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

GLENDALE – After a 3-2 loss to American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North in last season’s 3A championship game, Phoenix Country Day exacted its revenge Friday night.

The No. 3 Phoenix Country Day Eagles (14-0-1) took down the No. 1 overall seeded American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North (16-1) in the 3A state finals, 6-3.

“It feels amazing,” Phoenix Country Day coach Andy Rodin said. “It left a bitter taste in our mouths, but we were singularly focused on winning the state championship. It was secondary to us accomplishing our big goal.”

According to the players, beating ALA held a deeper meaning.

“The title of our group chat has been ‘revenge tour’ since the beginning of the season,” captain Ely Brayboy said.

Over the course of the previous two seasons, Phoenix Country Day has been knocked out of the playoffs by Yuma Catholic and American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North, both of whom the Eagles beat in this year’s playoffs to win the state title.

“That’s been the theme of the season,” co-captain Speed Gregory added. “Every Instagram post we use the hashtag ‘revenge tour.’ This was the final stop; we wanted these guys.”

Junior Jonah Kaplan kept it simple.

“We’ve lost to three teams in our career, and this year we got revenge on all three of them,” Kaplan said.

Senior captain Speed Gregory began the final game of his prolific career with one of four goals on the night. Gregory took advantage of an early miscue by an ALA defender, intercepting a back pass and finishing into the net in just the second minute of play.

American Leaderhsip Academy - Gilbert North came ready to fight back, as it equalized only five minutes later on a tap in goal.

Less than 60 seconds later, ALA scored again on a beautiful hit from midfielder Sam Bellows to swing the advantage in their favor.

Despite being down 2-1, Phoenix Country Day was able to keep the ball in the attacking third of the field and had plenty of opportunities in the first half.

Eventually Phoenix Country Day’s attack was able to capitalize on its opportunities, with Jake Gregory finishing a ball across the box to even the score, 2-2.

The first half had the Gregory brothers’ footprints all over it as Speed Gregory converted two more goals in the opening half, giving him a hat trick in just 39 minutes. 

By halftime, Phoenix Country Day held a 4-2 advantage.

Last week, American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North trailed 3-0 to begin their match against Northwest Christian and came all the way back to win 4-3. 

Rodin wasn’t concerned about another comeback.

“I felt like we were in control, and we were doing what we needed to do,” Rodin said. “I said, ‘Look, guys, we’re winning by two goals, we missed a penalty kick, let’s just keep it rolling.”

Amidst the post game celebrations, it was hard to ignore the pit vipers that the Eagles were wearing.

“Last year, after every game we’d put these on on the bus ride home,” Gregory said.

When the Eagles lost in last year’s playoffs, they scrapped the tradition.

“We abandoned it this year.” Brayboy said, “We decided, once we’re state champs we can put them back on.”

As the final whistle blew, the Phoenix Country Day bench cleared onto the field celebrating their first state championship in the 3A division. For Rodin, it was a perfect send off for his seniors.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Rodin said. "Ely and Speed, those boys are as good as I’ve seen as far as their soccer playing, but they’re even better human beings, and our team just coalesced around them.”

As the team celebrated, Gregory took in the scene.

“I love these guys,” Gregory said, “I’m so proud of this team. It’s unreal. I’m just at a loss for words.”

Rodin was ecstatic with the way his team capped off the season.

“Just delightful,” Rodin said. "They’re resilient, they’re creative, they’re all the things you need to come together as a brotherhood and win a game like this.”

The Eagles finished strong, scoring two more goals in the second half: one at the foot of Speed Gregory, and the other on a penalty kick from Jonah Kaplan.

Phoenix Country Day took 22 shots in total, with 13 of them on target. Aside from a penalty kick later in the second half, the Eagles’ defense remained resolute.

As the team bus pulled out of the parking lot, Drake’s ‘Big Rings’ blared out the windows, and sure enough, the Eagles will get their own, too.