MICHAEL PISTELLA Mariner junior David Steeb (13) hits a header during the Tritons' 3-0 win in Tuesday's District 4A-11 playoff opener at North Fort Myers High School's Moody Field. More photos from the match are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

Junior David Steeb fired a shot from the right wing that crossed the mouth of the goal box and nestled inside the far post to spark the Mariner Tritons to a 3-0 victory Tuesday over Riverdale in the District 4A-11 boys’ soccer tournament at North Fort Myers’ Moody Field.

Steeb’s goal, which came in the 63rd minute of play, proved to be the game-winner and confirmed the fact the Tritons had taken the momentum from the Raiders, who had dominated play for most of the first half.

“We had some opportunities in the first half, but didn’t take advantage of them,” said Tritons coach Martin Cardenas. “When they beat us the first time I think we played better than they did, but we were more relaxed especially when we got the lead.”

The Tritons started taking charge late in the scoreless first half. It became more evident 10 minutes into the second half when the Tritons kept the ball in the offensive zone for an extended period, resulting in three consecutive corner kicks by Juan Rincon.

Steeb’s goal came 10 minutes later and the Tritons went on a roll, scoring twice more in the final 17 minutes. The Tritons won free ball after free ball and turned away every Raider insertion into the Tritons’ end.

One of those turns led to a Tritons throw-in deep in the left corner. Senior Matt Isherwood sent the throw to the middle where Rincon outjumped a crowd of defenders to head the ball into the net for a quick 2-0 lead.

“We tried to stretch their defense more with adjustments in the second half,” said Cardenas, “putting Isaiah Romano at striker and Christian Morin on the right wing.”

With just over four minutes remaining, Isherwood made a long run up the left wing and was taken down from behind just inside the box as he tapped the ball gently past Raiders goalkeeper Mark Deboy for the final score.

Mariner keeper Matt Brust made eight saves overall.

“We always play hard, but we need to play smarter,” said Cardenas. “I just hope we are peaking at the right time.”

The fifth-seeded Tritons (12-8-3) advance to Wednesday’s semifinals against top-seeded Fort Myers. Kickoff is scheduled at 7 p.m. following the first semifinal match between Cape Coral and Ida Baker.

Fort Myers 3, Cypress Lake 2: After Cypress Lake took a 2-0 lead in the first half, the Fort Myers Green Wave answered with three goals to claim a District 4A-11 quarterfinal victory Tuesday night.

The Green Wave scored twice in the final 3 1/3 minutes of the first half – one by Michael Siegel and one by Colton Ely – to tie the score at 2-2 at the break.

A left-to-right cross off a free kick found Ryan Stevens near the right post for the game-winning goal 12 minutes into the second half.

The top-seeded Green Wave (13-5-2) advanced to the semifinal round Wednesday where they face the fifth-ranked Mariner Tritons at 7 p.m. at Moody Field.

District 3A-12: Ryan Wambolt scored the game-winner with four minutes remaining in the second overtime period to lift Island Coast to a 4-3 victory over Dunbar in the district quarterfinal match at Island Coast.

Wambolt finished with two goals, the first one coming on a penalty kick that sparked a Gators’ comeback from a 3-0 halftime deficit. Dylan More and Daniel Chica each added one goal.

Goalkeeper Matt Dal Bon made 11 saves for the Gators (2-12-1), who face top-seeded Bishop Verot Wednesday in one semifinal match at 7:30 p.m. LaBelle and Gateway Charter kick off at 6 p.m. in the first semifinal match.