(GILBERT, Ariz.) Saturday's AIA Boys Soccer 3A State Championship quarterfinal match-up between the top-ranked Knights and No. 8 Palo Verde Magnet was one for the history books. The thrilling double-overtime contest ultimately went in favor of Gilbert Christian. The Knights were six seconds away from elimination before freshman Kai Lundberg came out of nowhere to net a diving header, sending the game to penalty kicks, where GCHS out-shot the Titans 6-5. 
 
The game featured all of the things that make sports glorious- lead changes, big swings of momentum, physicality, extra periods, a shootout, and unlikely heroes. 
 
There was plenty of offense, and even more defense, in a 3-3 game that went over 100 minutes, and came down to a key substitution on what would be the final penalty kick of the day. 
 
The Knights led 2-0 in the first half following goals from junior Noah Cooper and senior Brody Moore. Cooper was first to light up the scoreboard, netting a ball on the break, courtesy of junior Jackson Lundberg, 15 minutes into play.
 
Moore and junior Nik Vranicic connected for the Knights' second at the end of the period, with a smart Vranicic opting to send a free kick from the corner backwards to an open Moore instead of taking his chances with the cross into mid-box traffic. 
 
In the second, the tides turned as Palo Verde upped the tempo, narrowing the margin with a goal of its own at 28:23 to make it 2-1. 
 
It appeared as though the Titans would tie the affair when they were awarded a penalty kick in the box in the final ten minutes of play, but junior keeper Hyatt Lang had other plans, laying out for an incredible save to protect the Knights' advantage.
 
Five minutes passed before Palo Verde was afforded another PK, which the Titans were able to successfully convert, sending the match into overtime.
 
Palo Verde struck first in OT, taking a 3-2 lead with 4:07 remaining in the period.
 
Luckily for the Knights, the AIA postseason affords two 10-minute overtimes for contests ending in a tie after regulation. And, as it turned out, Gilbert Christian needed 9:54 to score.
 
In the final 10 seconds of the game, senior TK Reesing sent a ball Moore's way on the far-right sideline. Time seemed to stand still as Moore blasted the ball from the 17-yard line, across the field and into the left corner of the box. 
 
As the ball left Moore's foot, Kai Lundberg began to sprint, launching into the air, and colliding with the Titans' keeper, but not before heading the ball just inside the right goal post for the miraculous match-tying score. 
 
From there, it was straight into the pressure cooker as the Knights lined up for season-extending, or season-ending penalty kicks. 
 
Senior Caleb Barnett started for Gilbert Christian. PK good. Then Cooper. Good. Then Moore. Good. Then Reesing. Good. Then J. Lundberg. Good. Then junior Noah Collier. Good. 
 
Palo Verde's kicks though, had also been good. So, with the shootout tied at 5-5, Head Coach Devon Dickinson made a big call, subbing Moore in at keeper. 
 
Moore was still putting on his gloves as he ran across the GCHS turf into goal. The referee blew his whistle, and Moore, facing the possibility of elimination in his final season, rejected Palo Verde's sixth try.

"The playoffs are always a challenge," Dickinson said. "Being number one, everyone is gunning for you, and this game was no exception. We battled a tough, physical, athletic team that was determined to upset us at all costs, and although we played well in the first half, we started to lose discipline and possession of the ball in the second. That being said, we never stopped battling. Everyone laid it all on the line and it was great to be able to come out on the right side of that last second goal. Then, for our boys to flawlessly execute the PK shootout, and for Brody to come in and make a huge save as senior captain, that was something out of a movie."
 
With the win, GCHS improves to 13-0. The Knights advance to the semifinal round, which will be played at home on February 18th, against No. 5 Catalina (6:00pm). All fans will need a ticket for admission.