The district champion North Fort Myers girls soccer team. CJ HADDAD

Both talented clubs and familiar foes would again head to penalty shots to decide the district champion.

Just as North (12-2-3) had done one year ago, the Red Knights came out victorious, 4-2, in PKs to hoist the FHSAA 5A District 11 crown.

“I’ve been a part of a lot of wins, and this one is special,” said North head coach Nick Erickson. “Not because (of our opponent), it’s because of what’s happened previously. No one thought we were going to win this game. I thought for the most part tonight we did a good job of executing. I thought that we were on the front-foot the majority of the game against them. I thought they had their moments where they stepped up. All credit goes to the girls, they changed the season.”

While last year’s district championship saw a 0-0 score before penalties, there were goals to be had in this one, and quickly. Just 30 seconds into the match, Mariner (14-4-1) senior Gloria Quintanilla stopped a cleaning attempt in opponent territory and settled the ball near the left sideline. The senior then found junior Ryleigh Acosta, who dribbled to her right just outside of the penalty area and lofted a shot over keeper Aliyah Morgan’s head and into the net.

The Red Knights' girls soccer team hoists the district championship trophy. CJ HADDAD

North found the equalizer in the 33rd minute when freshman Hannah Busenbark dribbled by defenders up the middle of the field, worked slightly to her right and shot back across her body sneaking the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.

The score remained 1-1 at the half and stayed that way until the 63rd minute when North took its first lead of the match. A Red Knights’ attack resulted in possession deep in Mariner territory, and a 50/50 ball sputtered from a group to the boot of sophomore Carolina Jenkins. Jenkins took her time, picked her spot and lofted a beauty of a shot over the outstretched arms of Lataya Simmons and into the back of the net.

“It’s awesome,” Erickson said of the way his team, especially the younger talent, stepped up on the big stage. “It’s exactly what we expect them to do, just like (Mariner) expects their young players to step up, and they do as well. Both of these schools are really fortunate for the level of player that we have — and it’s always next girl up.”

Just 3 minutes after North pulled ahead, a penalty was called on the Red Knights in the box as Tritons freshman Carly Paz had her arm and shoulder tugged while dribbling towards the net. Up stepped senior captain Sarah Paddock, who took a brilliantly calm penalty, slotting it in the top right corner of the net to tie things up.

Chances were to be had by both sides in the remaining 35 minutes between the end of regulation and extra time, but none found the back of the next. Off to penalties for the second year in a row the clubs went.

Both Morgan and Simmons came up with big saves in the first round to keep the shootout scoreless, and in the second, Morgan once again denied Mariner.

“Going into PKs, I was extremely confident in my teammates, and that I was going to get the job done,” Morgan said. “We play this team so many times, we know their style and who they are. I did what I had to do and was praying my teammates would back me up, and they did.”

North converted each of its chances in the second, third, fourth and fifth rounds, capped by senior Alexa Lara’s winner, to earn the victory.

“It’s always a game,” said Mariner head coach Jami Hagy on playing North. “And it’s who shows up. Unfortunately, it’s PKs again this year. I knew the energy would be high and we came into it knowing that it’s always game-to-game with North, no matter the previous outcomes. We knew it was going to be tough. It comes down to one or two mistakes.”

Of the battles between North and Mariner, Erickson said, “These kids have known each other since they were 8, 9, 10 years old. There’s just allegiance to the school. It’s just different. It’s no joke. I would put this rivalry against any rivalry in this county, regardless of sport. It’s a lot of fun for both teams and coaches.”

Earlier this year, Mariner defeated North 4-0, and the Red Knights followed that up with a 5-0 loss to North Port. Since then, they have gone 7-0. Erickson said the team used that as a turning point in the season and switched their mentality.

He said the team’s success comes from, “Putting their egos to the side and understanding that everybody in this room can play soccer. Hence the kids we had on that field tonight that are playing huge minutes for the very first time. We didn’t put our best foot forward the first time, we did not play well. Ever since then, we had a little talk, and they decided to change the season — these kids.”

With an automatic bid into the state tournament for North, Mariner also has a great chance to continue its season, just as they did last year, based on ranking. Despite losing the districts a season ago to North, the Tritons then went on a run, including a defeat of North, to win the 5A State Championship.

“It’s a mindset. You have to show up every game,” Hagy said of being a defending state champ. “We’ve gotten everyone’s best all year. We have to show up and do our best because they’re coming at us.”

FHSAA brackets will come out this week.

— Connect with Associate Sports Editor CJ Haddad on Twitter: @haddad_cj