Excelsior Springs lost a step in the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference-Blue Division race in varsity boys soccer, but rebounded with a nondivisional road victory last week. The Tigers opened the week Sept. 26 with a 3-2 home loss to Smithville. The Warriors took the opening lead in the 19th minute on a free kick. The Tigers tied it in the 36th minute on a header from sophomore Jake Zapata, with Kolin Kincaid providing the assist. Excelsior Springs struck again in the 59th minute, when junior Mason Wartner scored from 10 yards out. The Warriors knotted it at 2 in the 73rd minute and struck again in the 76th. On Sept. 29, the Tigers visited Columbia, where they defeated the Battle/Columbia Independent co-op 3-2. Senior Carter Pitts put the Tigers on the board first, with Kincaid providing the assist. Zapata scored on an unassisted goal and Pitts scored again, this time with Wartner getting the assist, to give the Tigers a...