Jake Zapata has two seasons left to achieve a goal that narrowly eluded him in his first two seasons of playing varsity boys soccer at Excelsior Springs High School.

As a first-year high schooler and a sophomore, Zapata helped Excelsior Springs post back-to-back third-place finishes in the Class 2 state tournament. Now, his aim “is to go back to state and win the state championship before I graduate,” he said.

Zapata is expected to be a leading attacker again for the Tigers, who’ll start practices Aug. 7, per the regulations for Missouri State High School Activities Association-sanctioned fall sports. He led Excelsior Springs in goals as a firstyear high schooler with 22 and again as a sophomore with 26.

Excelsior Springs is one of two teams Zapata plays for, the other being Sporting Missouri Valley’s 17-and-under club team. He appreciates playing for different coaches.

“I enjoy getting coached in a different way with my club team than my high school team because it allows me to become mor…