Don Ketchum
Former Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Brophy, Hawaii school earn Soccer Showcase titles

December 30, 2011 by Don Ketchum, AZPreps365


Phoenix Brophy Prep won the boys’ championship on Friday (Dec. 30) while Iolani of Hawaii earned the girls’ title in the inaugural Arizona Soccer Showcase at the Scottsdale Sports Complex. The tournament was presented by the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission.

Brophy got a pair of goals from star Riggs Lennon and defeated Gilbert 4-2.

David Lane scored the Broncos’ first goal of the match and Tyler McGehee came through with a goal to ice it in the second half.

Brophy had a 2-0 lead when David Varkevisser, a Dutch exchange student, put Gilbert on the board. Nathan Rice scored Gilbert’s second goal, but by then Brophy already had a 4-1 advantage and time was starting to run out.

Brophy earned a trip to the title match by defeating Chandler Hamilton 2-1 in overtime on Thursday (Dec. 29). Gilbert advanced with a 4-1 triumph over Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor.

Iolani got a goal from Nyki Mitsuyasu in the 31st minute and made it stand up for a 1-0 victory over Cave Creek Cactus Shadows.

Iolani advanced on Friday with a win over Gilbert Highland on penalty kicks. Cactus Shadows reached the final with a 3-0 victory over Gilbert.