Hilton twice overcame one-goal deficits with Jake Palumbo netting the tying goal with less than two minutes remaining in the second period as the Cadets and Brockport skated to a 3-3 tie in high school hockey.
“We have the potential to be really good, but we’re playing too inconsistent to be a factor,” Hilton head coach Chris Monfiletto said. “If we start taking care of the little things, we could be factor in Section V.”
Palumbo gave Hilton a 1-0 lead at 9:13 of the first period when he pounded home a perfect pass from behind the net by Justin Allen. Todd Higgins also assisted on the play.
Brockport tied the game 1-1 in the second period to begin a five goal outburst by both teams. Mitchell Henshaw’s point shot found the back of the net for his team leading sixth goal of the season with assists from Dylan Sharpe and Matt Roe on the power play tally.
The Blue Devils took their first lead of the contest just 36 seconds later as Alex Harley converted a three-on-two break on a tap-in off a Sharpe shot. Defenseman Chevy Ioannone also assisted.
Hilton tied it 2-2 at 5:29 of the second as Sam Sedia scored his first goal as a Cadet off passes from Hunter and Brenden Howell.
On the next shift, Brockport again took a one-goal lead as Sharpe knocked in the rebound of a Henshaw shot 18 seconds later.
But, at 13:34 of the second period, Mitch Palumbo won an offensive zone draw back to the right point. Higgins’ shot was stopped, but Jake Palumbo scored on the rebound for his team-high eighth goal and 17th point.
Both teams combined for 20 shots over the final period plus overtime, but Brockport goaltender Riley Emmerson and Hilton’s Patrick Dennehy each preserved the point.
“We’re there,” Brockport assistant coach Alan Barton said. “We’re still learning as a team, so I think we can surprise some teams later on.”
Hilton entered the final week in December with a 4-2-1 record and in fifth place in Division II while the Blue Devils were 1-5-1 with a win over Aquinas in the season opener.
