Live from Ft. Lauderdale -- East Lake girls soccer semifinal blog

FORT LAUDERDALE -- East Lake staged a furious late rally by scoring two goals in the last six minutes of regulation to send its Class 5A semifinal game with George Jenkins into overtime tied at 3, but Jenkins' Kayla Grimsley ended East Lake's bid for a first-ever state championship with a goal in the final minute of overtime.

East Lake looked like a beaten team when Grimsley scored in the 64th minute to give George Jenkins what looked to be an insurmountable 3-1 lead. With six minutes remaining, however, East Lake's Leah Fisher was fouled in the box, and Alicia Nalley converted the penalty kick to cut Jenkins' lead to one.

Down to the final seconds of play, Nalley sent a pass from the midfield stripe 30 yards down the right side of the field to a streaking Tatiana Perez. Perez beat George Jenkins goalie Karlin Aloisio to the ball and was fouled by Aloisio in the box, setting up Nalley's second penalty kick, this one with 11 seconds left on the clock, which Nalley converted to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Grimsley, a University of South Carolina signee, took over. She received a pass just outside the left edge of the box and used four cutback moves to maneuver around a trio of East Lake defenders. Left one-on-one with the goalie from five yards away, Grimsley slid a shot towards the far post under the hand of East Lake goalkeeper Ali Burnham, sending George Jenkins to the state final with a 4-3 overtime win.

For more details on the thrilling finish between East Lake and George Jenkins, check the comments section below.

-- BRYAN BURNS

Comments

[Bryan Burns]

Whoops. That last comment should read, "unbelievable play from Grimsley to win it for George Jenkins."

[Bryan Burns]

Kayla Grimsley just made four unbelievable moves in the box to win it for George Jenkins. She did a 360, and cut back three times around and through defenders to get into the box. From eight yards out on the left side, she sent a low shot to the far post that Burnham had no chance of saving.

George Jenkins 4, East Lake 3 in overtime.

Unbelievable game and even more unbelievable play from Grimsley to win it for East Lake. South Carolina is getting itself a heck of a player

[Bryan Burns]

Kayla Bala almost made an unbelievable goal for George Jenkins with 2:45 left in overtime. She chased down a ball into East Lake territory and saved it from crossing the goalline. She then turned and sent a high, angled shot that bounced off the far post and harmlessly away

[Bryan Burns]

Nalley has a free kick attempt in the first minute of overtime. Her cross is good, but Leah Fisher just missed getting her head on the ball

[Bryan Burns]

East Lake was done. The players looked spent, many bent over trying to catch some air in the last few minutes of regulation. Nalley's pass from midfield was right on target to Perez streaking down the right sideline. Perez reached the ball first, and was fouled by the keeper. Unbelievable pass from Nalley, great speed from Perez on the outside to get onto the ball and suddenly we're playing overtime.

[Bryan Burns]

George Jenkins backup keeper Hanna Greene had to come on the field for the penalty kick because starting keeper Karlin Aloisio was given a yellow card and had to sit.

Greene guessed right, diving to her left, but she couldn't dive far enough as Nalley's shot was perfectly placed.

[Bryan Burns]

Wow, Alicia Nalley sent a long ball to Tatiana Perez who got behind the George Jenkins defense. The goalie came out to get the ball, but fould Perez in the box, giving East Lake another penalty kick.

Alicia Nalley takes it with 11 seconds left and beats the keeper low to the left.

George Jenkins 3, East Lake 3

[Bryan Burns]

George Jenkins almost scored on the counterattack.

:30 seconds remaining

[Bryan Burns]

Great chance for East Lake thwarted again Aloisio. A through ball was sent for Leah Fisher who was just a step too slow.

1:30 left

[Bryan Burns]

Three minutes remaining. East Lake needs to push up in a hurry

[Bryan Burns]

Leah Fisher just taken down in the box with 6:37 remaining to give East Lake a penalty kick. Alicia Nalley sent a right-footed shot into the top left corner of the goal to pull East Lake to within one.

George Jenkins 3, East Lake 2

[Bryan Burns]

Nalley sent a cross to a wide open Perez in the box. If the 5-foot-5 midfielder had been about two inches taller, the score would now be 3-2.

[Bryan Burns]

East Lake's Tatiana Perez just outworked two George Jenkins defenders to gain possession of the ball, but her last touch was too far out in front. Aloisio came off her line to deny Perez.

[Bryan Burns]

Kayla Grimsley could have just wrapped the game up for George Jenkins with her second goal in the 64th minute. Sprinting into the box with the ball and a defender on her left hip, Grimsley sent a right-footed shot low to the far post that was just out of the reach of a diving Ali Burnham.

George Jenkins 3, East Lake 1 with 14:40 left on the clock

[Bryan Burns]

Alicia Nalley just had her best chance to score with a wide open look at net from 17 yards out. Her left-footed shot was sent well over top of the goal, however.

