By Don Ketchum

All it took was one goal and some solid defense for Phoenix Brophy Prep’s soccer team to forget (sort of) an overtime loss at home to Scottsdale Chaparral on Dec. 1.

The Division I state championship contenders were back at it again at Chaparral on Wednesday night (Jan. 18), and this time Brophy escaped with a 1-0 victory.

Brophy, which won the old Class 5A Division I title last season, scored with 3 minutes to go in the first half on a goal by senior Tyler McGehee. The Broncos (14-1-1) had kept the pressure on and it finally paid off.

Chaparral (10-2-2) couldn’t stage a repeat of its previous game against Brophy, when it rallied from a 1-0 deficit with a late goal to force overtime and earned a 2-1 triumph.

“That first time was only our second game of the year, when we were a lot of individuals. Now we are a team and we can hold leads now,’’ said Brophy coach Marc Kelly.

“We moved the ball around better, kept the ball on the floor, and had a good second half.’’

Chaparral came close on a few occasions but couldn’t find the back of the net, with shots and headers barely missing or being stopped by Brophy goalkeeper Nate Sundermeier.

“After the first time we played them, it was good to come over here to their place and win,’’ Kelly said.

The win should boost the Broncos’ confidence heading down the final stretch of the regular season.

Brophy also gained confidence at a recent national tournament in Orlando, Fla., where it finished third.

“We thought we played well against some tremendous opponents,’’ Kelly said.

Chaparral coach Jason Speirs said this game against Brophy was similar to the first meeting.

“We both had our chances,’’ he said. “I thought we were the stronger side in the second half. We were hoping to tie it, but we couldn’t do it. They’re (Brophy) a good passing team, aggressive, and they are well-coached. There is a reason why they won the state championship.’’