Platte County senior forward Chandler Peterson netted another hat trick in the Suburban Conference Blue Division opener Monday, Sept. 11 in Belton, Mo. He was responsible for all three goals in a 3-0 win against Belton.
Entering off the first loss of the season, Peterson scored in the 43rd, 64th and 72nd minute — all in the second half — to break open a game that went into halftime scoreless. Tanner Ride provided the assist on the second of the three goals.
Platte County improved to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in Blue Division play, pending the result of a Tuesday, Sept. 12 matchup at Kearney.
Peterson put up a hat trick in six of the first seven games so far this season and at least two in all seven. He was at 27 goals and continues to chase the school’s all-time record.
In 2016, Peterson set a single-season record with 61 goals as a junior, averaging 2.35 per game — a mark that ranks fourth in Missouri history. He’s averaging just under four per game this year and now has 128 for his career, seven shy of Ian Malburg’s school record of 135 entering the Kearney matchup.
Malburg’s total ranks fourth in state history, according to the most recent record book. Peterson is already fifth all-time, needing 11 more to move into second.
Aaron Froehlich of Rolla holds the record at 182, set from 2010-2013. He went on to play at William Jewell.
Liberty North 5, Platte County 4, OT
The Pirates suffered their first loss of the season in a nonconference matchup with a Class 4 foe Tuesday, Sept. 5 in Liberty, Mo.
Peterson again scored all four goals for Platte County, which never led but forced ties at 1-1, 2-2 and 4-4. Liberty North scored the opener in the first minute and held the 1-0 advantage for 14 minutes before Peterson’s first goal.
Peterson’s second came in the 36th minute and leveled the score going into halftime at 2-2.
Liberty North took a 3-2 lead in the 66th minute and doubled the advantage three minutes later, but 19 seconds after going up two, the Eagles conceded Peterson’s hat trick goal. He added another in the 74th minute to send the match into overtime.
Platte County allowed three goals in a wild comeback win over Oak Park the previous week but couldn’t make it two straight, conceding the winner in the 88th minute.