(GILBERT, Ariz.)  The Gilbert Christian boys soccer team continued to build momentum Tuesday night, picking up a 3-1 victory over Scottsdale Christian Academy behind a balanced attack and a relentless midfield effort.

The Knights were the obvious aggressor in the affair, outworking the Eagles from start to finish, while winning the majority of 50/50 balls and limiting scoring opportunities for their 2A counterpart.

Senior forward Noah Cooper rewarded the effort midway through the opening period, breaking through the Eagles' defense and finishing from close range 14 minutes into play to give Gilbert Christian a 1-0 advantage. Possession largely favored the Knights in the opening half, as they created a steady stream of scoring opportunities and kept play pinned in their offensive end heading into the break.

That momentum carried into the second half, where freshman Canaan Barnett extended the lead, finding a gap and driving a powerful shot past two defenders and into goal. Scottsdale Christian briefly found its footing with a score of its own at the 23:39 mark, trimming the deficit and injecting some life into the contest.

Gilbert Christian responded with poise and sealed the outcome in the closing minutes. A sequence of sharp passing opened space in the middle, allowing senior Jackson Lundberg to blast one into the upper right corner, putting the match out of reach.

The victory moves Gilbert Christian to 4-1 on the season and marks the Knights' fourth consecutive win. The team returns to action tonight on the road at Valley Christian, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00pm.