The North Fort Myers girls soccer team completed the three-peat Tuesday night, as they took down rival Mariner in the FHSAA 5A-Region 3 Final.
In an always-tight game between the two teams, the Red Knights (17-3-2) held on for a 2-1 win over the Tritons (17-3-2), punching their ticket to the state final four for the third consecutive year.
“I thought it was a good game all around,” said North head coach Nick Erickson. “The energy and effort was fantastic from both teams. We weathered the storm early on.”
These familiar foes once again battled it out over 80 minutes, with North having won the most recent matchup just a few weeks before the regional final, winning the District Championship.
Just before the first-half water break, the Red Knights capitalized on an error by the Tritons’ keeper.
When a North ball into the box was reachable for the Triton keeper, she dove to collect the loose ball, but as she went to corral it, the ball came loose and freshman Kaitlyn Heuglin was in the right place at the right time, and calmly slotted the ball into the empty net to put her team up 1-0.
“When we got that toe poke before the water break with the mishandle by the keeper, I thought that made up for a couple of chances we had in the first 10 minutes or so,” Erickson said.
The match remained 1-0 in favor of North into the second half, and in minute 57, the Red Knights got the insurance they needed to come out on top.
Sophomore Jaelyn Hoefer, who had been striking the ball from distance all game, nearly missing on her chances time and time again, finally buried one from about 30 yards out. A beautifully struck ball soared into the back of the net and over the Triton keeper’s outstretched arms, just under the top of the crossbar to make it 2-0 in the 57th minute.
“I was very, very locked in on trying to get one in, we really needed that,” Hoefer said. “But I knew if I didn’t make it, one of our girls was going to get one. I do tend to take shots outside the box a lot, because my left and right are both really strong. It’s a lot of practice.”
Of Hoefer, Erickson said, “The entire season, there’s just been a growth in terms of leadership. We lost a really big personality 11 games into the season, and my guess is a lot of people counted us out when that girl left, and maybe rightfully so. The leadership that this girl has shown since Hannah (Busenbark) left — the growth she’s made from a freshman to a sophomore, to ‘you know what, it’s time to shine and I need to step up,’ I could not be prouder of this young lady. She’s turned into a superstar right before everybody’s eyes. That doesn’t happen just based on ability, you have to have the mental mindset.”
Down 2-0, the Tritons kept scratching and clawing, trying to create chances and finish opportunities.
The team did just that in the 66th minute, as a corner kick by Kamila Pena found the boot of Carly Paz, who redirected the ball into the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game.
Despite the Tritons’ best effort, the North defense held strong and finished with a one-goal victory.
“We stayed tight on our marks and made sure our players weren’t wandering,” Hoefer said of the team’s defensive effort. “It helps when we have our goalie and defenders communicating to us, which is a good thing about our team. They have fast forwards, they have good shooters, we knew we needed to be on them.”
Sophomore Caelyn Lewis was especially formidable in the midfield and defensive area for North, spoiling chances and pass attempts left and right throughout the entire match.
“She’s a monster,” Erickson said of Lewis, adding praise of Kenlee Dominguez as well. “Even with us being so beat up, if you’ve got those two monsters in the middle of the field ball-winning and covering for each other, it’s very difficult to get through. It forces you into one-dimensional stuff, which is what we want.”
Erickson said his team game-planned for an opponent they have played a dozen time in the last four years where they felt Mariner is most dangerous — on corner kicks and long throw-ins to the box.
“That has been our emphasis for five weeks in preparation,” he said. “You never want to count your eggs before they hatch, but you’re assuming you’re going to play this team, and that’s what we focused on. Our girls have made a commitment to winning balls in the air and doing a much better job with marking since that district final. I think it showed tonight. I think both teams left everything out on the field. (Mariner’s) senior class is a fantastic, fantastic senior group.”
Of playing a team and rival so often, Hoefer said, “It’s fun. It’s fun especially because I have friendships with a lot of them outside of soccer. But you come onto the field, you’re not friends, but after we’re friends again. They’re a great group of girls, and it’s so fun playing against them.”
With one side experiencing elation, of course the other felt the heartbreak of its season ending.
Of this year’s senior class, Tritons head coach Jami Hagy said, “They gave everything to Mariner. Their first year they were state finalists and lost in (penalty kicks), so it’s pretty hard for them right now.”
Hagy said the game came down to who finished their chances.
“That’s what needed to happen,” she said. “We had an unfortunate mistake in the first half, and, that’s the way soccer is. These girls fight and fight until the end. The fight isn’t the problem. They fought until the end, it just wasn’t our night.”
Erickson said this being the third consecutive trip to the state final four, there’s more of a familiarity with the process and playing on a big stage.
“We know what the process is, how we’re going to travel — stuff like that is what you learn,” he said. “And obviously, the teams are really good.”
Of heading back to the final four, Hoefer, who was extremely sick during last year’s run, said, “It’s really special. It means a lot being able to be with this group of girls and go as far as we’ve been going. It’s so special to me.”
North, the No. 3 seed in the final four, will take on No. 2 Chiles (14-3-1) in the State Semifinal Friday, Feb. 27, at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand, with a start time of 10 a.m. Lourdes Academy (seeded #1) then takes on Innovation (#4) at 1 p.m.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com