
By Jay Leon Guerrero
Game of the season. The Harvest Eagles and the St. John’s Knights battled until the closing minutes with the Knights getting a goal from Matt Hodgins in the 79th-minute to win 4-3 in a IIAAG Boys Soccer League semifinal matchup between two powerhouse teams.
The rematch is set. The Eagles and the FD Friars will battle it out once again for the championship after the Friars defeated the ND Royals 3-1.

Knights strike first
After not scoring against the Eagles in their first two contests, the Knights scored in the opening minutes of the game. Gaius Dulay from St. John’s scored with just three minutes into regulation to go ahead 1-0.
Dulay had a straight shot and angled his shot around Harvest goalie Traven Kaae for the score.
The Eagles started off shaky but quickly rebounded and scored in the 20th minute with a goal from Jack Tran.
Levi Buckwalter followed up with two goals before halftime, giving the Eagles a comfortable lead by the break. Buckwalter’s goals came in the 23rd minute and 32nd minute to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead at halftime.
Knight’s comeback
The Knights did not go down without a fight. The third seed showed tenacity and grit and came back to tie the game. Freshman Allan Zeng scored in the 63rd minute to start the comeback for the Knights. Zeng’s shot came in traffic from 50 feet out to cut the lead to 3-2.
The Knights continued to grind and kept their season alive with a score from Eric You. You’s goal came in the 67th minute and the contest was tied 3-3.
A trip to the championship game was on the line and both teams took turns with their attack. The Eagles caught a break with Hodgins finding an opening.
Buckwalter took his shot against Knight goalie Miles Ganeb but the shot came off the right side of his foot. The shot turned into a pass with Hodgins (on the right side of the goal) in the right place at the right time.
“I was nervous about the outcome of the game. I don’t even remember how I scored but it was a crazy ending.”
Eagles Matt Hodgins on his game-winning goal
“I took a pass from the left winger and it wasn’t the best footer. It came off the right side of my foot and went to Matt (Hodgins),” said Buckwalter. Hodgins went with his instinct and took a shot that found the back of the net.
“After they tied the game, we knew we were still in it. If they can score two goals in seven minutes we can score as well,” said Buckwalter. “We told ourselves we were tied and not down so we needed to push all the way and not back down. Thankfully, we scored a goal at the end.”
The Eagles now need to reset and focus on the championship game. “We know (FD) have some players out (due to overseas competition) but we also had players out during the regular season as well,” said Buckwalter.
“It’s going to be a good finale. I know they are going to play and want it; but we are going to play and want it more,” said Buckwalter.
“We really want this championship after what happened last season,” said Hodgins.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:











GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
12th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

Basketball
BULLDOGS WIN BATTLE OF 4-0 TEAMS

Baseball
MUNA LEADS DODGERS TO TOURNEY FINALS

MMA/Boxing
JONES TO FACE FORMER UFC CHAMPION

Baseball
GECKOS SWING BIG IN SEASON OPENER

Baseball
FRIARS EDGE ROYALS IN PITCHER’S DUEL

Basketball
FRIARS TAKE DOWN PANTHERS 74-68

Running/Track
GECKOS, SHARKS BUILDING TRACK CONFIDENCE
