By PAUL GOTHAM
HILTON, N.Y. — For Mike Ellicott and his Hilton Cadets it was a matter of accountability. An emphasis on finding the back of the net in a recent practice session served that point.
Less than one week after being shutout in their season opener, Hilton tallied twice in the opening eight minutes and didn’t stop there. Hector Puente scored two of Hilton’s four first-half goals as the Cadets downed Rush-Henrietta 4-1 in Monroe County Division I action Tuesday night at LeBeau Field.
“It was nice to see that,” Ellicott said of his offense which managed to score just one goal apiece in their two preseason scrimmages. “I wouldn’t say we weren’t taking care of the ball (in the previous outings). We were over-thinking the ball. We were getting to the final third, working around the 18-yard box and just dancing around it. We weren’t having that penetrating final decision maker. Today was just all about that.”
Puente redirected a Brett Wilkins corner kick to start the scoring. R-H leveled the match :63 seconds later, but Cody Cavuoto answered within :25 seconds, and Hilton had a lead it did not surrender.
Hector Puente redirects an Anthony Inglese corner to get @HiltonSoccer on the board in the 4th minute. Cory Meintel answers for @RushAthletics :63 later. Cody Cavuoto follows with a tally less than a minute later. Yes, we have played less than 10 minutes and it’s 2-1. pic.twitter.com/qZOoaMx5FR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 3, 2019
“Yesterday was a pure finishing session,” Ellicott said of practice. “Our biggest message was ‘every time you pass in the 18-yard box, you’re just handing off responsibility to another person.’ We do want you to make the right decision on when to shoot but don’t be gun shy. We really want to take that shot.”
Puente made it a 3-1 game in the 14th minute with an assist from Anthony Inglese. Josh Ranke converted an Inglese corner kick before the end of the half for what ended up being the final margin of victory.
Josh Ranke waits far post. @HiltonSoccer converts from the corner for the second time in the half to take a 4-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/SIclRoDR2F
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 3, 2019
“Yesterday the whole session was knowing what it feels like to put the ball in the net,” Ellicott added. “This possessive-style play it’s got to have a finished product. That’s everyone’s big knock on possession in soccer. Is it having the ball for having-it sake? Or is it for having the ball to score a goal. We want to score a goal. We didn’t have that in our two scrimmages or even in the Churchville game (last week’s opener that Hilton lost 1-0).”
The game was a rematch of last year’s Section V Class AA final, a contest that Hilton won 2-1. Tuesday night, Rush-Henrietta started a freshman at goalkeeper and four sophomores at field positions.
“We’re young and inexperienced but they caught us there at the beginning a little shell shocked,” third-year Rush-Henrietta head coach Jake Falci said. “That just rattled our kids a little bit.”
Cory Meintel tied the game at one with 32:57 remaining in the first half, but the Royal Comets (0-1-1) didn’t gain any momentum from the marker.
“We lack toughness, and it showed,” Falci said. “They had some guys upfront who are pretty athletic. That’s what I think shell shocked us a little bit. We thought they were going to keep it front of us. We move. We shift and then all of sudden they bang a couple balls over the top because they see our backs up a little bit. We just weren’t collective in our recovery.”
The young R-H squad also faced the daunting task of having to face a Hilton squad which hasn’t lost at home in more than two seasons.
“It’s been 1,048 days to be exact,” Ellicott said referring to Hilton’s last loss at home when they fell to Webster Thomas in the 2016 sectionals. “We kinda skirted around that statistic over the last two years knowing that it’s a pressure statistic, but now this team seems to be feeding off that a little bit.”
Ellicott credited assistant Scott Meagher with providing the team with motivation for the game.
“He’s very good with knowing how to push the boys,” Ellicott stated. “He sent out a tweet the other day and put out on Instagram how many days, how many hours, how many minutes we’ve been undefeated on the field.
“It’s great to have your modified B coach be that guy. They love him. Many of them had him in class. The boys responded to that. We want other teams to come here and feel welcomed but not comfortable. That’s kind of our message.”
Last time the Hilton Boys Soccer Team lost on LeBeau Field was to Webster Thomas on October 21, 2016.
1047 days ago!
or 149 weeks & 4 days
or 2 years & 10 months & 13 days
or over 25,000 hours
Our boys look to extend the streak tomorrow night as they host Rush Henrietta at 7:00pm pic.twitter.com/wB56qYYEnA— Scott Meagher (@scott_meagher) September 2, 2019
R-H had a chance to get back in the game early in the second half when Hunter Kassel cut back, went to his left and let fly with a missile that Hilton keeper Andrew Cavuoto punched over the bar.
Hunter Kassel and @RushAthletics come out firing in second half. Andrew Cavuoto is there with the ???? out. pic.twitter.com/Uobrq5ZS0R
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 4, 2019
“In the attacking third, I thought we had some good opportunities and some numbers forward,” Falci noted.
Michael Inglese assisted on Cody Cavuoto’s goal.
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