Engel’s Goal Lifts Buena Over Simi Valley

Lisa Engel scored a goal midway through the second half, lifting the Buena High girls’ soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Simi Valley in a Southern Section Division II second-round game Tuesday at Buena.

The No. 2-seeded Bulldogs (22-2-2) will play a quarterfinal game Thursday at Walnut, a 5-0 winner over Palm Springs.

Engel, a sophomore midfielder, caught Simi Valley goalkeeper Sarah Swancutt flat-footed in the 63rd minute with a 20-yard shot from the outer corner of the penalty area, breaking a 1-1 tie. Engel’s 14th goal followed a throw-in by Shannon Morten and a scramble in front of the net.

“They got the shot they needed and it was a good one,” said Simi Valley Coach Mark Johnson, whose team played excellent defense despite being outshot, 20-4. “I thought we played well with what we had.”

The Pioneers (18-8-1) recently lost starters Valerie Robles and Jennifer Peterson to academic ineligibility and sweeper Cindy Mallet played with a broken bone and torn ligaments in an ankle.

Despite her injuries, Mallet lived up to her reputation as the region’s best defender, and fullback Sara Janke and her sister Laura, the Pioneers’ first-half goalkeeper, also were outstanding. But Buena had too many weapons.

“I thought we created a lot of opportunities and were more patient with them this time,” said Buena Coach Trisha Butterbaugh, whose team posted a 1-0 nonleague victory at Simi Valley on Jan. 4.

Buena took a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute when Natalie Sanderson scored her 34th goal on a penalty kick after being fouled by Brittney Green.

Simi Valley’s Ashley Hirsch converted a penalty shot seconds before halftime after Valorie Annunziata was tripped by Megan Kelly.