[Bryan Burns]

We're at the second water break. East Lake hasn't had too many second half opportunities. They'll need to push some players up into the attack if they hope to get the equalizing goal.

[Bryan Burns]

Leah Fisher just came back on for East Lake. She seems to be fine. She isn't walking with a limp

[Bryan Burns]

East Lake's Leah Fisher just left the field with an apparent left leg injury. She just bent down to smack her leg five or six times, tried to walk it off but fell to her knee. The Eagles need her back in a hurry because she's been the hardest worker on the field so far East Lake

[Bryan Burns]

East Lake has outshot George Jenkins 11-to-9 so far.

[Bryan Burns]

Ali Burnham just made a tremendous save for East Lake. Kayla Grimsley shook two East Lake defenders in the box and had a wide open look at goal, but Burnham dove far to her right to prevent Jenkins' third goal.

[Bryan Burns]

Fisher and Aloisio just collided. No foul because Fisher was first to the ball. Fisher maintained possession and tried to pass to Nalley in the middle of the box with the goalie out of positon, but Nalley had the ball stripped from her in the 50th minute

[Bryan Burns]

Nice pass from Stephanie Ferro to set up Leah Fisher in the box, but Jenkins' keeper Karlin Aloisio was able to get to the pass before Fisher in the 46th minute.

[Bryan Burns]

Just like the first half, the first minutes are being spent near George Jenkins goal. Leah Fisher just sent a nice cross from the left side, but nobody was there to get on the other end. Alicia Nalley moved through three defenders trying to set up a blast from the 18 but had the ball taken away at the last moment.

[Bryan Burns]

Here we go again, second half just started

[Bryan Burns]

That's halftime. George Jenkins enters the break with a 2-1 lead and a load of momentum. Jenkins dominated the final 20 minutes of the first half.

[Bryan Burns]

Kayla Grimsley is one of those players for George Jenkins that, whenever she touches the ball, everybody holds their breath waiting to see what happens next. The University of South Carolina recruit just had another point blank opportunity thwarted when an East Lake defender was able to get between Grimsley's shot and the goal. East Lake hasn't had the ball in Jenkins' half of the field for about seven minutes now.

[Bryan Burns]

George Jenkins back on top again. Kayla Grimsley received the ball in the middle of the box, 15 yards from goal. She sent a high arcing shot that East Lake goalie Ali Burnham just couldn't reach. Beautiful goal from Grimsley, she knew exactly where she wanted to send the ball and hit the spot perfectly. George Jenkins 2, East Lake 1

[Bryan Burns]

East Lake's Tatiana Perez just evened things up for the Eagles in the 31st minute. Kelsey Miklavcic sent a shot on goal that deflected off a couple players. A George Jenkins defender tried to clear the ball off the line, the ball went over her head and Perez was there to flick it in with her head. Score now tied at one.

[Bryan Burns]

Leah Fisher is all over the field for East Lake. She just had another opportunity, streaking down the right side with a defender on her hip. She sent a shot in from just inside the box that was right at the keeper with 14 minutes left in the first half.

[Bryan Burns]

First water break is here. East Lake is winning most of the balls in the midfield. George Jenkins is having trouble getting the ball to its talented forwards -- Kayla Bala and Kayla Grimsley, who moved from midfield to forward for this game. When Grimsley does get the ball, however, she's a force. It's going to take more than one player to mark her.

[Bryan Burns]

Great opportunity for East Lake in the 15th minute. Alicia Nalley sent a beautiful through ball to Tatiana Perez who had a 1-on-1 shot with Jenkins' keeper Karlin Aloisio. Aloisio came outside the box though to quell the attempt. A foul was called in the process, giving East Lake a free kick from 20 yards out, but Nalley's kick was drilled into the wall

[Bryan Burns]

I wouldn't say George Jenkins is dominating at all. Most of the action is taking place around Jenkins' goal. The only scoring opportunity Jenkins had, they converted. East Lake has had three decent opportunities to score

[Bryan Burns]

East Lake's Alicia Nalley fired a shot from 20 yards out that was about three feet too high. East Lake would do well to get Nalley the ball in a position where she can use her powerful right foot. She was cracking the ball during warmups

does it look like george jenkins is dominating aside from the one goal scoring opportunity by east lake?

[Bryan Burns]

George Jenkins just got the game's first goal in the fourth minute against the run of play. East Lake had been putting heavy pressure on Jenkins' goal, but a long ball to Kayla Bala put her in a one-on-one position with the keeper. Bala easily converted, and just like that, it's 1-0 George Jenkins

[Bryan Burns]

East Lake has the first opportunity on goal. A misplay in the back for George Jenkins gives Leah Fisher a chance on goal in the first minute, but she's unable to coral the ball for a decent shot attempt

[Bryan Burns]

There's the kickoff