2003 PREVIEW: GIRLS' SOCCER: SIMI VALLEY GIRLS AIM FOR RETURN DATE ALTHOUGH REBUILDING, PIONEERS HOPE THEY CAN FIND WAY BACK TO PLAYOFFS AGAIN.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

What does a second-place finish in the best league around get you? A first-round playoff date with one of the toughest teams around, if you're Simi Valley High.

The Pioneers lost to San Marcos of Santa Barbara on penalty kicks after a regulation, two overtimes and one sequence of five penalty kicks weren't able to decide the game. San Marcos scored on its sixth penalty-kick opportunity, Simi Valley missed, and last season was in the books, officially over.

``That was probably the hardest game I've ever played,'' senior Megan Hitchcock said. ``Unfortunately I was the one that screwed it up. It got down to shootouts and nobody wanted to take the shot so I did, and the goalie saved it. ... We were all emotionally and physically torn.''

This year Hitchcock, a senior and one of five returning players, is ready to leave a happier legacy. She is confident her team, with young players sprinkled throughout, will vie for another Marmonte League playoff spot.

``We're going to be rebuilding,'' longtime coach Mark Johnson said. ``There are five girls starting from last year and six up from the junior varsity. We have one freshman, four sophomores and a couple of juniors. So we'll be balanced, class-wise.''

Although powerhouse Westlake has scored 10 goals in its first two nonleague games, the league's parity leaves few clues about who will finish on top. Johnson likes Thousand Oaks and Agoura but concedes Westlake top honors, for now.

``You've got to give it to Westlake until somebody can beat them,'' Johnson said.

But after that: ``In years past you had three top teams and then the rest. And you look at last year, except Westlake, nobody could blow anybody away. We had a lot of ties.''

Johnson thinks the first two league games, which because of the size of the Marmonte League come before Christmas break, will be key to grabbing a strong spot in the standings. If you can get those games, he reasons, you've got the advantage when things start up again after the new year.

Simi Valley will play its first league game Monday at home against Thousand Oaks, and follows with another home game against Agoura on Wednesday.

Simi Valley's biggest concerns right now?

Getting its players healthy - six were sick with the flu this week, according to Johnson - and getting them to play as a team. With a new midfield, the latter likely will take a little longer than it has for the Pioneers in recent years.

``The middle is what most teams in the Marmonte League have built their strength on,'' Johnson said. ``It's going to be interesting.''

Hitchcock sees the same challenge.

``A lot of us have played on the same club team and we're not really used to having a new midfield,'' she said. ``It's tough. They control the ball so much.''

Johnson will look to Erin Vaughn, Jamie Sinclair and Hitchcock to anchor the team this year. Hitchcock believes this team, if any, can jell fast enough to be ready for a tough league season.

``We get along so well,'' Hitchcock said. `It's really surprising because so many players are new.''

Lauren Gustus, [phone]

lauren.gustus(at)dailynews.com

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Simi Valley High senior Megan Hitchcock, one of five returning players this season, says she is confident the young Pioneers will vie for a playoff spot.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News