Excelsior Springs Soccer Opens Conference Play With Shutout

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo., Sept. 18, 2025 — The Tiger soccer team took down two larger schools last week with wins over the Kearney Bulldogs and North Kansas City Hornets.

The Tigers took care of the Bulldogs in Kearney on Sept. 15 with a 4-0 shutout win to start off conference play. Sophomore Tyler Wartner had a big night for the Tigers with a haul in the win. He opened up the scoring in the 37th minute with senior Brady Schoonover picking up the assist. Wartner extended the lead to 2-0 in the 51st minute with an assist from junior Brett Jones. He picked up his third goal of the night, an unassisted goal, in the 76th minute and then his fourth and final goal in the 79th minute off an assist from sophomore Colten Smith. Jones was strong in goal for the Tigers, collecting seven saves in the shutout.

The second win of the week came at home with a 3-1 victory over the Hornets on Sept. 18. Wartner scored twice more to lead the way. His first goal came in the 8th minute when junior Drake Simonitis connected with him. The score remained 1-0 until sophomore Logan Harris set Wartner up in the 37th minute for his second goal. Schoonover pushed the lead to 3-0 in the 70th minute with Wartner adding the assist. North Kansas City got on the scoreboard in the 76th minute, but that was all they could muster. Jones was busy in goal all night, finishing with 20 saves to preserve the win.