Platte County celebrates after a big play in the first round of the Class 3 District 8 Tournament - an 8-0 win over Guadalupe Centers Charter - at Pembroke Hill High School on Oct. 28.
KANSAS CITY – On the path to getting back to a district championship, the Platte County boys’ soccer team (15-4) had two rematches against teams who sent the Pirates home the last two years, and they avenged both losses.
Having played in a district championship 10 times since 2010 – including three straight from 2018 to 2021 – Platte County had that streak end last fall. The Pirates were the No. 2 seed and lost to Pembroke Hill, who was the No. 6 seed, in the semifinals.
In 2021, Platte County made it to the district championship and was upset by fourth-seeded Guadalupe Centers Charter. This year the Pirates had a first-round matchup with Guadalupe Centers Charter (10-11) and played Pembroke Hill (4-17-1) in the semifinals.
The Class 3 District 8 Tournament had the exact same first-round matchups as last season with the same seedings moving on to the semifinals. Pembroke Hill upset No. 3 Lincoln College Prep (8-5) in the same round that Platte County routed Guadalupe Centers Charter by a score of 8-1 on Oct. 28.
The Raiders started the season off rough, having won only two of their first 18 contests but won three in a row ahead of the matchup with the Pirates. In the last two games of the regular season, Pembroke Hill beat Guadalupe Centers Charter and Pleasant Hill (3-17).
That streak didn’t last against red-hot Platte County who entered the day with a five-game winning streak and had posted an impressive 11-1 record since Sept. 18. The Pirates avenged last year’s postseason loss with a 3-2 overtime win on Oct. 30.
It was a grudge match from the start, having no goals in the first half. Platte County trailed 2-0 in the 74th minute but had an improbable comeback to force extra time.
The Pirates scored back-to-back goals in the 74th and 75th minutes, starting with a made PK by Gavin Nichols. Fabian Risager connected with the game-tying goal on a header from a corner kick pass from A.J. Schrick.
There were some chances in the closing minutes of regulation to pull off the comeback, but the contest went into sudden death overtime. Nichols came up clutch when Schrick led him with a one-on-one opportunity it the 85th minute and the senior star hit the game winner.
The dramatic, come-from-behind victory advanced Platte County to the Class 3 District 8 Championship against top-seeded Kansas City’s East (15-2) – a team that has won its last 12 contests. The game will be on Nov. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Pembroke High School.