MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner’s John Teeter (2) is about to be mobbed by teammates Miguel Cardenas (14), Travis Edward (10), Matt Isherwood (3), Julio Perez (15), and Colt Masters (18) after scoring the winning goal against Barron Collier. More photos of Wednesday’s game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

The Mariner Tritons rushed from midfield and began to celebrate Wednesday night after seeing Barron Collier’s Matt Novack hit the crossbar on a penalty kick.

The reaction was a bit premature considering the teams were still tied 5-5 on penalty kicks, but the Tritons sensed an opportunity to win the marathon District 5A-15 Tournament semifinal match if sophomore John Teeter converted his attempt in the seventh round.

“I knew I had the whole team riding on my back,” Teeter said of the pressure-packed moment. “I wanted to win it and keep the seniors’ season going.”

Teeter delivered with a blast to the right side of the goal, giving the Tritons a 2-1 victory (6-5 in the penalty shootout). It brought an end to the epic match and advanced the host Tritons to Friday’s district championship.

They’ll face fifth-seeded Cape Coral, which stunned top-seeded Fort Myers 3-2 in the second semifinals match. The Seahawks got revenge on the Green Wave (17-3-5), who handed them a convincing 4-1 setback earlier in the season.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape Coral’s Oliver Benedict (4) taps the ball away from Fort Myers’ Ryan Stevens (4) in the Seahawks’ District 5A-15 tournament upset win over the Green Wave Wednesday. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

The Tritons (14-8-4) and Seahawks (11-7-4) play a rematch of last year’s district championship game, which the Tritons won 1-0 after a penalty kick shootout. Both teams have earned regional berths, but will play at 7 p.m. Friday for the district championship at Mariner and a home game in the regional quarterfinals.

“We knew it was going to be a tight race all year,” Seahawks coach Aldo Nardiello said. “Fort Myers was an outstanding team. It was an emotional game. We got an early goal and it boosted our confidence.”

The Seahawks opened district tournament play Tuesday, winning a difficult match against Ida Baker 2-1. Gaston Sola scored off a corner kick from Nick Gillogly in the final two minutes, preventing the game from going to overtime.

Though the Seahawks survived that match, they knew fatigue would be a concern against the Green Wave.

Freshmen Oliver Benedict and Kevin Lopera and sophomore Paolo Acosta were among the young players who stepped up and gave the Seahawks solid minutes Wednesday night.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner senior Travis Edward (right) looks ahead to pass during Wednesday’s district 5A-15 win over Barron Collier. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

They were led on defense by Gillogly, Andrew Torres and Zach Sheffield. Goalkeeper Santi Villamil made 14 saves.

The Seahawks did most of their offensive damage in the first half. They came out fast and aggressive and took a 1-0 lead only a minute into the match when Guillermo Duque scored off an assist from Gillogly.

The Wave came back about a minute later and tied it 1-1, but the Seahawks proved to be stronger over the final 20 minutes of the first half.

Sheffield scored on a header with 16 minutes left and Shane Pacheco buried a header with seven minutes to play in the first half, extending the lead to 3-1. Gillogly picked up his second assist and Kenny Segura added one.

“We played very inspired,” Nardiello said. “A lot of it comes down to finishing and we had a good night.”

While the Seahawks advance to the district championship for the second straight year, the Tritons are making their third consecutive appearance.

They needed to rally from a 1-0 halftime deficit to force overtime against Collier. Neither team scored in the two 10-minute overtime periods, forcing the shootout.

The Tritons controlled possession and had the majority of scoring chances in the first half, but the Cougars put together a crisp scoring play to take a 1-0 lead near the 20-minute mark. Austin Albury scored for the Cougars off an assist from Marvin Kloss.

The Tritons continued to attack and create scoring chances for most of the second half.

“Our boys have been consistent with putting things away toward the end so I had faith that we would score,” Mariner coach Martin Cardenas said.

The tying goal came with eight minutes left. Senior Tyler Korytkowski was able to bend a corner kick inside the far right post.

In the PF shootout, senior goalkeeper Renato Proia made a brilliant diving save on the first attempt by Collier’s Cody Togher. That gave the Tritons an opportunity to win if they made all five attempts, but Collier goalkeeper John Demasco was able to make a diving stop, keeping it 4-4.

It came down to the seventh attempt. With the score tied 5-5, Proia got some assistance when Novack’s try went high, hit the crossbar and bounced back onto the field.

“I hurt my hip on the third or fourth one,” Proia said, “so I was like God I need a little help here.”

“It was pretty much a save,” he said laughing.

