Ayana Weissenfluh found a way to create goals on back-to-back corner kick opportunities.
The Park Hill freshman scored directly off the first and set up Bella Catano for a wide-open header on the second. The two goals late in the first half spurred the Trojans to a 3-0 win against Park Hill South on Tuesday, May 10, wrapping up an unbeaten run through the Suburban Conference Red Division.
Park Hill has now won or shared three straight league titles.
To finish the most recent run unbeaten, the Trojans (22-3) overcame a slow start. A dangerous cross from right back Chais Wright set up a corner kick in the 26th minute, which led to the second good chance of the first half for Park Hill.
Weissenfluh sent a ball in from the left corner that deflected off traffic in front of the net and into the goal. After the ensuing restart, Park Hill quickly took possession and pushed down the field, winning another corner kick — this one from the right.
An outswinging ball from Weissenfluh found Catano unmarked, and she directed her header to the far post for a goal and 2-0 Park Hill lead in the 27th minute.
Park Hill South couldn’t recover despite a plethora of chances to score. Park Hill dominated play late starting with defender Madi Massa’s shot straight at goalkeeper Brooke Montgomery (three saves) in the 50th minute.
Alison Walls made it 3-0 Trojans just moments later after Catano collected a loose ball and took off on a 60-plus-yard run that ended on the right flank. She sent in a cross that Walls volleyed into the net at the near post in the 52nd minute.
Wright nearly added a fourth in the 69th minute, banging a hard-hit shot off the near post.
Park Hill South actually held the advantage in chances early. In the 17th minute, Lexi Maddox hit a cross that found Meghan Jones for a wide open header, but her shot lacked pace. Park Hill South sophomore goalkeeper Kelbey Emerson made the second of her five saves on the play.
In the 20th minute, Catano fired a shot from the left 20 yards out that nearly curled in at the far post, and Park Hill found its stride for long enough to take the lead.
In the minute after Park Hill’s second goal, Park Hill South junior midfielder Kallen Mazeitis hit a free kick from 37 yards out that Emerson went to tip before watching the ball sail over the bar.
Shortly after halftime, Jones fired an open shot right at Emerson, a chance set up when a long grounded through ball from Mazeitis eluded the foot of Trojans junior midfielder Sam Paulak.
The wide-open shot went straight at Emerson, who ended up with a 10th straight shutout, 16th during the win streak and 21st of the season.
Park Hill carried those marks into a Tuesday, May 17 Class 4 District 16 opener against Oak Park with the result not available at The Citizen’s deadline. Park Hill South (10-11, 7-3 Red Division) played Liberty in a Class 4 District 15 first round matchup Tuesday, May 17 also not completed at deadline. The two teams split two regular season meetings and tied for second in the league.
Platte County (13-6) earned the top seed in the Class 3 District 16 tournament and played Benton in the first round Tuesday, May 17, also not done at deadline. The Pirates are heavy favorites to earn another title game rematch with Smithville.
In the first game between the two teams this season, Platte County won on penalty kicks after a goal-less draw.