For the third straight season, Excelsior Springs finished in the top four of the Class 2 state boys soccer tournament. Unlike the 2021 and 2022 seasons, however, the Tigers did not finish third. They finished fourth. The Tigers dropped their semifinal and third place games, finishing 14-7 overall. On Nov. 17, they fell 3-0 to eventual state champion Westminster Christian Academy. They then threatened to stage a comeback victory against Orchard Farm before falling 3-2 Nov. 18. Both games were played at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton. Westminster Christian, a St. Louis metro area school, scored its three goals during the first half. After being denied within the first 10 minutes by back-to-back saves made by Excelsior Springs sophomore goalkeeper Jaxon Hellyer, the Wildcats scored in the 20th minute, as Krew Collison finished Adriel-Roger Monga’s assist pass from 5 yards out. Austin McCarthy made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal in the 22nd minute. Levi Weik scored…