It has been a memorable four years for Port Of Los Angeles High girls soccer senior goalie Daisy Garcia.

Three CIF-Los Angeles City Section runner-up finishes, four Crosstown League championships with a league record of 45-0-3, and several key stops along the way, along with being on last year's team that was the first sports team in school history to make it to a CIF State Regional playoff game. 

Despite Garcia and the Polar Bears (22-3-4 overall) coming up short in last Saturday's CIF-LACS Division 4 finals to Northridge Academy, which ended in a scoreless draw for 110 minutes, but losing 2-1 on a penalty kick shootout, they get one last chance to make an impression today in the CIF State Division 5 regional playoffs against top-seeded Grace Brethren of Simi Valley at 4 pm.

"It feels like a redemption opportunity," says Garcia, who narrowly missed her PK on POLA's fifth attempt that would have brought home their first championship after three prior runner-up finishes. "And even if things don't go our way in regionals, I'm so glad the season continues even after such a heartbreaking loss."

Garcia, who also plays defender for POLA, has logged 890 minutes patrolling the net this season, and has garnered 43 saves, also sharing duties at goalie with fellow senior Emily Haugen. However, it was Garcia who was in net for 70 of the 110 minutes of the CIF-LACS Division 4 final. One of her memorable moments was stopping a penalty kick from Harbor Teacher Prep girls soccer junior Mayela Medina, who scored 35 goals this season.

"Daisy is an amazing player and person," POLA senior midfielder Maddi Pepper said. "I'm so happy to have been able to grow up with her as a teammate and friend."

Starting in the sport of soccer at the early age of 4, Garcia has been battle-tested throughout her four-year tenure at POLA, especially this season, where she battled the likes of schools with bigger enrollments such as Montebello, San Pedro, Roosevelt of Los Angeles, Banning of Wilmington and of course, the Crosstown League battles with Harbor Teacher Prep, Foshay and Bright Star.

Not to mention past battles in the CIF-LACS playoffs with Los Angeles CES, which included two title wars in 2013 and 2015. "I think it's great to be challenged," Garcia said. "It opens up our weaknesses and shows us what we need to work on."

POLA tied a school record for victories in a season this year, matching their predecessor of 2014-2015, who also made it to a CIF State Regional, which was a 1-0 loss to Malibu.

Garcia, who also played two years of junior varsity softball, will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall after she graduates from Port Of Los Angeles High. Asked if she wanted to continue playing, Garcia was pretty straight-forward.

"I'm going to keep playing soccer in college and as long as I possibly can," Garcia said. "I'll never let it go."

Like all the shots Garcia saved in her successful career at POLA.

Daisy Garcia is in the running for the San Pedro Fish Market Scholarship award. To help Daisy in her quest, please check out this special video made by Garcia herself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r9t-woELNo