Marcos de Niza defeats Brophy in replay of 1990 soccer state title game

by Jose E. Garcia – May. 9, 2010 12:13 AM
The Arizona Republic

What was once a zany idea turned into a competitive game and reunion for former high school friends.

On Saturday the 1990 edition of the boys soccer teams of Tempe Marcos de Niza High and Phoenix Brophy replayed their 1990 state title game that ended in a controversial 0-0 tie. The teams wanted to settle the score once and for all.

It took 20 years, but Marcos de Niza’s players can finally say they are the champions after beating Brophy 2-0 Saturday night. Fans packed Brophy’s new sports complex to watch the game.

After the game, the public address announcer said “The Arizona Interscholastic Association’s state champion Marcos de Niza Padres.” It’s doubtful that the AIA will recognize Saturday’s game as the official championship game between the teams.

But at least for one day Marcos de Niza was glad to say it won and will likely brag about it for the next 20 years or so. Before the game started there was a moment of silence for the teams’ former coaches, Jack Smythe of Marcos de Niza and Brophy’s Paul Micheletti.

Smythe died of cancer, and Micheletti died in a car accident.

“I was honored to hold his (Smythe) position tonight,” said Jim Vanney, Marcos de Niza’s coach on Saturday.

Former Brophy assistant under Micheletti, John Kelly, was Brophy’s coach on Saturday.

Vanney was an assistant on the 1990 team.

Vanney’s brother, Greg, turned out to be the star of Saturday’s game, but that didn’t really surprise many. Greg retired about 18 months ago as well-known professional.

Greg, a defender throughout his pro career, scored the first goal with 18:42 remaining in the second half and assisted on the second goal, a header by Kenny Wright.

“He (Greg) put it (free kick pass) on a platter,” Wright said.

For Marcos de Niza’s Steve Service, the game meant he can close a chapter of his life that kept chasing him.

Service has always said he scored a goal on a header during the 1990 game, but the goal was disallowed by a linesman.

“Tonight (Saturday) was totally about confirmation that we won in 1990,” Service said.

Marcos de Niza goalkeeper Scott Hileman and Brophy’s goalkeeper Robert Kaczmaryczyk made a handful of excellent saves.

The Brophy-Marcos de Niza rivalry was intense, and 20 years didn’t erase some of the bad blood. A couple of players came close to fighting on two occasions, but after the game all of the players shook hands and hugged each other.

“Once a competitive athlete,” Greg said, “always a competitive athlete. Nobody wanted to lose. That’s sports. You want to beat each other up, and in the end you hug.”

After the game, the players took pictures and chatted with friends and families.

There were one or two beer bellies (OK, three) and a few receding hairlines on the field during the game, but the players already etched their place in Arizona soccer history. That 1990 Marcos de Niza-Brophy rivalry produced 10 college players and six professionals.

To this day no other Arizona high school soccer rivalry can say it has produced that much talent. Former Brophy defender Briand Wendel deserves the credit for reuniting the two squads.

Wendel has attempted to organize this game since March 2009, and Gatorade finally granted Wendel’s wish to sponsor the game. This is just the third replay game Gatorade has sponsored.

Gatorade has received about 3,000 requests to replay games.

“Perseverance and determination won out in making this game possible,” Wendel said. “I’m sure we won’t go another 20 years without being in touch with each other.”

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/preps/se/articles/2010/05/09/20100509gatorade-replay-marcos-de-niza-brophy-soccer.html#ixzz0njWyjJ37

KDUS AM 1060 “The Fan” With Lauren Fritts

Listen to Lauren Fritts, Gatorade spokesperson, discussing the Gatorade REPLAY League and Brophy vs. Marcos.

KDUS “The Fan” AM 1060 with Kevin McCabe

Live on-air with Kevin McCabe discussing REPLAY: Brophy vs. Marcos

Brophy, Marcos set to replay 1990 Arizona state final

04/06/10

By: Sheldon Shealer at ESPN.com

It took 20 years, but Brian Wendel may have just scored his greatest goal for Brophy College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.) soccer.

