White shines on Senior Night in 3-1 win over Belton

by Michael Smith

       Owen White had a Senior Night to remember.
     The midfielder for the Grain Valley soccer team was involved in every Eagle goal in Wednesday’s Suburban White Conference matchup with Belton.
     White had a goal, an assist, and a free kick that resulted in an own goal for Belton as he led Grain Valley to a 3-1 victory at Moody Murry Memorial Field.
     “It was a very emotional night,” White said. “I have been very close to this family all this time. Last games are very special to me and I just wanted to put my all into it.”
     That is what it looked like early on as White got the assist on Grain Valley’s first goal. In the 25th minute, he sent a long-distance rainbow pass inside the box and junior defender Isaiah Johnson hit a shot as the ball was in mid-air and put it in for a 1-0 lead.
     “I saw him set up to take the kick and I thought, ‘I know this is going in,’” Johnson said. “He sends the best balls and I just went and a flicked it in.”
     About 6 minutes later, White had a free kick that got deep in the Belton 18-yard box. A pair of Belton players tried to clear the ball but ended up knocking it into their own net for an own goal, giving the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
     The Eagles (12-6, 6-2) dominated possession in the first half, holding a 5-1 edge in shots on goal. In the second half, it was more of the same as they won the shots-on-goal battle 4-1. However, the one shot on goal form Belton went in as Zach Lattimer had a free kick from about 30 yards out that hit off the bottom of the crossbar and barely crossed the goal line that helped the Pirates narrow the gap to 2-1 in the 68th minute.
     White then capped off his special senior night by putting the game away late in the second half when he had a free kick from the far left side of the field, parallel to the left side of the Belton penalty box. He perfectly placed the ball inside the right post for Grain Valley’s third goal.
     The senior has emerged as a go-to scorer for Grain Valley as he leads the team in goals and assists according to head coach Brett Lewis.
     “This is the third year (White) has been with us and we always knew he could score,” said Lewis, whose team has won eight out of their last nine games. “This is his second year being in that attacking center-midfielder role. He’s flourished in it. He’s scored a lot of goals.
     “We have had a lot of other players step up, too. (White) is always going to get his goals. He has created some chances for his teammates, too. Chase Simpson has stepped up and scored some goals, Braxton Roach has scored some goals and Ethan Galvan has, too.”
     White noted that the season he had as a junior helped him emerge as one of the best offensive weapons on the team.
     “Last year, I think I separated myself from the group by scoring all those goals,” White said. With the help of everyone else, I get goals.”
     Grain Valley has some momentum going into the Class 3 District 7 tournament as it will be the No. 3 seed. The Eagles will take on Raytown South in the first round at 2 p.m. Saturday.
     “We have some film on them and we know they have some really good players we need to be aware of,” Lewis said of the Cardinals. “But I feel like as a team, we are capable of going out there and taking care of business.”

Grain Valley coaches and seniors pose for a photo following a 3-1 win over Belton on Senior Night Wednesday at Moody Murry Memorial Field. Photo credit: Michael Smith