Liam Archer is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism Master's student assigned to cover Phoenix Country Day School for AZPreps365.com

GLENDALE – No. 3 Phoenix Country Day advanced to the 3A boys soccer state championship game following its 4-1 upset over No. 2 Thatcher Tuesday night, setting up a rematch of last year’s 3A final.

A year ago, the Eagles' season ended in the championship, falling 3-2 to American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North. This season, it has a chance at revenge on the No. 1 overall seed.

“I think the kids would be happy to play anybody in the finals, to be honest,” coach Andy Rodin said. “This team that we’re going to play is really, really good. We’re going to have to be our sharpest.”

That being said, senior Speed Gregory is ready for another shot at last year’s victors.

“We want our revenge,” Gregory said. “Last year was just a heartbreaking loss."

This Phoenix Country Day squad enters the state final owning a 21-2 goal differential through three rounds of the playoffs. American Leaderhsip Academy - Gilbert North sits at 9-4, including a 4-3 semifinals win, in which they trailed 3-0.

“We’ve got a very solid team this season,” Gregory said. "Hopefully, this time around the story looks a little different.”

Phoenix Country Day dominated Thatcher on Tuesday night, but it actually trailed to begin the game.

Thatcher capitlized on a slow start from the Eagles, as senior Timothy Fox scored off a deflected corner kick in the opening minute of the match. 

“We just came out a little flat, honestly,” Gregory said. “We’ve gone down 1-0 before this season, but the most important thing is that we responded.”

Despite the early deficit, midfielder Jonah Kaplan wasn’t worried.

“We know that if we play our way, we’re going to win the game, no matter what,” Kaplan said.

It took about six minutes for Phoenix Country Day to find its usual form, as the Eagles orchestrated a quality scoring opportunity due to their ability to connect passes.

The Eagles’ ability to possess the ball quickly generated results as captain Speed Gregory scored in the 10th minute to even up the scoring. Shortly after, in the 14th minute, Kaplan tucked away another shot, giving Phoenix Country Day a 2-1 lead.

According to Rodin, Kaplan’s ability to control the middle of the field was outstanding.

“He’s our conductor,” Rodin said. "We go as he goes. He’s just magic out there, and when he’s working the ball around, the whole thing is a symphony.”

Rodin also credited the two flanking center midfielders, captain Ely Brayboy and Adam Burns, with exceptional complementary play.

“The three of them together are just dynamite,” Rodin said.

The middle of the field is in large part what separated Phoenix Country Day from Thatcher as the game progressed.

Thatcher’s style of play favored playing quick, long balls over the defense to create opportunities for its bigger, physical players. Phoenix Country Day was able to neutralize that by possessing the ball off Thatcher’s errant passes.

What it created, however, was an extremely physical match, with both teams receiving a handful of yellow cards. Entering the match, Rodin thought that might be a possibility, and his goal was to keep Phoenix Country Day focused on playing its style of soccer.

“It’s really hard,” Rodin said. "They’re kids and they’re getting emotional, but you’ve just got to do your best to keep your head.”

Rodin preached that message before the game and at halftime, cautioning his players on the dangers of picking up cards at this stage of the playoffs.

“It’s tough, I feel like I lost my cool once or twice, “Brayboy said, “but we’ve just got to relax and remember what we’re playing for out there.”

Kaplan made sure to keep the larger goal in perspective.

“The goal is to win a ring, win a state championship, and that’s not going to happen if we’re out here getting red cards,” Kaplan said.

Phoenix Country Day took their 2-1 lead into halftime and kept its foot on the gas, as Gregory scored his second goal of the night in the first minute of the second half. Kaplan scored the final goal for the Eagles in the 50th minute, a perfectly chipped ball over the goalkeeper and the defense.

The Eagles, despite conceding in the first minute, played 79 minutes of shutout soccer to finish the game. They registered 18 shots, 10 of them on goal.

Phoenix Country Day (13-0-1) will take on American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North (16-0) in the championship match on Friday night.