By PAUL GOTHAM
For the second time in as many games, the Hilton Cadets used a strong second half en route to victory.
Justin Arilotta netted two goals and assisted on another as Hilton downed Rush-Henrietta, 3-2 in Monroe County Division I action on LeBeau Field.
Arilotta gave Hilton a 2-1 edge in the 58th minute, but the junior attacker was at his best eight minutes later when he led teammate Evan Pirnie into the open field for the eventual game winner.
“The gap was not big,” Hilton head coach Mike Ellicott said of the space Arilotta used for his helper. “It was a really tight gap actually. It was nice to see him just thread that through.
“He’s a very unselfish kid. He’s bided his time. He’s a three-year JV player. Now as junior, he’s really shining in this target man role as a little guy.”
Joshua Ranke started the play when he won the ball along the left sideline and fed Arilotta in the middle third.
“I saw Evan running out of the corner of my eye,” Arilotta explained. “I figured I would just slot it through. He’s a finisher, and he put that one away.”
The helper was Arilotta’s second of the season, and Hilton improved to 3-0-0 in league play.
“He has a nose for the goal, but at the same time he’s not stupid,” Ellicott said. “He knows this game. He knows if he’s facing two guys and his friend is making that run, he’s going to find his friend. It’s a very selfless act to see him do that and a huge part to see a guy that want wants to be a goal scorer, gets two goals but knows that his value is a big assist there.”
Pirnie led Arilotta for the first goal of the game. Aaron Masters delivered the assist on Arilotta’s second tally – a through ball that Arilotta gathered in the open field and beat Rush-Henrietta goalkeeper Ethan Scheur.
“I made a run around the defender, and he slotted it,” Arilotta said of his teammate’s pass. “Perfect ball. Can’t say much more and just tucked it in.”
On Tuesday, Hilton trailed Gates-Chili 1-nil at halftime before coming away with a 3-1 triumph.
“They all see it,” Ellicott said of his team’s mindset at halftime. “They’re very smart soccer players. It’s just translating it from brain to feet at the moment. It’s coming.”
Rush-Henrietta’s Hunter Kassel scored the equalizer in the first half.
Nick Maznikovski scored R-H’s second goal when he redirected Cory Meintel’s direct kick in the 70th minute.
With the win, Hilton moves into sole possession of first in Monroe County Division I.
“Our big push is the division this year,” Ellicott stated. “Two years ago we finished third. Last year we finished second.”
Hilton travels to Spencerport for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Saturday.
Rush-Henrietta hosts Gates-Chili on Tuesday. A 4:30 p.m. start time is slated.
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