Simi Valley Boys, Royal Girls Score Big Soccer Victories

A pair of quick plays settled a pair of Marmonte League soccer matches Saturday in Simi Valley.

Paul Whittle scored on a free kick 27 minutes into the second half to boost the Simi Valley High boys over cross-town rival Royal, 1-0, and, in a girls’ match, Jennifer Evans found the net with a head shot to spark Royal’s 2-1 upset of Simi Valley.

Whittle hooked his shot from about 30 yards around a four-man wall, then watched as it sped past the outstretched arms of Royal goalkeeper Steven Hambly into the lower-left corner of the net. The goal was the senior defender’s sixth of the season, and he celebrated it by sprinting in front of the Royal goal and along the Simi Valley sideline before stopping in the Pioneer half of the field with his arms extended over his head.

“I said before the game that if I scored, I was going on a run and nobody was going to catch me,” Whittle said, beaming.

Whittle’s swift kick jumped the Simi Valley boys to the top of the league standings. Simi Valley (16-2-1 overall) is 9-1-0 in Marmonte play; Royal (16-3-2) dropped to 8-2-0. The Highlanders defeated Simi Valley, 2-1, in overtime, three weeks ago.

Evans was slightly more subdued after scoring the deciding goal in the girls’ match, converting a throw-in by Summer Salvatera with 10 minutes remaining.

The sophomore striker received hugs and enthusiastic high-fives from several teammates before the Highlanders lined up again to finish the match.

Evans’ goal made up for a score that was disallowed six minutes into the second half. Maggie Perez pumped the ball past Simi Valley goalkeeper Jennifer Holman, but the goal was negated because of a pushing call.

The win, the fifth in a row for the Highlanders (15-4-2, 5-2-1), also marked the first league setback for Simi Valley (16-2-2, 5-1-2), ranked second in the Southern Section 4-A Division. The teams tied, 1-1, in their first meeting.