HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER / SO. SECTION PLAYOFFS : Claremont Answers, Shuts Out Simi Valley

Opportunity knocked only one time each for the Simi Valley and Claremont girls’ soccer teams.

Claremont’s answer, a shot by Jennifer Bivens, found the back of the net. Simi Valley’s reply, Heather Heit’s attempt at goal, skirted barely wide to the left.

So Simi Valley (12-5-1) found itself on the losing end of a 1-0 Division I semifinal playoff match on its home field for the second consecutive year.

“That’s what hurts,” Pioneer Coach Mark Johnson said. “For two years we’ve been knocking on the door.”

The Wolfpack kept that door closed by playing mistake-free soccer and tight defense for nearly the entire match.

Bivens scored her goal in the ninth minute of the first half. A long Wolfpack throw-in landed at the top of the penalty box and bounced barely over the head of Simi Valley’s Amy Hood to the streaking Bivens, who volleyed a shot past goalkeeper Jennifer Hahn.

“I tried to jump up and head it,” Hood said. “I think I slowed it down just enough for (Bivens) to get it.”

The Pioneers played a bit passively in the first half but increased their intensity in the second half and generated their only good scoring chance of the match--Heit’s one on one with goalkeeper Andi Janousek.

Heit took a bouncing pass from Beth Thompson and volleyed a shot past Janousek a foot to the left of the goal.

“Heather had a great opportunity, but she couldn’t do it,” Johnson said.

Simi Valley became increasingly desperate to score as the match wound down, but Claremont controlled the remainder of play.

“We didn’t play well,” said Johnson, whose teams have reached the semifinal round eight times in his 13 years as Simi Valley’s coach.

“But in the playoffs, you’re always going to play one bad game. If you can’t play one bad game and still win, you’re not going to make it.”

The poignancy of his statement was evident to Heit and Hood, who stood at midfield and tearfully embraced after the match.

“It’s a hard way to lose,” Hood said.