Brophy beats Hamilton again, secures boys soccer crown

February 12, 2011 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


A suggestion at halftime from Brophy soccer coach Marc Kelly got through to Esteban Obregon. The senior midfielder put the words of wisdom in practice quickly in the second half and the result was the deciding goal for top-seed Brophy in the 5A-I championship match against No. 2 seed Hamilton.

Obregon assisted Kyle Seeger for the only goal of the night Saturday giving Brophy a 1-0 victory over Hamilton at Campo Verde High School.

The victory allowed the Broncos (23-1-1) to claim their fourth state title in the sport and first since 2008. It also kept Hamilton without a boys soccer title for the second straight year. The Huskies fell to Corona del Sol in the 2010 final. Two of Hamilton's losses were to Brophy, the previous one a 2-1 defeat in January.

 "I told (Esteban) at halftime to go at the defender and around him," Kelly said. "That's exactly what he did. He served it to (Seeger).

"This team came together early, believed from the start. They worked so hard during the year and it paid off."

Brophy's goal came just two minutes into the second half. The teams traded chances throughout the rest of the match. A couple of fine saves by Hamilton keeper Kiyan Pirgheybi kept it a 1-0 game later in the half. 

Hamilton's best chance to tie came midway through the half when Michael Markette got loose on the outside, right of the goal. His shot from 20 yards out was one Brophy keeper Nate Sundermeier  had no chance of stopping. The shot hit the lower portion of the crossbar and caromed down. Somehow it did not go in.

"This stings a little," Hamilton coach Nick Markette said. "I still can't believe (son) Michael's shot didn't go in. "We had a game plan, and it was working. We had some chances and couldn't put them in. Our kids battled like warriors."

Hamilton's last chance came with a minute left. Pirgheybi took a free kick from 40 yards out and it sailed over the head of Sundermeier. It appeared to be on target but hit the back of a Hamilton player and caromed over the byline.

"The good thing for us is we have a lot of underclassmen on the field," Markette said. "We only lose five of this group. And come Monday morning at 7:10 they'll be back working again."