HILTON, N.Y. — As far as early-season crossroads go, Tuesday’s Monroe County Division I matchup had a touch of desperation for the Hilton boys’ soccer team.
The reigning Class AA champs (2-1-1) were winless in their previous two outings and taking on a Penfield side that had yet to allow a goal this campaign.
An own goal off a corner kick early in the second half, jumpstarted the Hilton offense.
“You’re never going to know until you land a punch what’s going to happen,” Hilton head coach Mike Ellicott said after the Cadets 3-1 win. “We figured let’s take a swing.”
The Cadets pushed forward from the opening kick coming out of the break and forced the opportunity.
Ellicott credited junior midfielder Brodie Spillman with drawing the attention of the Penfield defense during the set piece from the left corner flag.
“Brodie put the pressure on. He made a great run across the goalie’s line of sight. He distracted the keeper a little bit. We had people charging the back post.”
Kyle Cunningham played a ball deep into the six that forced a rushed attempt at a clearing from the far post and ended in the Penfield net.
50’ Ryan Masi draws the penalty. Luca Dodge converts. @HiltonSoccer 2-nil pic.twitter.com/UMqVprWQxp
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 14, 2022
“It was unfortunate for that young man who had to step to the ball. He couldn’t leave it. It was unlucky that it goes off him and in the back of the net.”
Five minutes later, Ryan Masi made a run deep into the Penfield end and forced a penalty inside the 18-yard box.
Luca Dodge converted the ensuing opportunity.
The Cadets had a lead they did not surrender.
“The whole fun part of tonight was this team is coming in after three games haven’t conceded a goal. It was a little bit of a challenge tonight. Could we be that team that cracks that defense?”
The two quick strikes came after Penfield had its share of chances in the first half. The Patriots generated five corner kicks of their own before Hilton converted on its first such chance.
“We had a really rough end to the first half,” Ellicott noted. “We were in the weeds. It was tough to watch.
“They’re young men. They’ve got to find their way out of these problems. Somehow, we held on tight enough to that rope. We didn’t slip. We didn’t fall. We got halfway to the finish line. We came out a different team in the second half. It was great to see.”
Penfield cut the deficit to one before Johnny Bianchi sealed the game in the 65th minute.
After finding the back of the net on five occasions in Hilton first two matches, the junior attacker, who was injured much of last season, had been held scoreless in the two outings leading into Tuesday’s contest.
“He’s had a rough couple of games where he’s taken somethings personally because he’s not been able to get on the scoresheet. Missing the majority of last season is still on his mind. He wants to prove himself.”
67’ Johnny Bianchi from the tiniest of angles gives @HiltonSoccer a 3-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/13hhHEj4Tn
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 14, 2022
Bianchi ran on to a Ian Smith lead into the open field and sent a left-footed strike off the opposite post for his sixth goal of the season.
“We really, really struggled last week with getting in our own heads about playing super-safe and not take any risks,” Ellicott noted. “We struggled with getting into the final third of the field. We started to generate chances, and those chances were from our pressing. We moved forward and started to put them under pressure.”
Sam Swanger converted a penalty kick for the lone Penfield goal.
“They made us make more mistakes,” said Penfield head coach John Cotsonas. “And they took advantage.”
Penfield (3-1-0) will host Fairport on Thursday.
Hilton (3-1-1) travels to play Victor also on Thursday.
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