Matt Torrisi and Jayme Diefendorf grew up only eight minutes from each other.

“I know. I’ve driven it a ton of times,” said Torrisi, of Methuen, Massachusetts.

So it shouldn’t be any surprise that they met, fell in love and in the end, Diefendorf accepted Torrisi’s marriage proposal.

Well, there is a little twist. They found each other, indirectly, because of the New England Patriots. To take it a step further, they are together because the New England Patriots finally beat the New York Giants in a big game two years ago.

While both are athletes — Torrisi played basketball at Central Catholic and Diefendorf, of Salem, New Hampshire, played field hockey at Salem High — they met after a Patriots game.

In Aruba.

Both were on pre-Thanksgiving family vacations, with parents and siblings and friends. The Torrisis, who have been going annually since 1999, were in one hotel, while Diefendorfs & Co., who have been there eight straight years, at another. 

After the Patriots beat the Giants at the Meadowlands, 27-26, on a 54-yard field goal in the closing seconds, Torrisi and Diefendorf, both went to Moomba’s, a bar and restaurant between their two hotels, to celebrate.

“I hate the Giants because of their lucky wins over the Patriots in the Super Bowl,” said Torrisi. “This felt like a playoff game. The Patriots were very good (8-0) going into the game. My family watched the game in our room. After the incredible finish, a few of us had to go to the bar to celebrate.”

Torrisi, while wearing his Tom Brady jersey, saw this “beautiful blonde” wearing the Patriots tank top, walk by. 

“We were introduced and started talking and realized we grew up so close to each other,” said Torrisi. “Jayme ended up saying she’d buy me a drink. Next thing you know we’re walking to the bar and she starts talking to another guy. Her friend came over and said, ‘Jayme, what the hell are you doing talking to that guy? One of us is taking this man (Matt) home.’ “

Torrisi, 26, eventually got her attention and his drink, and there was conversation, dancing and more conversation. 

“We walked back to her hotel and chatted more,” said Torrisi. “It was awesome.”

They realized they had more in common than the Patriots. They grew up minutes away from each other.

“In fact, even crazier was the fact that her father’s house was on Arlington Pond in Salem (N.H.),” said Torrisi. “My grandmother’s home was on the other side of the pond. I can clearly see their home. I had been there hundreds of times, yet we had never met.”

On a trip to Azores Islands, off the coast of Portugal, Torrisi surprised Diefendorf by proposing on a bridge while getting down on one knee earlier this month. She accepted. They plan to marry in 2018.

“We are huge Patriots fans and watch every game together,” said Torrisi. “We will get married on a beach somewhere between Rhode Island and Maine.”

The irony of their initial meeting amazes Torrisi to this day.

“We each travel 1,000 miles to Aruba and the Patriots do something they never do, which is beat the Giants,” said Torrisi. “Jayme did tell me that ‘If I met you at home, I would never talk to you.’ I guess it’s all about timing and being at the right place at the right time.”

Bill Burt is executive sports editor of The Eagle-Tribune. You can email him at bburt@eagletribun.com.