Reseda Gets Hunger Pangs Again

NORTH HILLS — Its competitive appetite whetted by the approach of the playoffs, the Reseda High boys’ soccer team dismantled host Monroe, 4-1, Friday in a battle for first place in the Valley Pac-8 Conference.

The victory, highlighted by Oscar Sims’ two goals, gave the Regents (18-3-2, 9-1-2 in conference play) a two-point lead on the Vikings (8-2-2, 8-2-2) with two games remaining. The teams played to a scoreless tie Jan. 13 at Reseda.

Monroe concludes the regular season with games against North Hollywood and Grant while Reseda, closing in on its fourth conference title in the last five seasons, plays Van Nuys and Canoga Park.

“We needed a big-time game like this to get our heads back in it,” said Terry Davila, Reseda co-coach. “We’re trying to get hungry for the playoffs.”

The Regents stumbled late last season before gathering themselves and capturing the City Section title. Friday, they rebounded from a disappointing tie with Poly two days earlier and stated their case for back-to-back titles.

“We have ups and downs but we play well in big games,” said Sims, the Regents’ playoff star last season. “I think we have the talent to win [the title] again. If we keep playing like this, no one can stop us.”

Reseda took a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute on Edwin Miranda’s penalty kick, which followed a foul on Kenny Zepeda.

The lead moved to 2-0 in the 28th minute when Sims split the defense to receive Bryan Villela’s pass, then knocked a left-footed shot inside the right post while running toward the left corner.

Two minutes later Monroe closed within 2-1 when Danny Corrales converted a penalty kick for his 11th goal.

Reseda pushed its lead to 3-1 when Sims headed in a Tibor Reszneki throw eight minutes after halftime. Jesse Servin converted a penalty kick with seconds to play.

“I’m not dissatisfied with the result,” said Elias Andrade, Monroe’s coach. “Reseda is just much faster than us, especially in the midfield.”

That speed caused numerous Viking turnovers and allowed the Regents, who boast half a dozen players with offensive talent, to roam free near the Monroe goal.

Sims, who is rounding into shape after six months of injuries, was nearly unstoppable as he teamed with teammates Servin, Zepeda and Carlos Morales in the Regents’ fast-paced passing game.

“I’m about 90-95%,” said Sims, who has 16 goals this season and 35 in the last two. “I’m finally running without pain and I’m getting into shape.”

That’s bad news for Reseda’s opponents, said Julio Castillo.

“Oscar brings so much to the field,” said Castillo, Regent co-coach. “You can see it in the other team’s faces and the way they always look to find where he is.”

Andrade said he gave Sims no special attention since Monroe’s defense had been among the region’s best. He chose to focus his practice time on the Vikings’ offensive game, which could be their downfall in the postseason.

“I want our guys to learn to play under control,” Andrade said. “You need to be able to hold onto the ball in the playoffs.”

The game’s final nine minutes were delayed for 20 minutes after Juan Vega, a Reseda midfielder, was undercut by an opponent while leaping to head a ball.

Vega, a senior transfer from Poly, was taken to Granada Hills Hospital with a concussion and back injury and released Friday night, Castillo said.