Insider: Carmel ousts Pike in drama-filled regional semifinal that exceeded expectations

Carmel coach Shane Schmidt still isn't sure how his goalkeeper, senior Adam Keleher, made the save. Pike sent a ball into the box where it ricocheted off a pair of opposing players and to Diego Bravo-Gomez at the penalty mark. Bravo-Gomez reared back and launched the ball on goal, bending it towards the far post.

It could have been — probably even should have been — the game-winning goal for the host Red Devils, but a diving Keleher somehow got a hand on the ball, sending it wide of the goal and preserving the 1-1 stalemate.

"That was unbelievable," Schmidt said. "That was point blank, straight at the net. I still don't know how he saved it."

Soccer regionals: Scores, schedule, updated pairings

The score held through the final minutes of regulation and through an additional 14 minutes of overtime, before Carmel finally put an end to the Class 3A regional semifinal with a 4-1 triumph in penalty kicks.

The No. 2 Greyhounds advance with a 1-1 (4-3 PKs) victory over No. 4 Pike.

"They're all hard-working and technical," junior midfielder Johnny Gourley said of Pike. "It was a great game."

Wednesday's top-5 battle somehow exceeded expectations and over-delivered on the drama.

Played in front of a standing room-only crowd the sides were evenly matched through the first half with possession at a virtual 50-50 split and Christian Nielsen's 24th-minute goal standing as the difference entering halftime.

The second half took on an entirely different complexion.

Those 40 minutes largely belonged to the Red Devils, who lived in the Carmel end, unleashing a steady barrage of shots on goal as they desperately sought the equalizer.

Asked if the opponent's success was a result of their adjustments or his team just packing in and trying to defend its lead, Schmidt called it a mix of both and credited Pike for forcing his team to make some adjustments.

"They were pushing a little bit more and we were trying to make some adjustments to try and close some gaps," he said. "They were trying to get balls in and diagonal balls, so here we are trying to make adjustments and everything is breaking us back up."

Carmel's ability to keep Pike off the board was rooted in its defense of Anelson Azard. The Greyhounds did an excellent job bottling up the Red Devils' leading scorer, tracking him step-for-step with at least two (sometimes more) white jerseys flanking him at all times.

Their efforts were admirable, but there was still seldom a doubt that the senior striker was going to make something happen.

Put simply: He's just too dang good.

Sure enough, with 7:25 remaining, a bouncing ball found its way back into the box and to Azard, who found just enough space through the Carmel defense to launch a shot from a seemingly impossible angle that found its way into the back of the net.

It was ultimately the final goal of his high school career, and it was an absolute beauty.

"Anelson always finds just enough space that he needs to put the ball into the back of the net," Pike coach Theron Smith said. Azard joined the Red Devils prior to last season after moving in from Florida and made an immediate impact, leading the team to back-to-back sectional championships (their first since 2016).

"He's been a blast," Smith continued. "I really feel blessed to have had the opportunity to coach him the past two seasons, especially when you have a kid of that caliber just walk into the program. … I don't think we'll have an opportunity to coach anyone like that (again) for a few years.

It was a special moment and could have defined Wednesday's game. But the Greyhounds saw to it that Azard's moment was overshadowed. They did not deflate after allowing Pike's star to slip through their defense. If anything, it breathed new life into them and made for an exhilarating finish to regulation and set the stage for a wild back-and-forth overtime period.

When nothing was decided after 94 minutes, the game went to a best-of-five penalty kicks.

Pike missed two of its first three; Carmel went 4-for-4, with Gourley punching his team's ticket to Saturday's regional championship with a shot right down the middle.

"When they missed the second PK, I was like, 'I'm going to slot it in the middle and hopefully he dives one way,'" Gourley said. "It's all mental. You have to stick your way and hope it goes in."

Pike finishes the season at 20-3. Carmel will face Cathedral in the regional championship game Saturday at Carmel. The Fighting Irish beat East Central, 2-1.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA soccer: 'Unbelievable' save, 4 PKs send Carmel to regional final