from freshman midfielder Mary Dellinger, while Donley powered home a shot after a dropoff just outside the 18-yard box from freshman midfielder Ella Miller.
“So that’s my first varsity goal,” Donley said. “I don’t know. I was playing midfield so it’s not where I normally play, and I don’t know. I kind’ve saw the goal and so I tried to shoot it and hope for the best.”
Donley’s goal extended Platte County’s lead to 3-0 in the 12th minute, and Dzilic shot assisted by senior Kaylee Dixon while playing outside her typical central defenser spot came in the 15th minute. Espeer capped the surge in the 17th minute, going high with her right foot for an unconventional finish off of a bounding ball sent into the box from Miller.
However, Platte County then hit another lull until sophomore midfielder Ainsley Habel chested a ball past Raytown’s goalkeeper on another assist for Linn with 7 minutes left in the first half. A miscue led to an own goal with 4 minutes, 10 seconds left on the clock, and Stone finished late after a through ball from sophomore defender Emily Fadler opened her up for a shot attempt.
Platte County freshman defender Addison Linn prepares to send in a cross against Raytown on Thursday at Pirate Stadium.
Platte County junior Agum Nak started at goalkeeper and did not face a shot despite the starting defensive back line of Dixon, Fadler, Addison Linn and junior Caroline Linn receiving the majority of playing time in the attack. Midfielders and even forwards rotated back as part of the continued growth for a youthful roster building back after a slow start to the season.
“I think it helps us understand better what our teammates are doing on the field, too, so like when we’re playing our normal positions we understand where they should be,” Donley said.
Platte County improved to 6-4 overall and goes into this week’s North Kansas City Invitational on a four-game sinning streak. All of those have come in Suburban Conference White Division play with the Pirates now at 6-2 in league games since the season-opening Platte County Invitational.
On Thursday, Platte County faces Belton in the first round of the NKC bracket with the semifinals and consolation semifinals scheduled for Friday and place games Saturday.
Platte County 7, Belton 0
Platte County junior midfielder Amela Dzilic controls the ball against Raytown on Thursday at Pirate Stadium.
In another lopsided conference win, Platte County went the full 80 minutes Wednesday in Belton.
Doll scored twice midway through the second half to put the game out of reach, while Dellinger added her second on a breakaway with just under 6 minutes left in regulation. Nak made one save to record a cleansheet.
Belton kept the game scoreless until the 28th minute when Platte County senior midfielder Kiara Smith scored off of an assist from Dzilic. Platte County went into halftime up 4-0 with goals in quick succession from Dzilic, Dellinger and Espeer, who put back a rebound off of a spilled shot from senior midfielder Saige Dickens.
Doll’s goals came in the 57th and 61st minutes.
Platte County 8, Raytown 0
In the first of the two matchups between the two teams, Nak didn’t face a shot Monday in Raytown as part of what has become four straight shutout wins.
Stone scored two of the first three goals with Platte County junior midfielder Katelyn Newberry putting one home in between off of a corner from Dickens. The Pirates’ next three came from Dickens, Habel and Dzilic with Stone eventually finishing off her hat trick and adding a fourth to invoke the eight-goal rule before halftime.
