How would Hanover respond to last Tuesday's disappointing loss to Bedford? They had played well enough to understand that they could have been better. They put their heads down, had two good days of training, and shook off the cobwebs with a solid 6-1 victory over Merrimack at the very familiar (for some) GPS facility in Bedford.
Although focusing on possession was the goal for Hanover, they took the suspense out of the match two minutes into the game, when Charlie Adams sent an angled pass into the box for Eli Stack, who finished expertly for his second goal of the season. Eight minutes later, Stack returned the favor, making a baseline run from the right side and pulling the ball back for Adams, making the score 2-0. Adams hit the post with a shot at the 15-minute mark
Hanover's edge in play was significant. They held the ball for long stretched, patiently playing in all directions, and switching the point of attack from side to side. By the end of the half, they held a 17-0 edge in shots. This was somewhat of a surprise. Merrimack had beaten BG 3-1, not too far removed form Hanover's 4-1 win over BG. They had lost to Bedford 3-0, a respectable score. So when Latham Allison nudged in a Charlie Adams free kick at the far post for a 3-0 lead just 17 minutes into the game, it was noteworthy.
The Marauders did some significant substituting after the midway point of the half, but on a warm afternoon that only increased Hanover's edge, and they notched the nicest goal of the game at the 25-minute mark. The ball was played into the right corner to Amane Matsuoka, who had switched positions with Blake Palmer minutes earlier. Matsuoka found Eli Stack in front of the net with a centering pass, and Stack deftly slid the ball for Adams, who had an easy shot for his second goal of the afternoon.
Hanover had a number of other good looks. Palmer had a shot headed off the line, David Stoffel had a pair of long ranger offerings, and Nathan Subrahmanian was point blank but his shot never found the target. With five minutes to go in the half, Will Blinkhorn his a hard shot the deflected off a defender and found the back of the net. Hockey studs Toño Correa and Brendan Brigham celebrated what they were sure was a goal for their brother, but alas, the soccer scoring rules properly credited it as an Own Goal. Those same rules awarded him an assist, however, as a consolation prize. Joey Perras nearly collected an assist when his long goal kick connect with Charlie Adams on the break. It was ruled offsides, which Associate Head Coach Sam Farnham correctly pointed out to the official, who immediately and good-naturedly admitted his mistake.
Sternly warned to started the second half as though it was scoreless, the Marauders immediately surrendered a goal to Merrimack, combining a bad pass with a shoddy tackle, creating time and space for Carter Sherman to score. Unfazed, Hanover continued to apply pressure on Merrimack with a number of players, eventually using all 24 field players and giving them decent minutes. Kyle Doucette forced a nice save with a strong shot following a corner kick. Blake Palmer and Alex Stevens almost created a spectacular goal, with Palmer's volley from sweet Stevens cross hitting the crossbar and sailing away.
Merrimack was fighting hard to get back into the game, but the Hanover defense was solid. Joey Perras made a dope catch of a corner kick in traffic, and then made a wonderful diving save to his left on a dangerous shot. Merrimack was awarded a free kick right at the edge of the box, and the wall did a great job blunting the attack, with Evan Nichols taking one for the team. Brendan Brigham also absorbed a hard shot in his own end, although it was friendly fire from Doucette.
Hanover continued to have an edge in possession and play. Jackson Lake had three looks, and forced a great save with one shot headed for the corner. Subrahmanian had another good opportunity, and Henry Aspinwall had a dangerous shot opportunity blocked. The last goal of the match went to Charlie Adams, who completed a hat trick with a shot from the 18. It was his fifth of the season.
The Marauders will enjoy a weekend off, and then begin preparing for a solid Keene team. Hanover beat the Blackbirds in a preseason match, but this one will be for keeps, and the Marauders will need to continue to make progress as they grow together as a team./
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