Wendel, a 36-year-old New York resident and brainchild behind a campaign to replay the Brophy vs. Marcos de Niza (Tempe, Ariz.) 1990 Arizona Class 5A state final that ended in a scoreless draw, confirmed that a Gatorade-sponsored replay will take place May 8 in Phoenix.

“This campaign is evidence that anything is possible, and for me, it’s been a big dream to replay the 1990 state championship,” said Wendel, who was a sophomore left defender on that 1990 Brophy squad.

The 1990 final is considered by many in the Arizona soccer community as the greatest collection of high school talent on the field at one time. The match featured 10 college-bound players, six of whom went on to professional soccer careers, including former U.S. national team defender Greg Vanney and former MLS keeper Scott Garlick.

All 36 players from those teams will gather May 8 at Brophy Sports Complex for a 7 p.m. replay of that final, which will be aired on Fox Sports-Arizona. The game serves as the first event in the recently constructed Brophy Sports Complex.

Wendel originally pitched the idea of a Marcos-Brophy reunion for the Gatorade Replay series in March 2009. In February 2010, Gatorade announced that Replay 2 was going to feature hockey teams from Detroit replaying a 1999 match. A week later, however, Gatorade officials contacted Wendel to let him know that a Brophy-Marcos rematch would be part of the Gatorade Replay League.

“As disappointing as it was not to be picked [for Replay 2], I was delighted a week later when Gatorade sent an e-mail,” Wendel said. “My life flipped 180 degrees.”

Wendel said prior to the Gatorade announcement of Replay 2, Marcos and Brophy players agreed to replay the contest, anyway. With Gatorade’s sponsorship, he added, it takes the event to a higher level. Both teams will wear vintage uniforms from 1990 made by Nike.

Many of the 36 players – 18 on each side – involved in that state final are now scattered around the country. Wendel said players will be traveling from as far away as Tampa, Fla., New York and Washington, D.C. Wendel added that he has not seen many of his 1990 high school teammates in nearly 20 years.

For the individuals still residing in Arizona, Brophy and Marcos is holding “boot camp” three days a week to get players in shape for the event.

REPLAY: The Frozen Flashback

If you’ve ever played team sports … this is what it’s all about … looking forward to seeing my teammates in the huddle at practice on 4/22 (my first team practice w/ the ’90 team; picture taken at ’89 hockey REPLAY game on 4/3/10)

21 years in the making, Delbarton and St. Joe's square off in a re-match of the '89 state hockey final ... a measles outbreak canceled the championship game and it was never re-scheduled -- "the greatest game never played" FINALLY had its day on April 3, 2010 ... Delbarton prevailed 3-2.

New Logo Unveiled

The logo for the Brophy vs. Marcos REPLAY was recently unveiled — lookin’ sharp!

Sunny Days Ahead …

Looking forward to getting out of this snowy winter back East, and playing in the Brophy vs. Marcos “Co-Championship” re-match in sunny PHX … it’s been 20 years and we’re getting ready to “settle the score!”

Snow fell from heaven unassembled, and this what the kids and I put together ... not the best, but it was a lot of fun!

REPLAY # 2: Trenton vs. Detroit Catholic (hockey)

REPLAY Season 2 involves a classic high school hockey rivalry in Hockey Town, USA (Detroit). The Trenton Trojans and the Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks are two hockey powerhouses with a rivalry so intense they still meet to play twice a year despite being part of different state classifications. One of their storied match ups took place in 1999. In their second meeting, with the score tied at 4-4, Trenton player Kurt La Tarte had his jugular accidentally slit open by another player’s skate, a tragedy that almost cost him his life. The two teams convened on the ice to pray for their fellow athlete, and the game ended in a tie.  Catholic Central went on to be State Champs that year, while Trenton’s team never recovered from the shake up and their season hit the skids. Ironically, Catholic Central’s only loss that year was their first match up with Trenton.  In order for these old wounds to heal, it’s time to settle the score once and for all.

