18 Seconds Left: Salinas’ Penalty Kick Lifts South Lenoir Past East Duplin in 5-4 Overtime Thriller
Blue Devils erase three deficits, get 11 saves from Benjamin Gonzalez and secure a long-awaited victory over the Panthers.
BEULAVILLE — With 18 seconds remaining in the second overtime period, Daniel Salinas stepped to the penalty spot with a chance to finish one of South Lenoir’s most dramatic soccer matches of the season.
He delivered.
Salinas converted the penalty kick Wednesday night, lifting South Lenoir to a 5-4 double-overtime victory over East Duplin and giving the Blue Devils their first win against the Panthers in the documented recent series.
South Lenoir (9-5-1, 3-2 East Central 3A/4A) erased three separate one-goal deficits before securing its third consecutive victory.
Emilio Salinas opened the scoring for the Blue Devils, but East Duplin responded with two unanswered goals to grab a 2-1 lead.
South Lenoir answered when Johan Perez-Gonzalez assisted Jethro Gonzalez for the equalizer, tying the match at 2-2.
The Panthers regained control just before halftime, taking a 3-2 advantage into the break.
Daniel Salinas scored early in the second half to bring South Lenoir even at 3-3, but East Duplin responded again, moving ahead 4-3.
Once again, the Blue Devils found an answer.
Benjamin Phillippe assisted Arael Resendiz on the fourth South Lenoir goal, evening the score at 4-4 and eventually sending the match into overtime.
Neither team broke through during the first overtime period or most of the second. With the clock winding down and the teams seemingly headed for a draw, South Lenoir earned a penalty kick.
Daniel Salinas converted with 18 seconds remaining to secure the 5-4 win, his second goal of the night.
While South Lenoir’s offense delivered five goals, goalkeeper Benjamin Gonzalez played a major role in keeping the Blue Devils within striking distance. Gonzalez finished with 11 saves, repeatedly denying East Duplin opportunities throughout the match.
Four different South Lenoir players scored, with Salinas delivering the final two goals.
A breakthrough against East Duplin
The victory ended a difficult stretch against the Panthers.
East Duplin swept both meetings last season, winning 2-0 on October 13 and 5-0 on October 29. The Panthers also won both meetings in 2024, defeating South Lenoir 3-1 and 2-1.
The teams played to a 4-4 draw in October 2023 after East Duplin won their earlier meeting that season, 8-3.
South Lenoir’s latest victory marks its first against East Duplin in the available matchup results dating back through 2010.
The Blue Devils will have another opportunity against the Panthers when East Duplin travels to Deep Run on October 26.
South Lenoir climbing the conference standings
The victory continued South Lenoir’s impressive turnaround.
After finishing 6-14-2 overall and 1-9 in conference play last fall, South Lenoir has already reached nine victories this season.
The Blue Devils have won three consecutive conference matches, defeating Pender 4-0 on September 30, Southwest Onslow 8-0 on October 5 and East Duplin 5-4 on Wednesday.
South Lenoir has scored 17 goals during the three-game winning streak.
Its three conference victories also surpass its league win totals from each of the previous three seasons.
The Blue Devils currently sit third in the East Central 3A/4A Conference, trailing Clinton and Heide Trask.
East Central 3A/4A boys soccer standings
Following October 7 games
| Rank | Team | Conference | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clinton | 5-0 | 15-1-1 |
| 2 | Heide Trask | 3-1-1 | 10-4-5 |
| 3 | South Lenoir | 3-2 | 9-5-1 |
| 4 | Pender | 2-3 | 7-9 |
| 5 | East Duplin | 1-3-1 | 5-11-1 |
| 6 | Southwest Onslow | 0-5 | 2-11 |
Seven matches remain
South Lenoir has seven scheduled regular-season matches remaining, including five conference contests.
The next two games could play a major role in determining where the Blue Devils finish in the standings.
South Lenoir hosts second-place Heide Trask on Monday, October 12, before welcoming conference leader Clinton on Wednesday, October 14.
Both teams defeated South Lenoir during the first round of conference play.
South Lenoir remaining schedule
All matches scheduled for 6 p.m.
| Date | Matchup | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 12 | Heide Trask at South Lenoir | Conference |
| Oct. 14 | Clinton at South Lenoir | Conference |
| Oct. 15 | South Lenoir at West Craven | Nonconference |
| Oct. 19 | South Lenoir at Pender | Conference |
| Oct. 21 | South Lenoir at Southwest Onslow | Conference |
| Oct. 26 | East Duplin at South Lenoir | Conference |
| Oct. 28 | Sallie B. Howard at South Lenoir | Nonconference |
After winning just one conference match last season, South Lenoir enters the final stretch of 2026 with an opportunity to finish among the East Central’s top teams.
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