RUNNERS-UPPlaying in a tournament at Winnetonka in Kansas City “was a great way to start the season,” according to Excelsior Springs boys soccer coach Brett McKenzie.The Tigers placed second in the tournament, going 2-1. They opened by pasting Ruskin, a Kansas City-based school, 8-0 Sept. 2. They then downed Grandview 6-3 Sept. 3 and fell 4-1 to North Kansas City (NKC) Sept. 5.“We had the opportunity to get the nerves out and play a deep roster vs. Ruskin,” McKenzie stated Monday via email. “Then, we had to step up in the next game against a gritty Grandview side. In the final, we went up against a talented NKC team.”As McKenzie, pointed out, Excelsior Springs will face NKC again next week. Before then, however, the Tigers are hosting their annual tournament. The boys were slated to open Tuesday against Blue Valley North, a school based in Overland Park, Kan. At press time, the Tigers were preparing to face Ma...