Boys Soccer - Derry vs Leechburg

October 08, 2019

Derry Soccer Falls on Senior Night to Leechburg on Penalty Kick in 100th Minute

When Derry and Leechburg boys soccer played back in September at Leechburg, the teams battled through two overtime periods to a 2-2 tie. It looked like the outcome could be the same three weeks later when they met in Derry for their second battle of the season on October 8, as the clock ticked toward all zeroes in the second overtime period of the game. But an infraction with only 21 seconds remaining resulted in a penalty kick being awarded to Leechburg, and the Blue Devils' Jacob Mull slid his shot past Derry goalkeeper Olexei Nuttall for the game winning goal, as Leechburg won 4-3 over the heartbroken Trojans.

Following a pre-game ceremony during which Derry honored the seniors from both squads, a low scoring first half ensued in which only one goal hit the scoreboard. Ashton Redmond put Leechburg out front with 21:37 to play in the opening half, and his goal kept the Blue Devils on top throughout the remainder of the half.

Derry got even only 23 seconds into the second half as Damian Morales hit a shot past Leechburg keeper Owen McDermott to tie the game at 1-1.

Morales put Derry out front five minutes later with a shot through the arms of McDermott for a 2-1 Trojans lead.

Leechburg evened the score just over 3 minutes later on the first of Mull's goals with 32:16 left in the half.

Morales got his hat trick with 16:16 on the second half clock, and Derry was back in front 3-2.

Mull's second goal with 5:01 to play in regulation time tied the game at 3-3, where it would remain as the teams headed to overtime as time expired.

A scoreless first 10-minute overtime period led to a second one, and both teams picked up the pace in a game that had already been a spirited tussle. But it was Leechburg that would get the penalty kick opportunity as the clock read 21 seconds, and Mull claimed the hat trick with his shot that ended the game.

Leechburg improves to 3-9-1 in Class 2A Section 2 play, 5-10-1 overall. Derry drops to 0-11-1 in the conference, with a 2-12-1 overall record.