Brenna Lacaillade scored the final goal of the season off of a free kick. (Photo by Wayne Dean)

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Soccer Tigers were defeated 2-1 by the Kearney Bulldogs in the district 13 semifinals last night at Excelsior Springs. Kearney improves to 20-4 and will play Smithville in the district finals on Thursday.

“We created enough chances to win," head coach Chris Tompson said. "We had a flurry of good ones in the final 10 minutes that we made plays on, but it just wasn’t meant to happen.”

In the first half the center official let the kids play, turning it into a physical game. In the second half, the official changed and called a tight game, Thompson said.

"That was a tough thing for any high school team to adjust to, especially in a district tournament game with all the pressure and emotion that brings,” Thompson said.

Kearney played with their four defenders deep so the field got long, Thompson said. That made it difficult to link up and support the lone striker up top.

"We were not real sure-footed in the back, likely due to the wind and turf, so we started our attacks too far from goal all night,” Thompson said.

Thompson admits that the team played its best soccer at the end of the season. They faced some serious and unique challenges in coming together, but they did.

"Every time we’d get things set a new injury would come up and scramble things," Thompson said. "The team persevered and was rewarded with some great wins and special spring nights.”

The Tigers complete the season with a record of 16-8.

SCORING
55 Warrensburg - Brenna Lacaillade (Raulie attacks central defense and is
pulled down. Lacaillade hits free kick from 20 yards out)
62 Kearney - Breah Sanders converts PK
79 Kearney - Tanner Brown finishes ball that GK has initially at the back
post

SHOTS WHS 13 KHS 13
CORNERS WHS 4 KHS 4