(GILBERT, Ariz.) Boys' soccer started its 2024-25 campaign on the right foot, with a thrilling 5-3 come-from-behind victory over Yuma Catholic. Junior Noah Cooper recorded a second-half hat-trick for the Knights in the win.
 

Gilbert Christian trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes, despite getting plenty of looks at the Shamrocks' goal early in the contest. 
 

It appeared as though the Knights would be faced with the same deficit at the break, until junior Brady Frederickson was called upon at the two-minute mark to take a free kick for GCHS. Fredrickson was well-beyond the field's 50-yard line, but he didn't let the distance deter him, sending an absolute bomb soaring over his awaiting teammates and the Yuma Catholic defense, to score the Knights' first goal of the year. 
 

The second half was a different story, though an unfortunate defensive mishap briefly extended the Shamrocks' lead to 3-1 with 30 remaining in the period. 
 

From there it was the Cooper show, as the junior striker rattled off a pair of goals in just over a minute to bring the match to even at 3-all. His first was a long ball from the middle into the left corner past the Shamrocks' keeper, and the second, an impressive left-footed boot from the right baseline, was courtesy of Frederickson.
 

Four minutes ticked off of the game clock before Cooper paid it forward, finding classmate Jackson Lundberg open in the middle for a score to give Gilbert Christian its first lead at 4-3.
 

The final goal of the evening came at 7:20, as a resolute Cooper flew up the field on the dribble, barreling past his defender and the Shamrocks' backline to score on a seemingly impossible angle for the Knights. 

With the win, GCHS moves to 1-0. The Knights will play in three Cactus Shadows Invitational matches this week, before returning home to host Coolidge on Tuesday, December 10th. Kickoff is slated for 6:00pm.

-GO KNIGHTS-