Zayan Oliyath could not have picked a better way or time to complete his hat trick. Or done it on a grander stage. The Eagan sophomore scored 4:25 into overtime and the Wildcats beat Maple Grove 4-3 for the Class 3A boys soccer state championship Friday morning at U.S. Bank Stadium. It is the school’s first title. Eagan midfielder Syon Thapa celebrates with their fans after defeating Maple Grove 4-3 in overtime during the Class 3A Championship game of the State Boys Soccer Tournament at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press) Maple Grove finished second for the second straight year. “It was a crazy game, 4-3 after 0-0 at halftime,” said Jake Sondag, who scored the other Eagan goal. From in front of the Eagan student section, a low corner kick from Owen Juntilla went toward Blake Prouty at the near post and he redirected the ball in front. It touched a couple of Crimson players before Oliyath used his left foot to put the ball across the line and ignited a celebration. It was his second three-goal game of the season. Eagan midfielder Jake Sondag, right, celebrates with midfielder Owen Juntilla (6) after scoring during the second half of the Class 3A Championship game of the State Boys Soccer Tournament at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press) “He was amazing today,” midfielder Syon Thapa said. Keeping their fans nervous is nothing new for the Wildcats. Seeded fourth, Eagan (20-1-1) won its state quarterfinal in overtime on an Eric Noll penalty kick, then Sondag netted the state semifinal winner in double overtime. “They have a rule that (the student section) has to be back at school within an hour of the game ending and we’re just trying to make it so they have less school today,” Prouty joked. Eagan forward Zayan Oliyath, left, celebrates with midfielder Syon Thapa after Oliyath scored the winning goal and defeating Maple Grove 4-3 in overtime during the Class 3A Championship game of the State Boys Soccer Tournament at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press) Following an evenly played, scoreless first half, it could safely be argued no one saw an offensive explosion coming. After all, second-seeded Maple Grove (19-1-1) allowed a season-high two goals in a game twice this season; Eagan had yet to allow more than one goal in a game. But … Eagan midfielder Jake Sondag, left, and Maple Grove’s Carter Mast (6) battle for control of the ball during the first half of the Class 3A Championship game of the State Boys Soccer Tournament at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press) Off a turnover, Gavin Chabica fed Everett Johnston for a one-timer from 18 yards out midway through the second half for a 3-2 Maple Grove lead. Eight minutes later, Oliyath lasered his second goal of the game from about 23 yards out, a shot the Crimson goalkeeper got his fingertips on. “Even though we were down 1-0 and down 3-2, we were always in this game, we were going to get ‘em,” Prouty said. Prior to those scores, the teams scored four goals in just over five minutes with excitement switching rapidly among the fan bases. Down 2-1, Maple Grove tied it when an Ike Deuel chip from 32 yards out was redirected off the head of a diving Gannon Farrens and into the lower corner of the net. Off a 40-yard free kick by Johnston, Frank Miller scored on a rebound for a 1-0 Crimson lead. “Throughout this season, one of our best attributes is our strong leadership. When we get scored on, our heads are up, not down. We responded well but just didn’t get the result,” Miller said. Eagan goal keeper Zachary Roxas blocks a Maple Grove shot during the first half of the Class 3A Championship game of the State Boys Soccer Tournament at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press) Between those Crimson goals, Oliyath lined a shot to the top corner from nearly the same place as his second goal, and Sondag stole the ball from a defender in the box and nudged the ball past the goalkeeper as the Wildcats made it 2-2. Eagan forward Zayan Oliyath, second from left, scores the winning goal as his shot goes past Maple Grove goal keeper Zander Waldrum during overtime of the Class 3A Championship game of the State Boys Soccer Tournament at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Eagan won 4-3 in overtime. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press) Oliyath, the team’s top scorer, hadn’t scored in the prior two tournament games but had numerous good looks. “He’s confident to shoot it from anywhere … he has the mentality to just keep going with it and eventually it’ll be different,” said Eagan coach Josue Boutouli. Related Articles High School Sports | Wisconsin High School Football: Level 2 playoff predictions High School Sports | High school football: Section final predictions High School Sports | Boys state soccer: St. Paul Academy wins second-straight shootout thriller to move within one win of Class A three-peat High School Sports | State boys soccer: Sondag’s Golden Goal lifts Eagan into 3A finals High School Sports | State girls soccer: Mahtomedi downs Mankato East to get back in Class 2A title game