Simi Valley Makes Statement

Before the season, Simi Valley Coach Willie Ruiz said his boys’ soccer team should win the Marmonte League title, but there were skeptics.

“Yeah, right,” said one Marmonte coach. “He said that last year too.”

Ruiz’s prediction gained validity Tuesday when Simi Valley eked out a 1-0 victory over Rio Mesa in the Royal tournament championship game.

“This is great for Simi soccer,” Ruiz said. “We finally proved something.”

It didn’t come easy for the Pioneers.

After Mark Zerhusen converted a penalty kick in the 10th minute, Simi Valley (6-1) struggled and weathered an array of shots from Rio Mesa.

Fortunately for Simi Valley, 13 of Rio Mesa’s 18 first-half shots sailed over the crossbar.

“They played a great game,” Ruiz said of Rio Mesa. “I’m happy they weren’t able to finish. If they were able to convert, it would have been a different story.”

Rio Mesa (6-8) squandered more scoring chances in the second half, when 12 of its 16 shots carried high or wide.

“We had this game, but we wasted opportunities,” said Rio Mesa defender Chris Schwarze. “We came together for this tournament. You couldn’t ask for anything more.”

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In the Royal tournament consolation final:

Ventura 5 Littlerock 0--The Cougars (10-1-1) won their fourth consecutive game after losing to Simi Valley, 1-0, in the first round. Brian Anderson had two goals for Ventura, which recorded its eighth shutout.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Buena 2, Simi Valley 0--Ashleigh Garmon and Natalie Sanderson scored second-half goals to help the Bulldogs advance to the championship game of the Simi Valley tournament.

Buena (12-0) plays Jurupa Valley, a 1-0 winner over Westlake (6-1-2), in the final today.

After playing a flat first half, the Bulldogs caught fire after Lisa Engel drew a red card for making an obscene gesture. Moments later, Garmon took a pass from Sanderson and scored from 10 yards to break a scoreless tie.

“It was the wrong way to get fired up,” Buena Coach Trish Butterbaugh said. “I’m extremely disappointed in [Engel’s] behavior.”

Simi Valley fell to 4-3-1.