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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thedialog.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/09123658\/Sals-Hillers-SOC26-1.jpeg\" "\\"Bryan")
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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nWILMINGTON<\/strong> \u2014 Salesianum scored two late goals, then withstood a spirited comeback attempt by Tower Hill in a thrilling 3-2 soccer victory on Oct. 8 at Tower\u2019s DeGroat Field.<\/p>\n The teams battled through a scoreless first half, although it did not lack for opportunity. The Sals had a free kick in the fifth minute, and the attempt was headed off a post, with the rebound sent over the net. Another long free kick followed, and Hillers goalkeeper Liam Lempole was able to snatch the loose ball and keep the game scoreless.<\/p>\n Salesianum had a very good chance about halfway through the half, but Lempole stopped a Sals attempt from point-blank range. This time, the rebound was sent toward the net, but a Hillers defender was able to get in front of the shot a few feet from the goal line. The Hillers nearly got on the board late in the half, sending a shot off a post to the right of Sals keeper Thomas DeRosa.<\/p>\n The second half brought more Salesianum pressure, but Lempole and his defense were equal to the task. Lempole had a diving save in the 44th<\/sup> minute, and a few minutes later, he made a leaping one-handed stop on a blast by Sawyer Valle.<\/p>\n Tower Hill energized the big home crowd, stunning the Sals with a goal in the 49th<\/sup>. A long pass down the right side of the pitch was crossed into the 18-yard box by Sam Perry. There, Chase McDonald awaited, and he sent a shot into the upper-left corner of the net to put the hosts on top.<\/p>\n After some errant shots, the Sals leveled the score in the 59th<\/sup> minute. A turnover by the Hillers deep in their defensive zone proved costly as Perez-Herrera took a pass and found an open net.<\/p>\n The Sals followed with a bunch of shots that missed just wide, and Lempole made a few more saves as the game moved into its final minutes. With overtime looming, Salesianum decided 80 minutes was plenty of soccer.<\/p>\n With five minutes left on the clock, the Sals again moved down the right side. In what seemed like a repeat of the first goal, a crossing pass into the middle found Brady Esser, who finished with the eventual game-winner. A minute later, Salesianum added insurance when Kellen MacMillan picked a pass out of the air with a short windmill kick and beat Lempole to increase the lead to two.<\/p>\n That goal proved necessary with the Hillers found their own success with a cross. Tower got the ball down along the goal line far to the right of DeRosa, and the pass toward the middle was converted by Chip Dennis. Tower Hill had a long free kick and a corner kick before time expired, but they could not get the equalizer.<\/p>\n The Sals improved to 7-1 and will meet St. Benedict\u2019s Prep on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Riverfront Park in Newark, N.J. The Hillers (7-2) are on the road at St. Andrew\u2019s on Oct. 15 at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>