Girls’ Soccer: CdM’s Brown commits to SMU

Corona del Mar High girls’ soccer senior Shelby Brown has committed to Southern Methodist University, CdM Coach Bryan Middleton confirmed Saturday.

“Just extremely proud that she continued her pursuit in playing at the next level,” Middleton wrote in a text message. “Making the commitment to continue playing takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication.”

Brown, a midfielder, also showed that for CdM. She was the Newport-Mesa Player of the Year as a junior, when she tied for the team lead with six goals and had a team-best eight assists, helping the Sea Kings win their fourth straight Pacific Coast League title and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

Brown, a team captain this year for CdM who also plays club for Newport Beach-based Slammers FC, had team-best totals of eight goals and four assists this season. The Sea Kings (10-8-3) finished tied for second in league and lost to Riverside M.L. King, 4-2, in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs, despite a goal from Brown.

SMU is an NCAA Division 1 program. This past fall, the Mustangs advanced to the American Athletic Conference quarterfinals before falling to University of Central Florida.

— Matt Szabo