Royal Sets Up Camarillo for a Fall

Ready, set, go. The Royal High boys’ soccer team is off and running in the Southern Section playoffs once again.

The Highlanders, section champions in 1988 and 1995, kicked what they hope is another title run into second gear Tuesday, defeating host Camarillo, 3-2, in overtime of a Division I second-round match.

Royal’s third victory this season over its Marmonte League rival was ensured with goals off three set plays--a throw-in and two free kicks.

“We work on [set plays] in every practice, sometimes for an hour,” said Highlander Ryan Walker. “We probably score 75% of our goals on them.”

There was confusion over exactly who scored the deciding goal in the 97th minute. Walker took a free kick from just outside the left side of the Camarillo penalty area, sending the ball toward teammate Kendall Simmonds.

The ball caromed off a Scorpion defender and passed in the vicinity of Simmonds’ head before ending up in the net three minutes before sudden death. Walker said he thought it entered the goal untouched and Simmonds, who collided with a defender as the ball neared him, said he did not know if he had made contact.

Regardless, Royal won its 13th consecutive match and will play host to a quarterfinal Thursday against third-seeded Bell Gardens, which beat Simi Valley.

The Highlanders suffered a potentially damaging loss two minutes into overtime, when captain and standout midfielder Brandon Kay was ejected after receiving his second yellow card.

But Royal was aggressive in the extra session, and Coach Kevin Corley said he was not particularly concerned when Kay was ejected.

“I felt good, because of our history,” said Corley, who played at Royal nearly 20 years ago. “This program has been in so many of these kind of games that even the younger guys seem used to it.”

Camarillo took a 1-0 lead 11 minutes into the match on a goal by Christian Routzen. Royal answered four minutes later when a long throw-in by Mike Ranier bounced off several players in front of the goal and into the net.

Royal went up 2-1 in the 64th minute when Kay redirected a free kick from Walker. But Camarillo’s Pat Velasquez scored with six minutes remaining in regulation.