WILMINGTON — Concord’s bend-but-don’t-break approach to soccer defense worked for 40 minutes, but Tower Hill’s pressure ultimately won the day. The Hillers scored three second-half goals to win 3-0 in a game between two teams who could see each other again come tournament time.
On Tuesday afternoon, Tower Hill Hillers made the long trek from south Wilmington to north Wilmington to take on the Concord Raiders in a high school boys’ soccer match-up between two teams that may meet again in a few weeks come state tournament time.
Concord’s defense initially clogged the middle of the field making it difficult for the more skilled Tower Hill squad (now 8-3) to create legitimate scoring opportunities. But the second half was a different story as the home-standing Raiders (now 7-4) succumbed to the relentless pressure applied by the Hillers as they scored well-earned goals all in the second half to secure a 3-0 victory.
Tower Hill’s Chase McDonald, Bo Hanna, and company kept the ball in their offensive third for most of the first 40 minutes, dominating the middle of the field with physical yet smart play. However, Concord’s confidence seemed to build as the game moved closer to halftime. The Raiders took advantage of the Hillers’ defense inside the penalty area and began to create a few scoring opportunities of their own, including multiple free kicks just outside the 18-yard box. What looked like only a matter of time before the Hillers scored their first goal turned into a well-played, even-sided first half between two teams who were not willing to blink….at least not yet.
Just one minute into the second half, Tower Hill’s George Peddrick flipped the script. With the opening possession, the Hillers sent the ball long down their right side of the field, eventually crossing it directly through the 6-yard box to find a streaking Peddrick, who placed the ball past a diving Raider goalkeeper for the match’s first goal.
Twenty minutes later, Hillers midfielder Chase McDonald found himself all alone and the team’s leading scorer did not waste his opportunity. The Raiders keeper left the goal to try to close the angle, but McDonald blasted the ball high, negating the angle and scoring the Hiller’s second goal of the match.
With the shadows creeping in, the Hillers’ second-leading scorer, Dailey Welshmer, got in on the act, carrying the ball down the left side of the field to just outside the 6-yard box. Maintaining his composure, Welshmer kicked the ball low past the Concord keeper to close out the scoring.
The Hillers improved to 9-3 and will attempt to avenge one of their three losses on the season as they travel to St. Andrews on Thursday, while the 7-5-1 Raiders are home against Hodgson the same day.