Fort Scott's Luis Martinez (6) heads the ball away from Riverton goalie Josh Beck toward Matt Scharenberg (coming in at the far left), who put into the net for the Tigers' second goal of a 4-0 win Monday night. This was the last home game of the regular season for Fort Scott. (Captured Images/Kenny Felt)

Fort Scott head soccer coach David Gray thought his team played its best half of soccer so far this season in the second half against host Coffeyville at the Tornado Tournament Saturday.

The Tigers lost that game because they dug themselves a hole too deep to recover from. But Gray liked what he saw then and that kind of play carried over into Fort Scott's 4-0 victory over Riverton Monday at Ellis Park.

"I definitely think it carried over," Fort Scott head coach David Gray said. "We played well. I think they're getting it. They're playing together. They're talking. They're passing well. Our defense is backing each other up. I think it definitely carried over from Coffeyville."

This was Fort Scott's last home game unless the Tigers are awarded home-field advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs. Their last three regular-season games will be on the road beginning Thursday at Columbus.

It was Fort Scott's first shutout since a 1-0 win over Coffeyville last Oct. 12. Grant Wells, back as the full-time goalkeeper after playing parts of the two games at Coffeyville Saturday as he returned from an injury, wasn't challenged often as the Tigers (4-8-1) dominated possession. But he did have to make a couple of tough saves, including one from point-blank range at around 68 minutes.

"Grant played real well," Gray said. "And he was a key in that Coffeyville game. He played real well there and I think he's starting to get his focus back and that's something we need."

Matt Scharenberg scored the Tigers' first goal off a quick throw-in by Jesse Brown during the fifth minute of play. The throw was headed by Luis Martinez and Scharenberg was there for the follow-up that resulted in his second goal in three games.

Josh Buller scored off a free kick for his 10th goal of the season in the 26th minute. Chris McAllister converted a penalty kick in the 29th minute to make it 3-0, which stood as the halftime score. The goal was McAllister's fifth of the season.

Max McAllister converted Brown's corner kick in the 77th minute for his fourth goal of the season.

The Tigers dominated possession. The fact that they took seven corner kicks and were called nine times of offsides showed they were moving the ball forward often. By contrast, Riverton (2-7-1) took only two corners and wasn't called for offsides.

"They had a back line that was really fast and we couldn't out run them very often," Gray said. "So it was a key to keep possession. We were passing very well and that's what it takes. You can't score if you don't have the ball."

Fort Scott's junior varsity took a 2-0 loss to Riverton in the game that followed.

In Saturday's tournament, Fort Scott opened with a 3-1 win over Pittsburg. Scharenberg scored the first goal off an assist from Max McAllister. Then Chris McAllister scored the second goal unassisted. Chris assisted Max on the Tigers' third goal.

Coffeyville beat Columbus, 8-0, in the other semifinal. Then Columbus beat Pittsburg 3-1 for third place.

In the championship, Coffeyville took a 5-2 win. Gray said that there was a very strong wind during that game and each goal in the contest came with the wind at the respective teams' backs. Buller had both Tiger goals for his fourth two-goal game of the season.

Thursday's game, a Southeast Kansas League contest, begins at 4:30 p.m. in Columbus. The Tigers face Coffeyville on the road Oct. 16 before wrapping up the regular season at Riverton Oct. 21.

Goalkeepers

R -- Josh Beck (4 goals, 5 saves). FS -- Grant Wells (shutout, 4 saves).

Scoring

FS -- Scharenberg 2 (unassisted), 5th min.

FS -- Buller 10 (Martinez), 26th min.

FS -- C.McAllister 5 (unassisted), 29th min.

FS -- M.McAllister 4 (Brown), 77th min.