Mariner girls soccer team advances to state Final Four
Tritons defeat rival North Red Knights, 3-0, in regional final
The Mariner High School girls soccer team is once again going dancing into the state Final Four after a win over rival North Fort Myers Tuesday night at home.
The Tritons (17-4-1) pulled off a 3-0 win over the Red Knights (14-3-3) despite being down four starters they lost to injury in the regional semifinal. The defending state champs are again the 5A Region 3 winners, making history for the second consecutive season.
“We just really focused on staying together as a team,” said Triton head coach Jami Hagy. “At halftime, we needed more energy — (we were) kind of down in the first half. The girls talked it up, brought themselves together, and came out with a fire in the second half.”
The storylines heading into the match were endless between the two talented squads.
North had defeated Mariner in penalty kicks for the district crown just two weeks before, the same as they did last season. The script pretty much repeated itself, as the Tritons, just as they did on their run to a state title last season, dispatched of the Red Knights in the state tournament.
Of course, it would be no easy task for either side to advance. At this point, both know each other so well, what they do best and how each player works tactically. Add in the fact that both teams were missing top players — especially the home squad — it would be a battle from start to finish. And it was.
The Red Knights certainly had the better of the opportunities in the first half, including a one-on-one shot with Tritons’ keeper Lataya Simmons, and a free kick inches outside of the penalty box.
“You can’t miss your opportunities,” said North head coach Nick Erickson. “In the first half, we have to put one of our chances in the back of the net. It’s just one of those nights that we weren’t able to put one between the pipes.”
After the first 40 minutes and North controlling most of the play, Hagy said her team had to find a spark to turn the tide if they wanted to advance. With so many players sidelined, fresh faces had to pull together and play important minutes.
“We kept moving people around, we only had three subs. All of our girls off the bench came in,” Hagy said. “The different energy at different times just played out. The girls wanted it. They gained their confidence throughout the game, and I think that’s really what did it.”
Mariner came out revitalized in the second half and started to pick up its ball control. Rather than North entering the half and constantly having to defend, the offensive chances started to come together.
In was in the 57th minute when junior and University of Florida commit Ryleigh Acosta continued her stellar state tournament and broke the scoreless tie.
Sophomore midfielder Caroline Pelkofski found Acosta with a pass inside the box with her back to the goal. Acosta then dribbled to her left, turned, and fired a shot across her body that snuck inside the far post.
“She’s been a Triton for a long time with the family ties, and she’s just spectacular,” Hagy said of Acosta. “She just goes out there with that fire, and there’s no one here that can keep her out of that goal.”
In the 72nd minute, Acosta again found the back of the net, this time chipping a shot over the keeper’s head for her staggering seventh goal in three state tournament games.
“It feels really good,” Acosta said of recording another multiple scoring game when it matters most. “I’m just really happy we pulled through. We didn’t have the best first half, but we came together as a team and did it for our injured players and entire team.”
Mariner tacked on a third and decisive goal with just two minutes left in regulation, as freshman Carly Paz stuck a gorgeous ball with her left foot from 20-plus yards out that found the top left corner of the net to put a stamp on the game.
“It’s their time to shine,” Hagy said of young players working into the lineup due to injury. “They’ve wanted time all year, and this is their chance to step up, and they know it. They’re doing a great job. We overcame (our opponent) with four starters down. It was a great team effort in the second half. They didn’t want to go down yet.”
Hagy was also proud of the way her upperclassmen guided the team, especially in the final 40 minutes.
“Our seniors really led the team tonight,” she said. “They’ve been here all four years, and they want this. You could hear them vocally. They pushed the underclassmen tonight. When we scored (the first goal), you could see that they were motivated at that point. It was really nice to see the team come together.”
The Tritons now look to a State Semifinal match with the No. 1 seed from Region 1, Lincoln (15-2-2), after it defeated Arnold 3-0. Mariner will travel to Tallahassee Friday night to continue its defense of the 5A State Championship.
As for how bad this team wants to repeat, Acosta said, “Really bad. Really bad. We work really hard. We need to come out stronger than our opponent going forward.
— Connect with Associate Sports Editor CJ Haddad on Twitter: @haddad_cj\