Campbell goalkeeper Ruby May Ramos saves a ball before Mililani's Randi Macadandang, the Trojans' leading goal scorer, can make a play on it. Michael Lasquero | SL

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EWA BEACH – Defense stole the show in a scoreless tie between Mililani and host Campbell in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division girls soccer contest Tuesday night.

Along with the 1-1 tie between Kapolei and Aiea, the Trojans (7-0-1) maintained their lead of the West with 22 points and have a crucial match with second-place Aiea (5-0-2) on Jan. 6.

"That was the game tonight: which team was going to play strong defense and not let a mistake happen," Mililani coach Ray Akiona said. "If you can pin both of these teams without scores, that's a tribute to how hard they work on defense. I gotta give them credit. Defense won the game for both sides today."

The Trojans, the third-highest scoring team in the West, suffered their first shutout since Jan. 22, 2014 in a 1-0 loss to Kaiser in the OIA quarterfinals. It was Mililani's first scoreless tie since Dec. 11, 2012 against Pearl City.

"We do take pride in defense," Campbell coach James Curran said. "We've been scored on only twice (this season). One was a PK (penalty kick in a 1-0 loss to Waipahu) and one was (off) a potential foul (in a 1-1 tie with Aiea). I'm proud of our girls."

Mililani threatened a number of times in the first half and most of the second half. The Trojans had at least four plus-25-yard-long free kicks denied by first-year goalkeeper Ruby May Ramos, a junior.

"It was fun to experience more action than before," said Ramos, who played outside back and wing and moved to goalie when no else wanted the position.

"Ruby has made a lot of good saves throughout the season," Curran said.

The Sabers got a stellar outing from senior Asia Canon, usually a midfielder. She was pressed into playing defense for Kaylee Canianes, who was on a trip.

"Asia Canon stepped up," Curran said. "She's out of her normal position. She stepped up big and she held it."

Canon said she played sweeper two years ago, so she has had some familiarity with the position.

"It's kind of good that I'm back in this position so I can get a feel for it and I can cover for my teammate," Canon said.

While the Trojans took more shots on goal, it was the Sabers who had a golden opportunity to break the stalemate at the 70^th minute. A sequence of plays drew Mililani goalie Andrea Kenagy out of the goal area to her left. The ball made its way the opposite side, but Katie Pothier's shot from about 20 yards veered just left of the upright.

"We had opportunities," Curran said. "I thought that was an automatic goal; I thought it was a free layup. But luck just didn't go our way on that one. I thought there was a handball on the play; there was a little ricochet, but the referees can cover only so much ground."

It was too close for comfort for Mililani.

"Sooner or later when the ball's on your side, things are going to break down," Akiona said. "Theoretically, you don't want to have that ball too often back there, but you have to regain your thoughts, get your composure back in. That was good. I liked that about our team."

Except for the open-goal situation, the Trojans defense was its stellar self with fullbacks Jodi Lillie, Malia Napoleon, Gabrielle Hackbarth and Karlin Wurlitzer. Mililani has surrendered just four goals this season.