Zachary Schrader's clutch goal gives Gilbert boys another state title

DES MOINES — It was now or never for Gilbert's Zachary Schrader.

The Tigers were in a scoreless tie with Des Moines Christian heading toward the final three minutes of the Class 2A boys state soccer championship game on June 6 at Mediacom Stadium.

Gilbert had ramped up its urgency on offense, and the Tigers had three close opportunities to score in the final minutes before Schrader's clutch shot.

Preston Stensland delivered a great cross to Schrader that went just wide left with nine minutes left. Billy Terrones was a little high on a shot from 10 yards out with five minutes left, and Stensland got another look right around the three-minute mark, but he was just high.

That is when Schrader used his head and his legs to get off the shot of the 2A tournament. When the ball was cleared after Stensland's shot, Schrader managed to step in front of the ball on the left side of the 18.

He fired off a shot that rifled toward the net. In the blink of an eye, the ball had made it past DMC keeper Carter Pickard and into the net.

"I turned around, I saw the ball flying right toward me and I'm like, this is my chance," said Schrader. "I take a touch. It's a little bit wide, but I go after it. I take it, first time, it's at the back of the net and I go celebrate with my team."

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