MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner senior Brittany Steeb signs her national collegiate scholarship letter-of-intent Thursday to attend and play soccer at Lyon College as her mother Dee observes the moment.

Mariner High senior Brittany Steeb already had established a reputation for strong leadership and the ability to make timely saves in her first three years with the Tritons’ soccer team.

Then came her senior year, and she took her performance to the next level.

The 5-foot-8 goalkeeper finished with a school single-season record of 194 saves, posted seven shutouts and provided outstanding leadership, helping the Tritons compile a 13-7-1 season record.

Steeb will attempt to transfer that success to Lyon College in Arkansas after signing a national letter-of-intent Thursday with parents Matthew and Dee Steeb at her side.

“When I went to Arkansas and met with the coach I figured I could play there,” Steeb said of her decision. “It’s a small school. The soccer girls were really nice and friendly when I went for a weekend visit.”

MICHAEL PISTELLA Six North Fort Myers senior football players, from left, Robenson Merci, Mike Becker, Carlton Huggins, Mike Nelson, Nick Fenske and Brett Magnus, all sign national collegiate scholarship letters-of-intent Thursday at the school. Standing behind the players, from left, are head football coach Barry Goettemoeller, Becker’s mother Debby and grandfather Al Tapio, Nelson’s mother Chris Breece, Fenske’s parents Renee and Vince, and North athletic director Erik Timko.

Steeb is undecided about her college major, but is considering two options – photography and teaching. She gets to continue her soccer career, which began around age 10.

At Mariner, Steeb spent four years in soccer and played the past two years on the volleyball team. She also played softball two years and participated one year in cheerleading.

Though soccer clearly is her primary sport, she developed into an important swing player for the volleyball team, given her ability to play multiple positions.

“She never really had a specialization, but she was able to play every position in the front row and back row,” Tritons volleyball coach Tom Faasse said. “She had to work hard at it and went from being our third or fourth sub to being in the starting lineup as a senior.”

Steeb began playing soccer goalkeeper at age 12. She stuck with it, for among other reasons, the adrenaline rush when forced to make a big stop.

During her junior year, she showed flashes of her potential on the varsity team when filling in for then-senior Kari Durham, who now plays at Dakota Wesleyan University. Steeb took over the position exclusively as a senior.

“We knew she would be able to step right in,” said Tritons soccer coach Beth Gedde.

Steeb played for coach Anne Demming her first three years with the Tritons and then for Gedde, who moved up from junior varsity to varsity coach last year.

Gedde said Steeb brought leadership and aggressiveness to the field, and, of course, another important quality of a goalkeeper – the ability to keep the ball out of the net.

“She made great saves throughout the entire season,” Gedde said.

North High signings: The six North Fort Myers seniors who signed official scholarships Thursday made their impact all over the football field for the Red Knights.

As much can be said about their dedication to the program, particularly heading into their senior year when a coaching change was made.

Former coach James Iandoli resigned from the position following their junior season and Barry Goettemoeller took over the program, bringing in a new set of coaching strategies.

“They endured a change in coaching staff, had a great senior season, and are now poised to take their skills in the classroom and on the football field to the next level,” Goettemoeller said.

Mike Becker, Carlton Huggins and Robenson Merci signed with Quincy University in Illinois. Others signing were Nick Fenske (Maryville College in Tennessee), Brett Magnus (Bluffton University in Ohio), and Mike Nelson (Midland Lutheran College in Nebraska).

Becker will play defensive back at Quincy. He also saw significant action at running back and was the Red Knights’ top kick returner last season.

Merci, a running back, led the Knights in touchdowns last season with seven. Nelson emerged as a starting quarterback as a senior after being a key player on both sides of the ball before that. Huggins and Fenske will play linebacker in college, while Magnus will continue to toil on the offensive line.

The seniors follow teammate Tommy Bohanon, who signed early and enrolled at Wake Forest University.