APEX - Broughton goalkeeper Will Mackvick and his pals on defense ended No. 1-ranked Apex's 31-game undefeated streak Thursday night, stopping the defending state 4-A champion Cougars 2-0.

Apex (5-1-2) controlled the ball for much of the nonconference game but failed to score against a 9-1 Broughton team that is ranked fifth in the state.

"A shutout and win is all that matters," said Mackvick, a senior. "As much as Apex had the ball, there weren't really a lot of shots for me to defend because the defense in front of me was playing so well. Marco Fonseca, Ben Snow, Kevin Stam, Bryan Hooker -- the whole defense limited their shots."

Broughton scored a goal in each half.

"After a tough game with Wakefield the night before, this is a big win," Broughton coach Izzy Hernandez said. "It's tough for Apex because every game people are shooting at them.

"Even though we had a shutout, Apex still attacked well. Our defense tightened up, and our backs and keeper played well."

The Caps jumped ahead 1-0 just more than three minutes into the game when senior Graham Ford scored off a throw-in by senior Tyler Duncan.

For the first 10 minutes of the second half, Apex dominated possession of the ball, but Broughton broke away for another goal. Duncan got his second assist when he got the ball to sophomore Brandon Hayes, who dribbled down the left flank, cut to the goal and shot the ball past the Cougars' keeper.

"Apex had been possessing the ball really well, and we weren't, but we got a goal like that. That's the game of soccer," Hernandez said.

With his team controlling the ball, Apex coach Kevin Todd said he kept thinking a goal would come and get the Cougars jump-started.

"I'd say you can do things technically well, but if you don't have that extra intensity and play smart, things just don't go as they should," Todd said. "Give Broughton credit. They certainly capitalized when they needed to. It's important that we take this game and use it as a learning tool.

"We had a couple of outstanding efforts, like Lucas Carpenter and Drew Gardner. But overall, our team intensity was not where it needed to be."

Apex was playing without senior Forrest Moog, who had a goal in Monday's tie with Green Hope. Moog, who injured a foot in the Green Hope game, also is the place-kicker for the Cougars' football team.

Oddly enough, Broughton sophomore Jeremy Shelley left the game with a sore knee after he collided with an Apex player. Shelley is Broughton's place-kicker and had a 50-yard field goal two weeks ago.

Both soccer teams jump back into conference action Monday. Apex hosts Cary, while Broughton hosts Sanderson.