Chu Carries Westlake Beyond Simi Valley, 2-1

Naomi Chu made the right move Friday by going to her left.

Chu, a midfielder for Westlake High, scored with five minutes to play to lift the host Warriors to a 2-1 victory over Simi Valley in a game between Marmonte League powers.

On the winning play, Chu took a pass from Sara Silverhill 20 yards from the goal and in the center of the field, then beat a defender while dribbling toward the left post.

Simi Valley goalkeeper Laura Janke charged off her line, forcing Chu wide, but the right-footed senior scored with her left foot from 10 yards and a sharp angle.

“I wondered what [Janke] was doing because she gave me an opening,” Chu said. “I was at a bad angle, but at that point of the game you have to take risks.”

The victory was Westlake’s first over the Pioneers (8-6-1, 1-2 in league play) in the teams’ last five meetings, including the most recent--a Simi Valley shootout victory Dec. 23 in the Simi Valley tournament title game.

Westlake (10-1, 4-0), last season’s league runner-up and ranked No. 1 in The Times’ current regional poll, took a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute. An unguarded Silverhill received a throw-in from Jenna Wirtz on the left side of the Simi Valley penalty area and knocked the ball inside the right post.

Seven minutes later, sweeper Cindy Mallet leaped to score on a five-yard header off a 30-yard throw-in by Michelle Thuotte. The play was controversial, for an official clearly called for a Westlake throw-in as Thuotte picked up the ball, but did nothing to stop her.