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FORT MYERS — The ball kept moving. The crowd kept cheering. The clock kept ticking.

One score would be enough, clearly, for Cypress Lake to defeat Naples. One score would be enough, clearly, to put the fans at ease.

Even early, the tension built.

"C'mon, Cypress," one man shouted early in the first half, seated among a crowd of bundled-up fans on Thursday night. "It's been 10 minutes. We want to see some numbers."

Another 10 minutes passed. And another. And another.

Finally, with under 30 seconds to play in regulation, the bleachers started to rattle. A corner kick resulted in freshman defender Carly Maniscalco's first career goal, giving the Panthers a 1-0 victory over Naples in the Class 4A regional quarterfinals.

"They played their hearts out," Naples coach Frank Frostino said of the Eagles, who responded after a stunning loss to Palmetto Ridge last week in the District 12 championship game.

Naples couldn't extend its season, falling to 0-for-5 in regional play since 1996. But the Golden Eagles (11-11-1) certainly left their footprints on the soggy Cypress field, clinging to their hopes of an upset as long as they could.

Thank Ashley Peterson, more than anyone. The junior goalkeeper was a steel curtain throughout the first half, offering at least three saves of highlight- reel material.

The real gem, though, came with 13 minutes to go in the second half, against Cypress freshman Sarah Yates. In a one-on-one situation, Peterson used her right fist to poke the ball away, as she laid out to her right to preserve the scoreless tie.

That was the theme throughout — Cypress, the District 11 champion, passing and dribbling behind the defense, but being turned away by the Naples keeper.

Then there was Peterson's counterpart, Melissa Allen, who must have been the loneliest girl in town. Naples never got off a shot.

The best hope for the Eagles, clearly, was to let the scoreboard stay blank, and try to extend the more skilled Panthers to a shootout. With overtime ticking closer, the dam finally broke.

The crowd stood for one last go at it, encouraging the Panthers (17-5) to put it in the net. They did, with Julie Sampson's corner bounding off a leaping Maniscalco. The freshman had hoped to head it in, but the ball actually kicked off her back.

"A lucky shot," Peterson said, "straight back into the corner."

"I'm not sure what happened," Maniscalco said. "I just remember everyone screaming afterward."

Naples was beaten by Cypress, 3-0, when the teams met at Livingston Park on Nov. 18, part of an 8-1 start for the Panthers.