SOUTHERN SECTION SOCCER PLAYOFF ROUNDUP : Santa Ana Boys Edge Simi Valley

Simi Valley High had more than three times as many shots on goal as Santa Ana and goalkeeper Mike Jones made 11 saves for the Pioneers in a Southern Section 4-A Division boys’ semifinal soccer match Tuesday night, but Santa Ana will be making the trip to the title match.

Gustavo Plasencia stole a pass intended for Jones from Pioneer defender Vince Proja and scored into an open net from about 20 yards with 30 seconds left in overtime to boost Santa Ana over the division’s top-ranked team, 1-0, and into the championship match against Beverly Hills on Friday.

Simi Valley (22-3-1) outshot the Saints, 28-9, and had several scoring opportunities that it could not convert because of a physical Santa Ana defense that was led by a 10-save performance by Armando Guillen.

“I told the players (after regulation) to keep the faith,” Santa Ana Coach Sam Buenrostro said. “I told them I didn’t care if they scored with their hair or their noses, but to just keep the faith.”

Santa Ana (20-6-3) was threatening around the midfield line, prompting Proja to send a pass back to Jones, who was playing outside the penalty area. Proja’s pass rolled behind the advancing Jones and Plasencia stole the ball and scored his 23rd goal.

When the ball rolled into the lower right corner of the net, Simi Valley Coach Andy Silva dropped to his knees on the sideline and the facial expressions of Pioneer reserves turned from enthusiastic to dazed. Several water bottles were slammed to the ground.

“The wrong team won the game,” Silva said. “We were in their faces and on their doorstep all night. One mistake will cost you.”