REPLAY: Our Submission to Gatorade

Dear Gatorade,

Over the past few weeks I have spoken with [XXXXX] re: the REPLAY campaign. I am writing today on behalf of the Brophy Broncos and Marcos de Niza Padres because both teams are beyond impressed with the REPLAY program, and we’d like to share our story for consideration.

Our teams played to a scoreless tie in the 1990 Arizona 5A State Soccer Final. At the time, a shootout wasn’t permitted and the teams were crowned “Co-Champions.” The rule has since been changed and “Co-Champions” is a thing of the past — thank goodness.

So, what does a potential REPLAY of the 5A State Soccer Final mean to Gatorade, you ask?

First, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the premiere soccer players from Metro Phoenix to truly settle an old score – once and for all. But more importantly, it is an opportunity for these men who have become today’s community leaders to give back to their families, schools, neighborhoods, youth soccer clubs and everyone else who helped to shape and mold them along the way as they have gone on to become successful men, fathers and community leaders.

Today, these players continue to serve as ambassadors for the game of soccer, their schools and the towns where they grew up and many still live. Some are doctors, lawyers, lobbyists, entrepreneurs, Wall St. traders and retired professional athletes; but there is one thing more than anything that both squads want to add to their list of accomplishments:

To become a Gatorade REPLAY campaign ambassador!

The ’90 State Soccer Final featured the two best schools, in Arizona. This was the match-up everyone was secretly hoping for and the day finally arrived on Saturday, February 10, 1990.  This rivalry features the best players in Arizona, and both teams were stacked top-to-bottom with the Gatorade Player-of-the-Year, All-America, All-State, All-Conference and standout club players on both rosters. The stakes were high – and the game was on!

Typically, when two trains are heading toward one another at breakneck speed you want to turn away and not look. For 80 minutes of regulation play, and 20 minutes of double-overtime, the crowd couldn’t take their eyes off the field for one second as the non-stop action swung back and forth all afternoon on the pitch.

It was an epic showdown, although if you ask Marcos they will tell you they scored a “controversial goal” that was called back. The linesmen ruled “no goal” and the second overtime ensued. At the conclusion of 100 minutes of consecutive play, the score remained “0-0 ” and rather than having a shootout (penalty kicks) to determine an undisputed winner the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) declared Brophy and Marcos “Co-Champions.”

To this day (some 19 years later), it is a sensitive and very sore topic for players, parents, families and classmates on both squads to discuss. The rivalry is as fierce today as it was in February 1990.

The score needs to be settled once and for all, and this time NO TIE is allowed!!

In response to the upcoming Easton vs. Phillipsburg REPLAY, both teams have chosen to re-assemble their ’90 squad and petition Gatorade to REPLAY the ’90 Arizona State Soccer Final. We have successfully re-assembled players from the original rosters (36 players in total) and we’re working together to make this happen.

The opportunity to square up against our fiercest opponent is a dream come true for both teams — please Gatorade, help our dream become a reality.

The potential opportunity to REPLAY our nemesis has been the greatest experience as players, classmates, school administrators and the community is abuzz about the mere “idea” of a potential re-match. Furthermore, local media is clamoring to write about this if/when Gatorade selects us for a REPLAY.

To show our unity, enthusiasm and support for the REPLAY campaign we have created a 1990 REPLAY Blog (http://1990replay.wordpress.com) and online petition to demonstrate our community support and unity.

• The players want this;
• The parents and families want this;
• The schools and classmates want this;
• And soccer fans across Arizona want to see this epic showdown occur one more time!

As you consider other RELAY matches, I urge you to play close attention to the Brophy-Marcos blog and petition. We are organized, motivated and have a groundswell of support at the local, regional and national level.

Most importantly, we can successfully deliver a REPLAY match that will garner tremendous community support and goodwill for all involved with the Gatorade campaign.

A Brophy vs. Marcos REPLAY represents thousands of new friends and fans Gatorade hasn’t met yet!!!!

I am anxiously awaiting your reply and look forward to speaking with you soon – let’s do this!

Yours in sport, competition and soccer,

Brian Wendel

Brophy ‘92

Let’s Get This Settled!