Defensive Gem Carries Simi Valley to an Upset

After being pinned in its own end of the field for almost two hours Wednesday, the Simi Valley High girls’ soccer team emerged the unlikely winner of the Simi Valley tournament, upsetting Westlake in a shootout that followed 100 scoreless minutes of play.

The Pioneers prevailed in penalty kicks, 5-4, when Sara Janke converted Simi Valley’s fifth consecutive kick.

Janke’s sister, Laura, the Simi Valley goalkeeper, dove to save Westlake’s second attempt by Tasha Spangler.

Valorie Annunziata, Cindy Mallet, Valerie Robles and reserve goalkeeper Sarah Swancutt also converted penalty kicks for Simi Valley, and Jenna Ainsworth, Jenna Wirtz, Lauren Baer and Naomi Chu were successful for the Warriors, who also lost in the final last season.

Westlake (8-0-1), ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times, outshot its Marmonte League rival, 14-5, including a 5-1 edge in the first half.

But the Pioneer defense, led by Laura Janke, sweeper Mallet and fullback Jennifer Peterson, was equal to the task.

“I was getting scared at the end when they had those scrambles in front,” said Laura Janke, who made five saves. “But I knew our defense would pull through.”

Westlake, which finished second to Simi Valley in league play last season, held such a territorial advantage during stretches of Wednesday’s game that it might as well have pitched tents in front of the Pioneer goal.

But the Warriors were left shaking their heads after losing to Simi Valley for the second time in the teams’ last three meetings.

“We controlled the ball everywhere and we fought so hard,” said Chu, who has scholarship offers from Arizona, San Francisco and Loyola Marymount. “We were really unlucky, but we have to learn from this and get them back in league.”

Chu and Spangler teamed in the midfield to lead an attack that continually foundered upon reaching the Pioneer penalty area. Last season, Westlake counted on the potent forward tandem of Meghan Daly and Patty Hostin, but the front line now lacks that kind of firepower.

“We could have used the kind of speed and quickness we had up there last year,” Chu said, noting that starting forward Sara Silverhill was injured Tuesday and did not play Wednesday. “But we have good players this year, too; we just have to use them.”

Westlake Coach Rick Hansen credited Simi Valley’s defensive effort but lamented his team’s missed opportunities.

“They double-teamed the ball everywhere and shut us down,” Hansen said. “But we still had some good crosses and a ton of corner kicks that we didn’t sink.”

Simi Valley, with starting midfielders Allison Cameron and Ashley Hirsch out because of injuries, started forwards Annunziata and Brittney Green in their place. The pair were unable to control the ball and the Pioneers had to rely on long clears and chances off corner and free kicks.

“We go with what we’ve got the talent to do,” Simi Valley Coach Mark Johnson said. “We work on defense and try to hold them.”

Simi Valley won the tournament for the 11th time in the 17-year history of the event, but for the first time since 1993. Other champions include two-time winner Chatsworth (1995-96), Notre Dame, Buena, Agoura and Arcadia.

In the third-place game, Buena (10-2-1) defeated Ventura (7-6-1), 2-0, on second-half goals by J.J. Toohey and Natalie Sanderson. Sanderson has 17 goals.

In the fifth-place game, Chatsworth (6-1-1) beat Agoura (6-3-2), 3-1.