HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER PREVIEW : Boys : Simi Valley Was No. 1 in Poll but May Finish No. 2 to Royal

Coming off a runner-up finish in last season’s Southern Section 4-A boys soccer playoffs, Simi Valley High warranted a No. 1 ranking in the Southern Section’s preseason poll. No surprise there.

Staying on top, however, will be no easy task for the Pioneers (8-5-1), who open defense of their Marmonte League title Tuesday at Newbury Park.

Simi Valley has only four returning starters and finished second in its own tournament to Royal, which is favored to win the Marmonte title and break the Pioneers’ 23-game league winning streak.

Still, there is the optimism generated by the poll, which Simi Valley Coach Andy Silva hopes doesn’t cast unrealistic expectations on his inexperienced team.

“We have 12 new players, and four returning players, so every team is going to be a tough game for us,” Silva said. “We thought our defense was going to be our strongest point this year. We’re finding out that that might not be the case.”

Three of the Pioneers’ four returners are defensive players, but their growth as a team has been hampered by a knee injury to senior fullback Jimmy Chase.

At Royal, however, Coach John Calpin believes his players have all the right moves.

Royal finished fourth in league last season with eight sophomore starters. A year later, the Highlander youth movement has developed into a 4-A championship contender, as attested by its 4-0 victory over Simi Valley in the final of the Pioneers’ prestigious 32-team tournament last week.

“We expected to be strong this season,” Calpin said. “The kids have matured a lot mentally and physically. They’ve been in a lot of tough situations. They look sharper this time around. We really have started with a fly.”

The Highlanders (11-0-1) are off to a running start with the help of a strong defense and a balanced offense led by senior halfback Shaun Christensen, who has scored 13 goals. Christensen, the quarterback on the football team, is joined by junior forward Chris Orozco, junior forward Louie Guiterrez, and forward Matt Rast, who have combined for 19 goals in 12 games.

Calpin likes his team’s versatility on offense.

“We’re not having to rely on one player this year,” he said. “We will have 10 players on the goal list. I’d hate to have to be in the situation where we have to rely on one player to score all the goals.”

Defensively, senior goalie Allan Tag has allowed only three goals with 28 saves.

Said Calpin: “We think defense the minute that we lose possession.”

Senior fullbacks Mike Regan and Brad Sparks and sweeper Cam Rast, Matt’s twin brother, comprise the Royal backfield. Calpin said Rast “organizes the defense. He’s so quick and cool out there.”

Calpin said this could be the year the Highlanders come of age.

“We had to start from a solid foundation,” he said. “Now we really do have a lot of depth and the kids have developed a positive attitude.”

The Highlanders’ biggest challenge may be in not beating themselves.

“Simi Valley and Westlake are going to very strong,” Calpin said. “Everybody has bad days. We just have to make sure we don’t have too many.”

TEAMS TO WATCH

Agoura

Coach: Marc Berke, 4th

season

Agoura, the defending Southern Section 1-A champion, has 10 players returning and is top-ranked this season. After injury-plagued sophomore and junior seasons, striker Eric Maki is back for his final season. “He’s very strong and has excellent ball control skills,” Berke said. “He doesn’t rush his shot.” Adding experience and stability are seniors Jason Baim (forward), Glen Williams (sweeper) and Egan Forino (striker). Senior fullbacks include Scott Ruth, a transfer from Virginia, and Marshall King. Gone are the Southern Section 1-A Co-Players of the Year, Kevin Jauch and Grant Landy, and first-team All-Southern Section selection Mike Nielson. Senior goalie Mitch Meyers has developed as a team leader and a talented defender. “He’s aggressive, has good hands and is talking all the time,” Berke said. “He’s always in the game, always has a hand on the ball. He’s not afraid to come out and get the ball. Some goalies don’t know when to come out and when not to come out.” Others figuring to make contributions this season are senior striker Rob Sahm, junior center-halfback Josh Mesirow and junior fullback Bill Murphy.

Calabasas

Coach: John Reich, 8th

season

To earn a Southern Section 1-A championship, Calabasas will have to pass Frontier League rival and defending league champion Agoura. Calabasas depend son sweeper Craig Diamond, who was last season’s Southern Section 1-A Defensive Player of the Year. Paul Ratcliffe, a junior midfielder, scored 14 goals last season and has helped Diamond key the offense along with sweeper Mark Schnapper and junior forward Mike Sackin. Early on, the Coyotes have relied on the experience of halfbacks Brad Bookbinder, a senior with exceptional dribbling skills, and senior Brian Sandwweiss. Senior defensive starters include Erik Zeegen, Marty Garron and player Brad Shapiro. Junior halfback Rob Jetter has good speed and is part of what Reich sees as a balanced scoring attack. “We need three or four people to score for us to do well,” he said.

L.A. Baptist

Coach: Mike Osborne, 5th season

Against competitive preseason teams, the Knights have started slowly. Osborne believes the Knights will rebound in the ALpha League behind the play of junior goalkeeper Mike Eden and senior halfback Steve Phillips. Osborne describes Phillips, a two-time All-Alpha League selection, as a team leader. “If you walked out there and didn’t know who he was, you would be able to tell right away,” Osborne said. “He’s always working the hardest.” Sophomore Keith Johnson, who started as a freshman, plays halfback. Said Osborne: “He moves real well off the ball. He knows how to get open. When someone needs help he is very dangerous crossing the ball.” All-league fullback Brett Koontz is a junior who has provided stability to a young Knights team. At right fullback, Koontz is responsible for defending the left forward, normally the opponent’s most talented player. Returning with a season of varsity experience is Mike Comstock, a junior center-fullback who Osborne calls a good defender. “He moves well up the field well,” Osborne said. “He’s learning how to be intelligent about going up the field to create scoring chances.” L.A. Baptist lost starter Chris Bollier, a first-team All-Southern Section selection to graduation. David Fursman, a talented decathlete, decided not to return for his senior season, Osborne said.