Boys soccer team pulls off stunning last minute victory

The second-ranked Benilde-St. Margaret’s boys soccer team took on the Eden Prairie Eagles on Tuesday, August 27th. The game under the lights at Eden Prairie high school had been moved back to 8 p.m. due to excessive heat. But the weather was no issue for the Red Knights as they went on to win a 1-0 thriller, with the lone goal coming with two minutes left to play.

Everyone worked very hard for that win, and I was just fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time.

— Luke Horton

Thanks to a solid defensive effort against a strong Eagles counterattack and four saves from senior goalkeeper Andrew Birkeland, the Red Knights were able to keep Eden Prairie off the board throughout the entire match. “We controlled the midfield and put pressure on their defense. In the end, the pressure paid off,” junior midfielder Aidan O’Driscoll said.

This pressure, however, was unable to force any goals, as the Red Knights couldn’t find the back of the net on their offensive opportunities. That is, until freshman Luke Horton made a run and fired a shot on the Eagles goalkeeper in the 78th minute. After the initial save, Horton finished the goal right down the middle, sending the entire Benilde-St. Margaret’s bench into a frenzy. “It felt great to be able to put one in the net for the team. Everyone worked very hard for that win, and I was just fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time,” Horton said.