Boys Basketball

Cape Coral vs. Cypress Lake: Senior Yoko Roldan recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds to help spark Cape Coral to a rebound victory over Cypress Lake.

Joel Hill added 15 points for the Seahawks (15-6), who play at Ida Baker Friday night.

Cape Coral 17 29 6 15 – 67

Cypress Lake 9 9 12 13 – 43

CAPE 67 – Roldan 14, Mitchell 2, Hall 8, Bregenzer 3, McIntyre 2, Hill 15, Montegudo 8, Figueroa 8, Tavarez 7. Totals: 28 6-18 67. 3-point goals: Roldan 4, Bregenzer 1.

CYPRESS 43 – Petitdo 12, Drake 6, Baden 5, Edwards 2, Coulange 14, Campbell 4. Totals: 14 12-18 43. 3-point goals: Drake 2, Baden 1.

Fort Myers 70, East Lee County 42: Terran McClendon hit a game-high 17 points to lead Fort Myers over East Lee County.

Colin Henry had nine rebounds to go with six points and Evin Graham chipped in with 11 points, five assists and four steals.

The Green Wave (14-7) hosts Mariner Saturday.

East Lee Co. 6 15 9 12 – 42

Ft. Myers 16 25 12 15 – 70

EAST LEE 42 – Joseph 7, Acosta 5, Yepes 13, St. Firman 13, Paris 4. Totals: 13 13-21 42. 3-point goals: Acosta 1, Yepes 1, St. Firman 1.

FT. MYERS 70 – McClendon 17, T. Bridley 2, Stokes 7, Graham 11, Yance 8, Joseph 2, Hodge 2, Manning 5, Whitfield 9, Henry 6, Desire 1. Totals: 28 7-10 70. 3-point goals: McClendon 1, Stokes 1, Graham 2, Yance 1, Manning 1, Whitfield 1.

Girls Basketball

Cape Coral 59, Island Coast 14: Jardin McCarthy pitched in 18 points, backed by Alexiss Griffin with 15 and Christine Gaywood with 11 in Cape Coral’s rout of Island Coast.

The Seahawks (16-6) host South Fort Myers Thursday night in the LCAC championship crossover game.

Cape Coral24 19 14 2 – 59

Island Coast 4 6 2 2 – 14

CAPE 59 – McCarthy 18, A. Griffin 15, Vazquez 6, De Los Santos 8, Gaywood 11, K. Griffin 1. Totals: 21 12-17 59. 3-point goals: McCarthy 2, A. Griffin 3.

ISLAND COAST 14 – Boyd 2, Ellis 2, Pommerleau 8, Mendez 2. Totals: 6 2-4 14. 3-point goals: none.

Wrestling

Ida Baker 46, Dunbar 36; Ida Baker 64, East Lee County 12: Ida Baker won both ends of a tri-match Wednesday, edging Dunbar and pounding East Lee County.

It is the Bulldogs’ final tuneup for the LCAC meet Saturday at Cape Coral High.

BAKER 46, DUNBAR 36

103 – Wilson (IB) won by forfeit; 112 – Le (IB) won by forfeit; 119 – Nuccio (IB) pin Deverne 3:10; 125 – Matos (IB) dec. Young 18-5; 130 – Pineda (IB) pin Giles 1:09; 135 – Nielsen (IB) pin Riveria 1:04; 140 – Gary (IB) pin Diego 0:51; 145 – Arrighi (IB) won by forfeit; 152 – Anderson (D) pin S. Montoney 5:39; 160 – Paul (D) pin Corsinio 2:34; 171 – Parson (D) pin York 2:39; 189 – Andres (D) pin Rodriguez 1:39; 215 – Schultz (D) pin T. Montoney 3:15; 285 – Ford (D) won by forfeit.

BAKER 64, EAST LEE 12

103 – Wilson (IB) won by forfeit; 112 – Le (IB) won by forfeit; 119 – Nuccio (IB) pin Mantilla 1:34; 125 – Matos (IB) pin Williams 0:58; 130 – Pineda (IB) won by forfeit; 135 – Nielsen (IB) pin Reynoso 1:04; 140 – Gibson (IB) pin Alexander 1:08; 145 – Arrighi (IB) tech. fall Vest 22-7; 152 – Madrigal (ELC) pin Corsinio 0:45; 160 – double forfeit; 171 – McLean (IB) pin Beekharry 2:20; 189 – York (IB) Avila 2:22; 215 – Rodriguez (IB) pin Salinas 0:30; 285 – Oroszco (ELC) pin T. Montoney 1:11.

Sports editor Jim Linette contributed to this report.