Mariner’s Ignacio Velardez and Cape Coral's Kase Frohman battle for possession during the Triton’s 2-1 home win in the “Cape Coral Clásico” Friday night. CJ HADDAD

The compete level was turned all the way up Friday night as the dually talented Mariner and Cape Coral High School boys soccer teams took to the pitch in what is dubbed the “Cape Coral Clásico” each year.

The Tritons (6-1-0) found themselves down a goal early in the second half before senior stud Nicco Gerke found the back of the net twice in 10 minutes — the first coming just a minute after Cape’s — to secure a 2-1 victory.

“We want one game a year, and it’s this game right here,” said assistant and junior varsity head coach Cody Kibler, who was at the helm in place of Martin Cardenas Friday due to COVID-19 contact tracing protocols. “I played here, and I know that feeling, that rivalry feeling, it’s tremendous.”

The first 40 minutes was tightly contested with neither team dominating the pace of play. Mariner had a near chance when senior Santiago Guerrero nodded a header toward the goal from close proximity but Seahawk goaltender Preston Allen was up to the task.

Cape (6-3-1) broke through first in the 51st minute when Lucas Cuhna flicked one in from just outside the goal line after a corner kick caused chaos.

Mariner sophomore Caden Sandrus elevates for a header in the Triton’s 2-1 win over Cape Coral Friday night. CJ HADDAD

The Tritons were quick to respond as Gerke netted the equalizer moments later.

“There’s not a lot you can say about Nicco that can be put into words,” Kibler said. “The kid is phenomenal. You saw it tonight. He makes things happen. He’s our player right now creating the most.”

The Tritons assemble a collection of talented players; many who were part of last year’s state final squad. Just 10 minutes after his first, senior Wesley Walden delivered a beauty of a free kick that found Gerke’s head, the far back post, and then the back of the net.

“Wesley put in a tremendous ball for that header,” Kibler said.

Cape head coach Dan Gross said matches like this only help his team grow.

“They gave everything we had,” Gross said. “We made two mistakes with fouls in our own half. I thought besides that it was an even match. All three goals were on set pieces. They just put one more away than we did.

“We’re trying to play a hard schedule and they were a state finalist last year so these are the teams you want to play. They have state title aspirations as do we.”

Gross spoke to the good-natured, competitive atmosphere that comes with this match up every year.

“They’re all friends and are excited to go against each other,” he said. “A lot of these guys have known and played one another since they were 5. So they’re always exciting games to watch. Both teams gave it their all. It’s unfortunate we don’t get to play twice anymore as we were moved into a different district and class.”

Kibler said this year’s Mariner team is just as hungry as the last when it comes to getting the job done and the drive to return to a title game.

“These guys are so competitive,” Kibler said. “Every time they step on the field they are unhappy if it’s even close.”

Gerke said it’s a different feeling to compete against Cape.

“The intensity is always so much higher in these games,” he said. “The rivalry just makes it. The fans are into it. It just makes it more fun to play.”

The Tritons suffered their first loss of the year just before taking on Cape, dropping a 2-1 contest to Gulf Coast (Naples). Gerke said playing against an opponent such as the Seahawks was even extra motivation to get back to their winning ways.

“It was good to get back on track,” Gerke said. “We lost. We picked our heads up and continued moving forward. We played our game. There were two amazing assists on my goals, and it was just team play that got us the win.”

Mariner visits North Fort Myers Tuesday night. Cape was defeated 2-1 by South Fort Myers Monday night and will next take on Fort Myers Wednesday.

–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj