Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

SAN CLEMENTE — San Clemente forward Camille Brophy acknowledges that she hasn’t always excelled at tracking the wonderfully unpredictable bounces that soccer offers. But if her effort on Tuesday night was any indication, the sophomore has made major improvement.

Brophy hounded a ball that San Juan Hills attempted to clear from its penalty box before striking a volley for a goal in the 18th minute to lift the host Tritons to 1-0 victory in a South Coast League clash between ranked teams in CIF-SS Division 1.

The scoring sequence started with the 5-foot-10 Brophy leaping in front of a defender for a high pass into the center of the Stallions’ penalty area. The ball ricocheted to the side before San Clemente’s Rachel Millard sent it back toward toward Brophy but over her head. Brophy gave chase and quickly caught the ensuing deflection in mid-air with her left foot.

Her strike from the 18-yard line sailed high into the net for her second goal of the season.

Through all the bounces on the play, Brophy never seemed to loose sight of the ball.

“I used to have a harder time with that as a kid — keeping my eye on the ball — so I really focus on it (now),” the first-year varsity player said. “Winning on our home field feels great and to contribute to that feels amazing.”

Wait for it! The game-winning strike by soph. forward Camille Brophy of ⁦@SCHSTritons⁩ in a 1-0 triumph v San Juan Hills ⁦@ocvarsity⁩ pic.twitter.com/v8fl1CTF37

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) January 18, 2023

The goal by Brophy, along with San Clemente’s defense, helped the Tritons (10-1-4, 1-0-1) hand San Juan Hills (10-1-3, 2-1-0) its first loss.

San Clemente, ranked sixth in Division 1, leaned on its backline of Malia McMahon, Addie Brislen, Samantha Lee and Isabella Maselli to hold off an offensive surge in the second half by San Juan Hills, ranked eighth in Division 1.

Goalies Rylie McLeish and Addison Robertson combined for the shutout for the defending league champion Tritons.

San Juan Hills threatened late behind defender Peyton Leonard. The senior sparked the Stallions with her physical defense and contributed several long throw-ins.

Related Articles

Robertson grabbed an excellent shot by Megan Swift in the 52nd minute.

“I thought it was a pretty even match,” San Juan Hills coach Farrel Moore said. “We got a little disorganized (on the San Clemente goal), switched off for a second, and they took advantage of the opportunity. It’s soccer but 60 minutes left and we competed.”

San Juan Hills plays host to San Clemente on Jan. 28 in the second round of league.