“We’ve had some teams that won sectional titles, but they had losing records and got hot at the right time—we’re back to the (19) 80’s and we can’t find any Hilton boy’s soccer team with the start this team has had and was undefeated at home,” Hilton head coach Mike Ellicott said about his team.
The Cadets improved to 9-1-1 on the season with a 2-0 victory over Gates Chili at LeBeau Field.
“This is a testament to their work. Two years ago we finished third and last year second, so this is a natural progression. We are in control of whether we are division champions or not and this team has earned it.”
The Cadets took a 1-0 lead on the Spartans at 11:45 as Evan Pirnie’s corner kick from the right corner headed for the near post where senior David Stirpe bodied it in the net.
Hilton starting goalkeeper Joe Gombatto made a save on a shot from 25 yards out at the near post to thwart Gates Chili’s best scoring opportunity.
The Cadets gave themselves some insurance as Pirnie sent a through-ball to Charles Barker, who put his shot inside the far post for a 2-0 lead at 70:15.
Andrew Cavuoto played the final six minutes in net in sharing the shutout.
Stirpe, Aaron Masters, Jared Gabriel and Ryan Petitti make up the all-senior defense that championship teams are built on.
“Everyone was a part of this game, Ellicott said. “The whole bench trained and practiced hard and some saw their first varsity minutes, but it was nice to see there was no drop-off and they had an opportunity to shine.”
