Dropping a 3-2 decision to Iberia back on Monday, Oct. 14, Scott Moran’s Belle Tiger soccer team got another shot at the Rangers four days later on Friday in the opening match of the annual Belle Tiger Soccer Tournament at the Kingsford Soccer Complex located just outside the city limits of Belle.

Tied at 1-1 going into halftime, Belle saw Iberia open the second half with a goal 10 minutes in to leave them trailing 2-1.

Near the midway point of the second half, Belle netted the equalizer off a corner kick.

Dru Baumgartner sent the ball in placing it perfectly for Gavin Snodgrass who headed it in past the Iberia keeper squaring the match at 2-2 with 24:30 left in regulation.

Nearly 15 minutes later, Doss added to his first-half goal netting his second of the game giving Belle a 3-2 lead with 10:00 remaining.

Belle goalkeeper Peyton Moran stopped a wide open Iberia shot with three minutes remaining to preserve the 3-2 victory advancing the Tigers to the championship match against Maranatha Baptist out of the Waynesville area.

“That save literally saved the game,” Coach Moran said. “The Iberia player was right in front of the goal by himself and Peyton made a huge save.”

Maranatha Baptist’s Warriors defeated Richland’s Bears 4-1 in the other Friday soccer semifinal of the Belle Boys Soccer Tournament.

After Iberia defeated 2-1 for third place early Saturday afternoon, the host Tigers took on the visiting Warriors later that afternoon.

Prior to the championship match, Belle dropped a 6-0 decision to the Warriors on the road back on Friday, Oct. 4.

Multiple shots on goal by both teams in the first half yielded many saves for both Moran and Maranatha Baptist’s keeper in addition to a scoreless tie at halftime through 40 minutes of soccer.

Playing through a light to steady rain most of the match, Maranatha Baptist broke the scoreless tie with a goal nine minutes into the second half just past the outstretched arms of Moran for a 1-0 Warrior lead.

Allowing a breakaway three minutes later, Belle saw the Warriors put another one past Moran leaving the Tigers trailing 2-0 12 minutes into the second half.

Nearly five minutes later, Belle got on the board to cut Maranatha Baptist’s Lead in half.

Shane Baumgartner blasted one past the Warrior keeping leaving Belle trailing 2-1 with just over 22 minutes left in the match.

Later in the half, Belle peppered the Warrior goal with shots only to see them hit the post or the crossbar.

One shot by Lane Feeler hit the inside of one post before ricocheting of the other and out of the goal area.

In spite of outshooting the Warriors 27-19, Belle settled for second place in their own tournament following the tough-luck loss.

“We had two bad breaks on their goals and no luck with our shots,” Coach Moran said. “I can’t be proud enough of the amazing effort by the boys. We are a much-improved team from when we played Iberia and Maranatha (Baptist) the first time.”

Prior to the tournament, Belle celebrated senior night last Tuesday with a 6-1 win over Crocker.

Doss and Dru Baumgartner both scored two goals while Snodgrass and Shane Baumgartner each scored one goal.