The Park Hill South Panthers’ soccer team let a halftime lead slip away at home to Rockhurst and fell 2-1 in regular time on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Park Hill District Stadium in Riverside.
The game featured two of the top 15 teams in the state. As of Sept. 24, South ranked No. 8 in the state while Rockhurst came in ranked No. 14 according to Missouri Power Rankings.
South’s Nate Bartram, center, and Maddox Redman, right, teamed up for the Panther’s goal in the first half. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
Rockhurst controlled possession of the ball for most of the match, but South’s defense limited chances at shots on goal, especially in the first half. South took advantage of a Hawklet turnover at midfield by South senior forward Maddox Redman who worked the ball ahead to junior forward Nate Bartram. Rockhurst’s goalkeeper came out too far to defend, and Bartram was able to send a rocket past him in the 18th minute of the match to take a 1-0 lead.
South’s Nate Bartram led the celebration after scoring. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
The Hawklets came out aggressive in the second half and had a shot go just over the crossbar a minute into the second frame. Rockhurst had another great chance in the 46th minute, but a shot went just wide of the goalpost. Rockhurst was able to generate another chance in the 49th minute that resulted in a corner kick, but no damage was done.
Rockhurst’s pressure finally broke through in the 52nd minute. South goalkeeper, junior Everette Grower, got in front of the shot but couldn’t handle it as it trickled past him into the net to equal up the score at 1-1.
South’s Everett Grower went down to stop a shot. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
In the 57th minute, Grower came up big with a save, but the ball went past the end line, generating a corner kick for Rockhurst. The kick got sent into the box but deflected out to where a Rockhurst striker was waiting to put the ball into the net and give the Hawklets a 2-1 lead.
South’s Owen Thowe with a shot on goal. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
South had its best shot to tie the match in the 62nd minute when junior forward Noah Stephens launched a rocket from the right side of the goal. The Rockhurst goalkeeper got just enough of a finger on the ball to make it go just over the crossbar.
It was the second consecutive 2-1 loss for the Panthers on the season after dropping a match to cross-state opponent Blue Valley Southwest on Thursday, Sept. 26. Rockhurst improved to 8-1 on the season, with its only loss also coming against Blue Valley Southwest.
South defender Nick Parra made a play on the ball. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
South will get back into conference play this week with a match at Liberty on Tuesday before returning home to face Oak Park on Thursday.
