Hilton senior Alexis DiStefano had her junior year end in just the third game of the season when she went down with a knee injury. After eight months of rehab, she returned in a big way with two goals as Hilton overcame one-goal deficits three times and defeated Brockport 5-3 in double-overtime.
“It is the best feeling in the world,” DiStefano said. “We are a family and we deserved to win that game.
“(The recovery) was the hardest thing I have ever had to go through, but my teammates stood by me and encouraged me throughout.”
Visiting Brockport took a 1-0 6:10 into the contest as Maddy Fadale stole the ball in the offensive zone and fed Emily Parker for the goal.
But the Cadets took only 18 seconds to tie as senior Victoria Bisciotti fed DiStefano for the goal.
In the 25th minute, the Blue Devils jumped ahead as Maija Young took a pass from Parker and had her shot deflect off a Hilton defender and past the goalkeeper for her first varsity goal.
The Cadets again tied the game in the 31st minute when senior Megan Letta sent a right cross to the opposite side of the box to Bisciotti, who tapped in home.
Brockport took their third one-goal lead in the 66th minute as senior Bryn Hayes took a direct kick from the right side of the box that was redirected across the goal-line by freshman Ella Fadale for her first varsity goal.
Then, with seven minutes remaining in regulation, Hilton again got the tying goal as junior Sierra Edwards sent a cross along the turf across the box where Letta was waiting to tap it in.
In the first overtime, DiStefano scored the game-winner on another low cross – this time by sophomore Emma Spelman in the 84th minute.
“I love being on the end-line and getting the cross off, but of course I love being on the other end of the play as well,” DiStefano said.
The Cadets got an insurance goal in the second overtime again off a tap-in cross this time with Bisciotti registering her third point of the game by feeding junior Autumn Edwards.
It was the season opener for both teams.
