Season ends for Redondo girls soccer with loss to Harvard-Westlake in penalty-kick shootout

The Redondo girls soccer team faced a one-goal deficit entering Friday’s second leg of the CIF Southern Section Open Division series against Harvard-Westlake.

A late first-half goal by Shannon Davidson and another in the second half by the Utah-bound senior midfielder, had the top-seeded Sea Hawks on the right path toward next week’s semifinals.

Then came the twist, Harvard-Westlake’s Gemma Ozturk converted a penalty kick with seven minutes left in regulation, tying the series on aggregate goals 2-2 and eventually sending the teams into overtime and finally a penalty kick shootout.

In the shootout, Sasha Selvaggio made three saves to lead the Wolverines to the win and into the semifinal series against Corona Santiago, which defeated Palos Verdes.

“I think there’s so much passion for soccer because the best team doesn’t always win,” Redondo coach Shelly Marsden said. “There’s tactics involved that can balance things out and I think they had a very strong game plan against us, especially in the first game at their place.

“We studied a lot about what they did to neutralize our attack and I thought we did a really good job of making those adjustments. I think we created a ton of goal-scoring opportunities, we created two goals, but unfortunately we were a goal down coming into this match. I don’t think they created any goals.”

Redondo won the game in regulation 2-1. Eighth-seeded Harvard-Westlake found the much-needed lifeline on the penalty kick.

“We had to completely change our game plan once we fell behind,” Harvard-Westlake coach Richard Simms said. “We were protecting a lead, then it was tied, then we were behind and we had to adjust.

“We also had to be patient because it was a lot of game left and if we tried to chase a goal earlier than we did …we were waiting to try to chase a goal, we didn’t want to chase it with 30 minutes left and not score and they score another and then we need two. We tried to wait until the 20 minute mark and then spend the last 20 pushing for a chance.”

The loss in the first leg of the series was the first of the season for Redondo.

“This is obviously a tough loss for us,” Davidson said. “This whole season we’ve been working really hard and working hard together and for one another, we were able to come through (Bay) league undefeated, so it’s really hard to have this be the end of the road.

“I’ve had a lot of great memories with Redondo, so it’s a really hard game, but we battled and I’m proud of every person on this team for what we accomplished.”

Once the game went to penalty kicks, Simms knew he could rely on Selvaggio.

“That is one of the best goalkeepers in the country,” he said. “She thrives in penalty shootouts, she loves them and when the game ended, we were confident she would step up, she always does.”

Bishop Montgomery 4, Immaculate Heart 0: Kailyn Magpoc scored a hat trick and Aubrey Walker had a goal in the Division 4 second-round win for the Knights (12-5-1).

Natasha Zuvic and Gina Simonetti had an assist apiece. The Knights will face Redlands East Valley in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.

Chadwick 2, Artesia 0: Noella Wren and Amma Melton scored for the Dolphins (9-5-2) in the Division 4 road win. Chadwick will face Coachella Valley Tuesday.