Kofa High does not get to travel to the Valley much these days due to Yuma budget limitations, but the Kings first trip to the metro Phoenix area this season came close to being a remarkable one.

The fifth-seeded Kings fought off a first-half onslaught of chances and a two-goal deficit late to No.1 seed Brophy before falling in the final three minutes to the Broncos, 4-3, in a 5A-I boys soccer semifinal at Campo Verde High School.

Brophy senior Kevin Grigsby's second goal of the game - a header in the 76th minute - was the difference. Brophy (22-1-1) advances to the 5A-I final for the first time since winning it in 2008. That match is Saturday against Hamilton, a 1-0 winner over Gilbert,  at 6 p.m. at Campo Verde. Kofa, which won a pair of home games in the first two rounds, finished up the year 18-4.

"(No.) 14 is more of a giver for us," Brophy coach Marc Kelly said. "He transformed the game with goals in the second half, particularly the last one."

Kelly also praised backup keeper Michael O'Connor, who subbed for regular keeper Nate Sundemeier, who was ill and unable to play.

"To get a start and win in the semifinals at state is big," Kelly said.

Brophy led 1-0 six minutes into the match (the first of  two goals by sophmore Riggs Lennon). Like a figher absorbing numerous blows but refusing to fall, Kofa dodged at least two or three other goals in the half with great saves or defense. And when the Kings got a rare opportunity on a ball that defected off the post in the 33rd minute, junior striker Colby Carr was there to put it in the back of the net and send the teams to intermission tied at 1-1.

Brophy again pounded away offenisively in the second half, but didn't manage to regain the lead until Grigsby, on a slick cross from deep in the corner from Ian Poblete, tallied for the lead in the 53rd minute. Lennon scored again just eight minutes later for a 3-1 lead that should have put Kofa away.

The Kings had other ideas,  rustled up goals in the 63rd and 69th minute by Esteban Jimenez and Erik Altamiranon, respectively, to knot the score at 3. Grigsby with too much space in the goal box and time winding down, hit the back of the net with a nice header preventing what looked to be sure overtime.

"Hats off to Kofa," Kelly said. "They worked very hard and pushed us to the end. Not seeing them just knowing they hadn't played a lot of different competititon, we didn't know what to expect. Coming back from two goals down that late was a sign of team that deserved to be here."

Kofa coach Jamie Nicewander wasn't surprised his team didn't buckle, even after falling behind two goals so late. The only other team to score three goals on Brophy this season was Desert Vista.

"We knew it would be tough," Nicewander said. "We weren't going to give in. It could have gone either way at the end. To score three goals was an accomplishment. I'm not sure too many teams have done that against them.."