BC too much for Mariner

YUNET JOMOLCA Mariner’s Rebecca Smith (right) rushes to the ball in a District 5A-15 Tournament semifinal game Thursday. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
The top-seeded Barron Collier Cougars controlled possession and outpassed the Mariner Tritons throughout Thursday’s District 5A-15 semifinals game at Fort Myers’ Edison Stadium.
Ultimately, though, that wasn’t as harmful to the Tritons as the dynamic performance turned in by Collier junior Jamie Lockie.
Lockie, who had more than 30 goals entering the match, burned the Tritons for three goals in a 3-1 win.
She almost had a fourth midway through the second half, but was called for obstruction against Mariner goalkeeper Brittany Steeb.
“We knew she was their best player,” Mariner coach Beth Gedde said. “We tried to contain her and it didn’t work.”

YUNET JOMOLCA Mariner senior Brooke Albert dribbles into position to shoot in the Tritons’ 3-1 loss to Barron Collier in the district tournament semifinals. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
The Tritons (13-7-1) faced a more difficult task, playing without two of their top defenders, including senior sweeper Brittany Harris.
Sophomore Kelsea Whitaker, senior Tara Christie and sophomore Samantha Greenwell stepped in and were involved in many key battles in the defensive backfield.
Steeb faced consistent pressure from the Cougars, but kept the Tritons in the game, for the most part, finishing with 13 saves.
“My girls played really, really hard, it’s just unfortunate the outcome,” Gedde said. “I think what it comes down to is they were stronger. Their passing game was stronger than ours. It’s something we have to work on for next year.”
The bulk of the scoring occurred in the first half. With 27 minutes left, Lockie got past the defense and finished to make it 1-0.
The Cougars went ahead 2-0 with six minutes left in the half when Casey Thames intercepted a pass and assisted Lockie’s second goal.
The Tritons had only a few quality chances in the first half, but cashed in on one. With less than two minutes to play, junior Amanda Seny battled two Collier defenders near the goal. Seny’s persistence paid off as the ball went off a defender and into the goal.
Though only down one, the Tritons were unable to create much offense in the second half.
With only three minutes left, Lockie ran down a free ball just before Steeb, the goalkeeper, got there. It resulted in her third goal, sealing the victory.
- YUNET JOMOLCA Mariner senior Brooke Albert dribbles into position to shoot in the Tritons’ 3-1 loss to Barron Collier in the district tournament semifinals. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.