- November 5, 2024
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Leah Leach is used to being a field general, her team’s last line of defense. But this season, she’s not coming off her line or making acrobatic saves in the upper-90, but rather baiting quarterbacks and out-jumping receivers.
Leach — the starting goalkeeper on FPC’s soccer team — has found a role as the Bulldogs' starting safety and a receiver on the varsity flag football squad. She came down with two interceptions in a 7-2 loss to Mainland on April 10.
“For me being a goalkeeper, it’s kind of easy to read the field as a safety, because as a goalie you understand where everyone is supposed to be,” Leach said. “But also, I have to learn how to jump, going up and being able to bump and grind with a couple people.”
Jasmine Hadley, the younger sister of former Mainland quarterback Cameron Hadley, hauled in a first-quarter slant pass from Haley Berdet and took off for the game’s only touchdown.
After Hadley’s score, both defenses clamped down until the closing moments of the fourth quarter.
FPC (1-5) got the ball back near midfield with two minutes, five seconds to play in the game. On third down, the Bulldogs ran a double-pitch play. Sophomore Dakota Dixon caught the ball around right end and broke through, slicing through Bucs until her flag was yanked at the 1-yard line.
But on fourth-and-goal, FPC’s pass fell incomplete over the middle, forcing a turnover on downs. The game wasn’t over yet, because on Mainland’s ensuing first down play in the shadow of its own goalpost, the snap was high, tipping off Zyreina Mincey’s hands and going out of the end zone for a safety.
With 55 seconds to play, FPC had one final chance, but Mainland’s Liera Iler picked off a desperation heave to seal the outcome.
“We tried to hit a deep pass to Leah, and it just didn’t quite work out,” FPC coach Jim Gambone said. “The girls worked really hard and gave their best effort. Defensively, we stopped them really well.”
Leach has seen marked progress from her squad since the season began.
“In the beginning of the season, our offense couldn’t string two or three passes together,” she said. “Now, we’re able to hit people and do what we have to do.”
The Bulldogs downed Matanzas, 13-6 on April 11 and will take on the winner of the Pirates and Palatka for on April 28 at Matanzas for the district title.
