Carmen Gentilia had the fourth goal in the 4-2 win over Kearney to put the game out of reach on April 3.
The Platte County girls’ soccer team (1-5) has kicked the spring off with an unexpected slow start, but finally earned its first win of the season on April 3.
Having posted a 22-4 record in 2022 after winning 24 games in 27 tries in 2021, the Lady Pirates’ 0-5 start this year was unprecedented. Platte County was shut out in its first four contests – matching its season total from last spring – before erupting for four scores in a big win over Kearney (3-3).
This was the second meeting of the short season between the Lady Pirates and Lady Bulldogs as they also matched up in the seventh-place game of the Platte County Invitational on March 22. Kearney won that contest 1-0, but Platte County got revenge with a 4-2 victory in round two.
Lily Kytasaari tapped in a through ball pass from Sloan Kassen in the 16th minute to put Platte County up 1-0 early. Kassen had a huge night as she added two goals to her stat line – doing so in the 36th and 40th minutes – to help the Lady Pirates head into the break with a lead for the first time in 2023.
The 3-0 lead was brought to within one goal in the second half as Kearney scored in the 48th and 72nd minutes. Carmen Gentilia put the contest away when the junior fought after a loose ball in the box and found the back of the net in the 77th minute.
Sophomore goalkeeper Finley Kaser had four saves on the day for the Lady Pirates. Platte County left Kearney with its first win of the spring and will hope to use that as momentum going forward.
Platte County scored its first goal of the year in its fifth game, a 2-1 loss to Smithville (3-1) on March 20. Lauren Stone assisted Sloan in the contest for the sole Lady Pirate score after the Lady Warriors led 2-0 and the road team held on to the 2-1 advantage.
The Lady Pirates were only scoreless in four contest last year and three times in 2021 but have had some offensive struggles in 2023. After being outscored 5-0 in three games of the Platte County Invitational, the Lady Pirates lost 1-0 against Staley (3-3) on March 29.
Platte County moves to 1-1 on the road this season with the win over Kearney and will have three of its next four games away, starting with a matchup against William Chrisman (1-4) on April 6. The Lady Pirates next home contest will be against Belton (0-1) on April 11.