Brockport loses state qualifier
McQuaid scored with less than five minutes remaining in regulation to break a 1-1 and defeated Hilton in the Class AA Section V boy’s soccer final. Earlier Brockport, who won the Class A1 Section V title with wins over Irondequoit, Greece Athena and top-seed Brighton, lost in the state qualifier to Pittsford Sutherland after eight rounds of penalty kicks.
Hilton gave up an early goal just 45 seconds into their final with undefeated McQuaid, but recovered to control play for much of the first half.
“We knew what was coming and it was no surprise,” Hilton head coach Mike Ellicott said. “We couldn’t have drawn out to the boys over the last three days exactly how they were going to score and mental lapses will cost you games.”
The Cadets, ranked 18th in New York State, did rebound and was able to tie the game when junior Justin Arilotta was taken down inside the box giving Hilton a penalty kick. Senior co-captain Adam Wuest converted to tie the game 1-1 at the 21:24 mark.
McQuaid pressured late in the first half and a scoring chance was punched away by Hilton goalkeeper Joseph Gombatto with under two minutes before halftime.
“We dug ourselves out of a hole and see to us get to seven or eight minutes on the clock and have moments when we dominated the game, but you can’t put yourself in a hole like that in a final especially against a team that hasn’t conceded more than five goals the whole season.”
McQuaid scored a goal with under ten minutes remaining that was called back on an offsides, but they did take a 2-1 lead in the 75th minute on a scramble goal that originally hit a Knights teammate, but the rebound was knocked in off the right post.
“They (the Cadets) are the most incredible group of kids,” Ellicott concluded. “Obviously they are disappointed to lose, but they are ranked in the nation and we felt like we hung with them.
“These young men I taught when they were in seventh grade, so to see these seniors go from being 12 years old to 18 year old men, it’s been fun to watch the development that they’ve had.”
Brockport gave 15-year varsity head coach Chris Zorn their first Section V title since 2006 with the win over Brighton.
Tied 1-1 with Sutherland in the Class A state qualifier after 120 minutes, the two teams went to penalty kicks where Pittsford survived 5-4.
