Grain Valley advances to final four for first time in program history

by Michael Smith

     Grain Valley sophomore Kylie Barnett missed half of the girls soccer season with a broken right foot.
     She said she was only supposed to be out for a month or a few weeks, but the pain wouldn’t go away. That’s why when she came back around the 13th game of the season, Eagles head coach Tyler Nichol decided to only play her 5 minutes.
     From there, he slowly increased her minutes each week as the sophomore came off the bench. After a few weeks, the sophomore said she felt 100 percent, just in time for Saturday’s Class 3 quarterfinal game against Platte County.
     Barnett played a crucial role in the contest scoring in the 24th minute off a rebound that was deflected by Pirate goalkeeper Avery Krahenbill. That goal helped spark Grain Valley’s 2-0 victory as the Eagles will be making their first final four appearance in school history next week.
     They will face Notre Dame St. Louis at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo. 
     “It’s kind of surreal,” Nichol said of making the final four with the girls for the first time.” We had an idea early in the season that it was going to be this matchup in this game. It’s a game we’ve been waiting for.
     “We’ve been close to making it a few times, so to finally get across that line, and for them to go and get that experience, we are just so pumped for it.”
     And the Eagles may not have made it without Barnett’s big goal.
     She said she felt good, and it reflected in her play and she fit right in with an Eagles team that has multiple players who can score.
     “(The pain) just kept continuing throughout the season when people stepped on it,” Barnett said. “Now I’m finally getting back. I got a great assist from (Annabelle Totta). I had to contain my excitement and remain calm.
     “Today it felt good. In past games (her right foot) has been a little swollen.”
     With Barnett playing more minutes, the chemistry was unaffected. The Eagles midfield and front line looked sharp Saturday.
     “When she came back from injury, she showed up and played amazing,” Grain Valley freshman midfielder Annabelle Totta said. “She keeps her head up and she can find people. She has amazing footwork and she is able to keep possession when she has it and get rid of it at the right spot.”
     Nichol said he was getting emotional talking about Barnett’s big moment.
     “I can’t say enough about her. She works so hard all the time,” Nichol said.  “We are just excited for her. It was awesome for her to be the one who made the game-winning goal. It’s a moment she will never forget.”
     While Barnett’s goal was huge, Totta provided some insurance for the Eagles (21-2-1) when she executed a perfect give-and-go with freshman Emma Thiessen. Totta passed the ball to Thiessen, who gave it right back to her on a through ball. Totta tucked a shot inside the far post from the right wing with 15:45 remaining for a 2-0 advantage.
     “I was excited because we were right in front of the goal and it was because of Emma’s perfect pass to me, and I was able to finish it,” Totta said.
     Meanwhile, Grain Valley, which controls possession in most games, had an even battle with Platte County. Sophomore goalkeeper Camihle Williams stepped up big with six saves to help her team preserve the shutout.
     She had a couple of diving stops in the first half and stopped a point-blank shot from Platte County’s Addison Bradley late in the second half. Williams plays an aggressive style of goalkeeper and often comes off her line to challenge ball handlers.
     “To be in goal, you have to be willing to sacrifice yourself,” Williams said. “It helps your team a lot. If I hadn’t done that, we probably would have had to go to overtime. I know I am going to get hurt, it’s only for a second. It’s not like it’s a baseball or a bowling ball.”
     Coming off her line almost backfired late in the first half. A Platte County player lofted a shot toward an empty net when Williams was on the ground at the top of the penalty box. Center back Sophie Broockerd used a sliding kick to knock the ball away when it looked like it was going in.
     Williams had a similar situation happen in the second half but Platte County’s Allie Corbin overshot the empty net.
     “Camihle was phenomenal today,” Nichol said. “She’s not afraid to come off her line as you saw. It made me nervous a couple of times. It was a risk vs. reward thing. She’s aggressive and that’s not something we want to coach out of her.”
     The Eagles now turn their attention to Notre Dame St. Louis.
     “To be honest, we don’t know a lot about them,” Nichol said. “We will watch film tonight and tomorrow and find out as much as we possibly can. Just based on their results, we know they are a quality team. After looking at the teams they beat I thought, ‘Wow. How are they not ranked in the top five?’”
 
 
 

The Grain Valley Lady Eagles soccer team celebrates their Class 3 tournament win.
​Photo credit: John Overstreet

Defender Sophie Broockerd stops the charge of the Platte County Pirates.
Photo credit: John Overstreet

Midfielder Raena Childers pushes the soccer ball into the Platte County zone.
​Photo credit: John Overstreet

Kylie Barnett gains possession of the soccer ball.
Photo credit: John Overstreet

Midfielder Emma Thiessen wins the contested possession of the soccer ball.
​Photo credit: John Overstreet

Goalkeeper Camihle Williams keeps the shutout intact for Grain Valley with her save.
​Photo credit: John Overstreet