Zach Harper’s Hat Trick Powers St. Joseph-Ogden to First Regional Soccer Title Since 2012

By Fred Kroner

Junior Zach Harper’s ninth hat trick of the season propelled the St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team to its first Class 1A regional championship since 2012 on Wednesday (Oct. 23), a 7-2 victory over Watseka in the St. Anne Regional finals.

Harper netted three goals and had one assist. Yadi Acosta finished with two goals and Logan Mills added two assists.

Tyler Hess collected one goal and one assist. Alex Acosta hit the Spartans’ other goal.

Harper has scored a team-high 46 goals this year. Mills leads SJ-O with 22 assists.

Jaxson Colvin ended with seven saves.

SJ-O (22-2-1) carries a 15-match winning streak into the sectional semifinals at Monticello against Normal University High on Saturday (Oct. 26) at noon.