Park Hill South’s rebuilding effort didn’t receive any favors in a second straight loaded tournament field.
Playing in a second tournament in two weeks to open the season, the Panthers went 0-3 in the Olathe Northwest Invitational, scoring just one goal. They were tied with the hosts in the seventh-place game Saturday, April 3 in Olathe, Kan. before allowing a pair of goals in the final 6 minutes to end up with a 3-1 loss.
Olathe Northwest took the early 1-0 lead on a goal off of a corner kick, but Park Hill South mustered an answer.
A defender took Panthers midfielder Meghan Jones down in the box at the end of an offensive buildup. Kate Eischens converted the penalty kick to knot the score at 1-1, but the Panthers would not lead. They dropped to 1-5 on the season.
Olathe East 3, Park Hill South 0
The Panthers were shut out for a third straight game and second time in the tournament Thursday, March 31 in Olathe, Kan. The score was tied 0-0 with 17 minutes left before Olathe East hit with a quick barrage against Park Hill South goalkeeper Haley Mills.
Shawnee Mission West 2, Park Hill South 0
A goal in each half for Creighton University recruit Hannah Miller sent the Panthers into the consolation bracket after an opening round loss Tuesday, March 29 in Olathe, Kan. Jessica Perkins and Mills split the goalkeeping duties for Park Hill South.
Park Hill 3, Kearney 0
The Trojans ran their win streak to three with a shutout Monday, April 4 in Kearney, Mo. ahead of another showdown with St. Teresa’s Academy scheduled for Thursday, April 7.
Now 5-2 on the season, Park Hill received goals from Alison Walls, Chais Wright and Ayana Weissenfluh, and sophomore goalkeeper Kelbey Emerson recorded a third straight shutout. The Trojans’ second matchup with St. Teresa’s comes 2½ weeks after the Stars won 1-0 in the opener for both teams in the Lee’s Summit West Invitational.
St. Teresa’s won the Class 4 state title last year, defeating Park Hill in the quarterfinals on the way.
Park Hill 7, St. Joseph Central 0
The Trojans closed the first half with a flurry on the way to a Suburban Conference Red Division victory Thursday, March 31 in St. Joseph, Mo.
Jenna Winebrenner hit Raena Woodruff with a left-footed cross to increase Park Hill’s lead to 4-0 in the 35th minute. Winebrenner, a junior defender, added another mark with 19 seconds to go before halftime on a pass from Haley Buckholz, her second assist of the half.
Park Hill goalkeeper Kelbey Emerson made her lone save in the second half, and Sarah Hibbeler, a freshman midfielder, scored twice after that to provide the final margin of victory.
Alison Walls scored the first two goals for Park Hill and set up the third on a back pass allowing Bella Catano to fire home. The Trojans put 12 shots on target total.
Park Hill 10, Ruskin 0
The Trojans overwhelmed in their Red Division opener, scoring four times in the first 3 minutes Tuesday, March 29 at Park Hill District Soccer Complex in Riverside, Mo.
Hibbeler scored the first of her two goals in the opening minute for Park Hill, and Walls added her first of a pair in the next minute. Catano scored twice in the third minute and also finished with two goals.
Sam Paulak, Chais Wright, Heather Wojahn and Winebrenner also scored once each for the Trojans. All 10 goals came in the first 23 minutes, and the game ended at halftime due to the 10-goal rule. Walls and Ayana Weissenfluh tallied two assists apiece, while Paulak and Madi Massa each added one.
Emerson ended up with a clean sheet despite not making any saves.
Platte County 2, St. Joseph Central 0
The Pirates scored once in each half to earn a nonconference victory Tuesday, March 29 in St. Joseph, Mo.
Platte County improved to 2-2 entering a lengthy break that lasted until Tuesday, April 5 with a road game against Kearney. The result was not available at The Citizen’s deadline.
Brooke Zenner scored in the second minute against Central, and sophomore forward Destinee Smith doubled the advantage in the second half. Kaylny Hathaway recorded the shutout.