
By Robert Balajadia
With an overtime shootout hanging in the balance, St. John’s Kaia Malakooti took aim and fired off a game-winning goal in the 78th minute, which would be the only goal scored against a stout ND defense, in the IIAAG Girls Soccer Championship Game Saturday afternoon at the St. John’s Field.
Malakooti had been firing from just over 20 yards out all game-long, but all of her previous eight shots had a little too much power on it as they all sailed over the goal. With all the backing she could ask for from her teammates, Kaia made sure her last shot was going to be her best one of the day.
“I was getting down on myself,” said Kaia on missing her earlier shots. “My team just kept telling me to keep shooting and they had nothing but full-on faith in me. I just trusted my foot and the ball went it and it felt amazing.”

The Knights knew there wasn’t too much time left on the clock, but Malakooti’s goal fired up the entire team with enough energy to close out the game.
“My team did not want to let loose, we pushed 10 times harder and we wanted to close this out. We fought so hard till the end and I think our last push proved how badly we really wanted this.”
The Knights commanded ball possession and shots on goal with 27 total, 12 in the first half and 15 in the second. The Royals struggled getting their offense going with just two shots in the first half and six in the second, with half of them coming from near midfield.
The four-team condensed season wrapped up Saturday featuring the leagues top two teams, the Knights and Royals, with no playoffs. In their first meeting earlier in the week, the Knights captured a 2-0 victory. Saturday’s game saw small line-up changes, but defenses dominated the day.
Malakooti has had a fruitful 2021 after winning a tennis title in the first half of the IIAAG season along with first place in the All-Island Tournament. Going two-for-two in Championships has been great for Kaia, but sharing the field, or court, with her teammates is what she’s really cherishing.
“Just being back is awesome overall. Even though it’s a shortened season, being out here with my friends means everything, most especially winning championships.”
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:




GPS Sports Calendar
July 2025
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for June
1st
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
2nd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
3rd
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
4th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
5th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
6th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
7th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
8th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
9th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
2025 PACIFIC MINI GAMES
Events for July
10th
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Events for July
11th
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
Events for July
12th
Events for July
13th
Events for July
14th
Events for July
15th
Events for July
16th
Events for July
17th
Events for July
18th
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
Events for July
19th
Events for July
20th
Events for July
21st
Events for July
22nd
Events for July
23rd
Events for July
24th
Events for July
25th
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 1
- 2
Events for July
26th
Events for July
27th
Events for July
28th
Events for July
29th
Events for July
30th

Pacific Mini Games
BASEBALL ADVANCES TO GOLD MEDAL GAME

Pacific Mini Games
KENT GETS GOLD IN 10K, AS EXPECTED

Pacific Mini Games
PMG DAY 2: GUAM STILL SEARCHES FOR FIRST MEDAL

Basketball
RECAP OF FD ALUMNI BASKETBALL WEEKEND

Pacific Mini Games
WATER SPORTS KICKS THINGS OFF IN DAY 1

Jiu-Jitsu
CRUZ BROS. CRUISE THROUGH STATESIDE COMP
COMING SOON …
FD Alumni Basketball Tournament June 27-July 18
Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9
QUICK HITS