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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was a good game all around,\u201d said North head coach Nick Erickson. \u201cThe energy and effort was fantastic from both teams. We weathered the storm early on.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just before the first-half water break, the Red Knights capitalized on an error by the Tritons\u2019 keeper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen 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,\u201d Erickson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u2019s outstretched arms, just under the top of the crossbar to make it 2-0 in the 57th minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very, very locked in on trying to get one in, we really needed that,\u201d Hoefer said. \u201cBut I knew if I didn\u2019t 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\u2019s a lot of practice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of Hoefer, Erickson said, \u201cThe entire season, there\u2019s 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 \u2014 the growth she\u2019s made from a freshman to a sophomore, to \u2018you know what, it\u2019s time to shine and I need to step up,\u2019 I could not be prouder of this young lady. She\u2019s turned into a superstar right before everybody\u2019s eyes. That doesn\u2019t happen just based on ability, you have to have the mental mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n
Down 2-0, the Tritons kept scratching and clawing, trying to create chances and finish opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the Tritons\u2019 best effort, the North defense held strong and finished with a one-goal victory.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe stayed tight on our marks and made sure our players weren\u2019t wandering,\u201d Hoefer said of the team\u2019s defensive effort. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s a monster,\u201d Erickson said of Lewis, adding praise of Kenlee Dominguez as well. \u201cEven with us being so beat up, if you\u2019ve got those two monsters in the middle of the field ball-winning and covering for each other, it\u2019s very difficult to get through. It forces you into one-dimensional stuff, which is what we want.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 on corner kicks and long throw-ins to the box.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat has been our emphasis for five weeks in preparation,\u201d he said. \u201cYou never want to count your eggs before they hatch, but you\u2019re assuming you\u2019re going to play this team, and that\u2019s 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\u2019s) senior class is a fantastic, fantastic senior group.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of playing a team and rival so often, Hoefer said, \u201cIt\u2019s fun. It\u2019s fun especially because I have friendships with a lot of them outside of soccer. But you come onto the field, you\u2019re not friends, but after we\u2019re friends again. They\u2019re a great group of girls, and it\u2019s so fun playing against them.\u201d<\/p>\n
With one side experiencing elation, of course the other felt the heartbreak of its season ending.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of this year\u2019s senior class, Tritons head coach Jami Hagy said, \u201cThey gave everything to Mariner. Their first year they were state finalists and lost in (penalty kicks), so it\u2019s pretty hard for them right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hagy said the game came down to who finished their chances.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what needed to happen,\u201d she said. \u201cWe had an unfortunate mistake in the first half, and, that\u2019s the way soccer is. These girls fight and fight until the end. The fight isn\u2019t the problem. They fought until the end, it just wasn\u2019t our night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erickson said this being the third consecutive trip to the state final four, there\u2019s more of a familiarity with the process and playing on a big stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know what the process is, how we\u2019re going to travel \u2014 stuff like that is what you learn,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd obviously, the teams are really good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of heading back to the final four, Hoefer, who was extremely sick during last year\u2019s run, said, \u201cIt\u2019s really special. It means a lot being able to be with this group of girls and go as far as we\u2019ve been going. It\u2019s so special to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n