By Erik Boal, Staff Writer
Posted: February 27, 2013, Daily News, Los Angeles

After rallying with tying goal late in regulation, Eagles outlast Harvard-Westlake on PKs in Div. I semifinals.

Gabe Carmona might be the best kept secret among local goalkeepers, but the junior found herself in the most pressure-packed situation of Chaminade’s season staring down rival Harvard-Westlake in a shootout Tuesday night.

After Chinaar Desai had come up with several heart-stopping blocks during regulation and overtime to preserve a 1-1 draw following 100 nerve-racking minutes, Eagles coach Mike Evans called on Carmona to make her postseason debut in the Southern Section Div. I girls soccer semifinals.

Carmona responded with three stops, including in the fifth round, which set the stage for Brittney McKinney to direct her penalty kick inside the left post, lifting the Eagles to a 3-2 shootout victory over the third-seeded Wolverines, who were eliminated on penalty kicks for the second year in a row at Slavin Field.

“We felt comfortable going to PKs, because we know Gabe is phenomenal,” McKinney said. “It’s new to me being the closer, but I like the feeling. I recently decided to switch sides and shoot to the left instead of the right, so I’m glad it worked out well.”

Chaminade (19-3-5), which advanced to the Div. I final Friday or Saturday at Warren High or Corona High, will face defending-champion Aliso Niguel — a 3-2 winner over top-seeded Capistrano Valley — in a rematch of last year’s 1-0 second-round setback for the Eagles. Read More