Royal Defeats Simi Valley in Overtime on Chip Shot : Prep soccer: Campbell scores winner after Highlanders blow chances in regulation play of Marmonte League match.

Just when it appeared that Royal High had blown its chances to win a wind-swept Marmonte League soccer match Saturday night, Ryan Campbell swooped in to give the visiting Highlanders a 1-0 overtime victory over their cross-town rivals.

Campbell made a strong run up the right wing and chipped a shot over the head of Simi Valley goalkeeper Mike Jones with 2 minutes 36 seconds remaining in overtime.

“We had some tackling problems,” Jones said. “We should have stopped (Campbell) at midfield. I had to make a decision (to come out of the net) and he chipped it by me. That’s just the luck.”

Earlier, the Simi Valley girls’ team scored three goals in a 15-minute span of the first half and defeated Royal, 3-0, in a Marmonte League match.

On a night when gusty winds hampered the teams’ attacks, the Royal boys (7-2-1, 2-0 in league play) let several scoring opportunities slip away in regulation. But Campbell made sure he finished off his chance.

“I was disappointed we didn’t score on those other chances,” Campbell said. “I was thinking I had to get a pass off, or a shot, myself. I knew (Jones) would come out. The only way I could beat him was to chip it.”

Campbell had a chance to score in the first half, but his indirect free kick from five yards was deflected. Just moments earlier, a shot by Dan Morris hit the crossbar. Additionally, a second-half breakaway attempt by Ray Jaramillo was poorly kicked and sailed wide.

Simi Valley (6-3-1, 1-1) generated little offense and its best chance to win was negated when the referee missed a hand ball by Royal defender Travis Thompson in the penalty area, a foul that would have given the Pioneers a penalty kick with 12 minutes left in regulation.

“We just didn’t generate any attack tonight,” Simi Valley Coach Andy Silva said. “Our players let (Royal) dictate play.”

In the girls’ match, Kathy Beasley headed in an Anne Dulcich corner kick in the eighth minute for the decisive goal. Simi Valley (13-1, 2-0) took advantage of a defensive lapse when Stacy Dolder stole the ball and centered a pass to April Herrity. Herrity powered the ball past Royal goaltender Carolyn Rahn for a goal in the 17th minute, making the score 2-0.

Robin Powell capped the scoring in the 23rd minute by drilling a 25-yard shot into the upper-left corner of the net.

With a 3-0 lead, Simi Valley seemed to lose interest in attacking in the second half and Pioneer sweeper Amy Hood made sure that goaltender Jennifer Holman did not have to make too many difficult saves by thwarting the Highlanders’ offensive surges. Holman recorded her 11th shutout of the season.

Royal fell to 6-4-1, 1-1 in league play.

Simi Valley, whose only loss came against El Toro in the final of the Excalibur tournament last month, has outscored opponents, 39-3.