Chandler Peterson started his senior season on a pace significantly better than last year’s record-setting campaign.
ROSS MARTIN/Citizen photo
Platte County’s players line up at midfield with senior Chandler Peterson (1) at the front during the national anthem ahead of a game Monday, Aug. 28 against St. Joseph Central at Pirate Stadium.
In three games of the Barstow Tournament, Platte County’s speedy senior forward tallied 12 goals, including a pair of five-goal performances, to lead the Pirates back to the title. They beat Sacred Heart 8-2 in the championship game on Saturday, Aug. 26 in Kansas City, Mo. to reclaim the title.
Platte County won the season-opening tournament for the second time in three years.
After scoring a school-record 61 goals last season, Peterson hit double digits this season in just his third game. He netted a hat trick in the first half against Sacred Heart, which scored twice on a pair of rebounds to be within 4-2 at halftime.
Peterson added two more after halftime, while sophomore defender Grant Allen had a pair.
Platte County goalkeeper Turner Hess made six saves in the first half, while Kemper York played the second half and made one. Spencer Klopfer, a senior midfielder, scored the Pirates other goal to go with an assist.
Platte County 2, Maryville 0
Peterson scored both goals in a semifinal win Thursday, Aug. 24 in Kansas City, Mo.
ROSS MARTIN/Citizen photo
Platte County senior forward Chandler Peterson (1) tries to pull away from a St. Joseph Central defender during a match Monday, Aug. 28 at Pirate Stadium.
With the match scoreless at halftime, Peterson put Platte County up 1-0 on a penalty kick in the 58th minute, and he added the second on an assist from Jake Havemeier with 15 minutes to play. The Pirates held on for a second consecutive cleansheet.
Platte County 7, Northland Christian 0
The Pirates opened the tournament with a convincing win Wednesday, Aug. 23 in a game pushed back a day due to inclement field conditions.
Peterson tallied his first five goals of the season — four in the first half. He scored unassisted in the 11th, 26th and 31st minutes. Colton Grisham set up Peterson’s other first half goal in the 26th minute, completing his hat trick seconds after scoring his first goal of the 26th minute.
Hans Thyssen put Platte County up 5-0 with an unassisted goal in the 40th minute. Peterson scored his fifth in the 63rd minute, and Tanner Ride completed the scoresheet with his first goal in the 79th minute.
OTHER SCORES
Platte County 4, St. Joseph Central 0
Peterson scored three times in the first half to net his third hat trick in four games, and he added the fourth, as well, in a shutout Monday, Aug. 28 at Pirate Stadium.
So far, Peterson is averaging 4.0 goals per game after he put up 2.35 per game as a junior — a mark that ranks fourth in Missouri state history. He’s at 117 for his career entering a Thursday, Aug. 31 game at Oak Park, needing 19 more to break Ian Malburg’s school record of 135.
Against Central, Peterson broke through early and took advantage of some confusion on the Indians’ backline.
Central sophomore Andrew Brunner gave the ball away in front of his own net with Peterson able to poke the ball past Indians senior goalkeeper Noah Cameron for a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. He nearly doubled his total in the 15th minute, but Cameron tipped a shot over the bar.
Peterson’s header on the ensuing corner went wide of the goal.
Platte County (4-0) overcame some bad giveaways, and Central had a potential equalizing goal ruled out on an offside call in the 23rd minute. Peterson scored two more late in the first half, and Allen, Ride and sophomore Chase Peterson had assists.
Hess (one save) and York (two saves) continued to split time and recorded their third shutout of the season.