Boys Soccer Fights to a 1-1 Draw Versus Friends on Homecoming

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Editor’s Note: Congratulations to the boys' soccer team on a hard-fought season! While they fell just short of winning the DIAA semi-finals, this article takes a look back at a great moment from an exhilarating season.

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By: Liam Duke

Over Homecoming weekend, boys soccer knew they needed a result versus a playoff-bound Wilmington Friends team.

The Hillers were coming off of a tight loss to No. 3 Concord, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime. Friends, on the other hand, traveled to DeGroat knowing they too needed a result. Fresh off a 2-0 win versus Wilmington Christian, they had good reason to be confident. 

The recent history of Tower Hill soccer and homecoming has been one of bleakness. Before last year's win, the Hillers hadn't won or even tied a playoff game since 2019. The worst loss in the six year stretch was to Friends—who scored 3 straight unanswered. 

However, last season, the Hillers were able to break the streak of losses with a galvanizing victory over the Quakers 1-0, via a late goal from Trey Truesdale. Despite the record in the past, Tower seemed to have gotten themselves out of the playoff slump.

Homecoming doubled as senior day for the Hillers. The team bid farewell to goal leader Dailey Welshmere, captains George Peddrick and Trey Truesdale, and moral leader Jay Setting. A certainly bittersweet sunset also highlighted multiple illustrious high school careers: Daily Welshmere and George Peddrick are projected to be All-State players, while Trey Truesdal, before his injury, was on route to gain conference honors.

Captain Dailey Whelsmere, grade 12

The first half of the match provided an exciting back-and-forth. Liam Duke, Chase McDonald, and Dailey Whelsmere gave Friend’s senior keeper Ethan Lukach worries; Whelsmere hit the post and dragged a shot wide, and Liam Duke blasted a shot right at Lukach's chest. 

Keeper Liam Lemole did not go without action from the Quaker offense. He registered 3 saves from Friends senior Nico Froio, who was unable to find the back of the net. The 1st half would end in a 0-0 stalemate. 

The start of the second half would provide the first goal of the game. Friends player Andres Quesada caught Chip Dennis and Ore Sebatu off guard with a through ball threaded into the path of Nico Froio, who blasted a shot past the outreached arms of Liam Lemole, giving the Quakers the advantage. 

Tower Hill, however, would dominate the rest of the half. Liam Duke found Dailey Whelsmere twice inside the 6-yard box: first on a cross which Whelsmere wasn't able to get a foot on, second on a ping into the box off of a set play, which was blasted once again at the chest of Lukach. 

Finally, in the last minute of the half, Chase McDonald lofted a ball into the box via his unconventional (but not uncommon in high school soccer) long throw. The ball bounced once in the box before striking the hand of Friends senior Henry Winn, which gifted Tower Hill a penalty. 

Chase McDonald, who has yet to miss a penalty for Tower Hill, calmly slotted a ball into the bottom right corner, as many watched on (or couldn't watch in teammate Liam Duke's case), sending the game to overtime. 

Tower Hill’s domination continued into overtime as they rode the wave of momentum provided by McDonald's PK. Liam Duke sent another shot on goal, and Chase McDonald hit the underside of the bar. Neither scored. The battle of Wilmington ended 1-1, with both teams knowing they had left it all out on the field, and gave themselves a good shot at playoffs. Both teams' records remained at 7-5-2, and were the 8 and 9 seeds of the DIAA DII rankings.