For the third straight game to start the 2021 season, the Platte County boys’ soccer team won by a score of 8-0 when sophomore Gavin Nichols ended with a hat-trick and the Pirates defeated Raytown South on Sept. 7.
The Pirates defeated a pair of Kansas City schools in the Barstow Tournament in the opening weekend, but the championship game got cancelled due to rain. For the fourth consecutive season, Platte County won its home opener and is happy about the strong start to the fall.
“Starting out strong is always the key and it gives us that confidence going into the rest of the season,” Platte County head coach Ashlyn Brantley said. “It always feels good to open the season with that tournament to get some games in and see what we need to work on.”
Platte County’s sophomore star wasted no time as Nichols scored back-to-back goals in the opening three minutes. He scored them at the 39:18 and 38:25 marks and set the tone early for the Pirates.
“He has been taking a leadership role up there and showing, making and creating chances for the offense and then finishing. That comes with that consistency we have been working on in finding the goal,” Brantley said.
Platte County sophomore Gavin Nichols headbutts the ball during the Pirates home opener against Raytown South on Sept. 8. Nichols ended with three goals, including two in the opening three minutes of the contest.
Shortly after that, senior Palmer Boekhout got on the board to give the Pirates a comfortable lead with 26:57 remaining in the first half. Platte County scored one more goal in the opening half, scoring with only four seconds remaining, to take a 4-0 lead over the Cardinals at the break.
Platte County slowed down in the beginning of the second half, but when Nichols scored his third goal of the contest with 26:40 remaining, the Pirate offense continued to erupt. Sophomore Ahoy Victore converted on a header from a corner kick in less than three minutes later to give Platte County a six-goal lead.
“I think it is us just coming out and staying focused and being consistent. Once we get back to the best part of our game, which is moving the ball, then the rest of it comes naturally,” Brantley said.
The Pirates made two more goals on the day, ending with senior Nathan Macaluso kicking a goal through the net with 4:53 remaining in the second half as the eight-goal lead resulted in an automatic victory for the Pirates. Platte County will be back on the road this week when they head to Kearney to take on the Bulldogs on September 16.