<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2of4KS_0vkpUfAC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2of4KS_0vkpUfAC00" width="971" height="1280" ><figcaption>Cooper Nichols connected on the eventual game winner in the 60th minute as host Hilton defeated Brighton, 2-1 in Section V Boys’ Soccer action, Wednesday night. (Photo: DAVE YATES)</figcaption></figure>HILTON, N.Y. — Cooper Nichols made it look routine. The Hilton junior gained possession of the ball 40 yards away from the goal. Without hesitation, he lashed with his right leg and foot to unleash a shot that he tucked under the crossbar for the eventual game-winning score.Call it a rocket. Call it a laser. Call it a frozen rope if you want to use a baseball metaphor. The specific description doesn’t matter as much as the manner in which the ball left the foot of Nichols and found the back of the net while still on a line. “I just turned, put my head up and then ripped it,” he said after host Hilton’s 2-1 victory over Brighton. “Just like in practice. Right off the foot it felt good.”It was his team-leading fourth goal of the season and snapped a one-all tie in the 60th minute. “It’s been a long time coming to see him rip that shot,” said Hilton head coach Mike Ellicott. “He does it about a hundred times every practice, and it goes flying into the back of the net. He’s just been snake bitten over the last several weeks. “He’s been hitting posts, hitting the crossbar, inches wide. As soon as he turned, we saw something that we see on a regular basis. He’s had a couple goals so far. He really is someone who should be in double figures by now.”With the win, Hilton (4-2-2) stayed unbeaten in its past five games. At the same time, the Cadets snapped a mini-skid. “After a couple of draws in a row at home, something we’re not used to doing, it was great to see their response,” Ellicott said referring to recent level matches with Webster Schroeder (1-1) and Rush-Henrietta (0-0). “I think our inexperience showed in those games. It was nice to see the boys come out tonight in a much more controlled, focus manner.”Nichols pointed to the squad’s mindset when taking the field on Wednesday. “With our boys, everything is just mental. If the mentality is right and we’re in a really good space, you can see it.” Aidan Siciliano took advantage of a give away in the final third to get Hilton on the scoreboard in the 12th minute. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3EZGNI_0vkpUfAC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3EZGNI_0vkpUfAC00" width="1024" height="727" ><figcaption>Aidan Siciliano (14) started the scoring for Hilton in the 12th minute. (Photo: DAVE YATES)</figcaption></figure>“He’s just an opportunistic guy who reads the game very well,” Ellicott said of Siciliano. “Unfortunately for the keeper, he slipped and didn’t make the best clearance on it. He (Siciliano) didn’t think twice on it and put it in the back of the net.”Devon Skirment had an assist on the Nichols goal. Peter Odhiambo provided the equalizer for Brighton (3-5-1) in the 53rd minute. Moments after the senior center back sent an Alessandro Bosa free kick service over the bar, he went airborne again redirected a Zach Flores corner kick for his first goal of the season. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">53’ This time Peter Odhiambo connects on the equalizer. Beauty of a goal. ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/brightonbruins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@brightonbruins</a>⁩ 1 ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/HiltonSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HiltonSoccer</a>⁩ 1 <a href="https://t.co/YLITwalrWU" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/YLITwalrWU</a> — Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) <a href="https://twitter.com/PickinSplinters/status/1839098368573739042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">September 26, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>Hilton hosts Fairport next Tuesday for 7:15 p.m. kickoff. Brighton travels to play at Greece Arcadia on Saturday. An 11 a.m. start is scheduled. </div></body>

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Nichols connects on late blast; Hilton edges Brighton

HILTON, N.Y. — Cooper Nichols made it look routine. The Hilton junior gained possession of the ball 40 yards away from the goal. Without hesitation, he lashed with his right leg and foot to unleash a shot that he tucked under the crossbar for the eventual game-winning score. Call...