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 ...