HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER PLAYOFFS : Simi Valley Survives Scare in 1st Round

Overconfidence almost cost the Simi Valley High boys’ soccer team its season Friday in its first-round match against Rolling Hills in the Southern Section 4-A Division playoffs.

The Pioneers (21-2-1) scouted Rolling Hills’ wild-card victory against Leuzinger on Tuesday and came away unimpressed.

“We didn’t think they were anything,” Simi Valley midfielder Brian Weaver said. “We came out cocky.”

Facing a one-goal deficit at intermission, a more humble and aggressive Pioneer team scored two second-half goals to notch a 2-1 victory.

“They came out and showed us something different (from Tuesday). . . but we did the job,” Weaver said.

Different indeed.

“We played a different lineup than what we played Tuesday,” Rolling Hills Coach Mike Shimizu said. “We played a 3-4 (three-forward, four-halfback) offense Tuesday and switched to a 2-4 with overlapping halfbacks today.

“We expected them to come out real soft and they did.”

The Titans (14-9-3), however, will be the ones turning in their uniforms today.

With two minutes remaining, Weaver scored the winning goal on a free kick from 20 yards past goalkeeper Mark Chadwick. Rolling Hills defender Burck Schellenberg tripped Paul Whittle, setting up Weaver’s deciding shot.

Simi Valley sophomore Mike Albin, promoted from the junior varsity three weeks ago, tied the score, 1-1, 13 minutes into the second half. Albin knocked in a head shot from 14 yards off a Weaver free kick.