The soccer season at Hanover has boiled down to one game for one team: The Varsity hosts Keene on Saturday at 2:00 at Merriman-Branch field.
The Marauders will train on Friday on the turf from 3:30 - 5:00.:00
We're taking this one game at a time. But we need to list tentative training times in the even that Hanover wins on Saturday and extends the season.
Sunday: 5:00- 7:00 p.m. (Following the HHS Girls' playoff game at 3:00
Monday: 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday: Semifinal Game at Stellos Stadium, Nashua 4:00 p.m. Bust Departs 1:10 a.m. (after 5th period).
Wednesday: Whoa. That's way too far ahead.
Friday during Activity Period, all Hanover subvarasity players can return their uniforms to the gym and receive their Hanover Soccer Tee Shirts.
We are looking for volunteers to be ball runners during the Saturday game. Please message CoAAch Grabill. First Come, First Served.
Be sure to save the Date: Four-Team Soccer Celebration and Potluck Dessert Buffet. Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the NNH gym.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Marauders Survive and Advance, Breaking Penalty Jinx with Sudden Victory over Winnacunnet
The Marauder Varsity played one of the most dramatic and entertaining games in Merriman-Branch history Wednesday, beating Winnacunnet in a sudden death penalty kick shootout to advance to the quarterfinal round of the NHIAA Division One Tournament. Trailing or tied for most of the game against a fired-up Warrior squad, the Marauders rallied to tied the game twice, and after dominating 20 minutes of scoreless golden goal overtime, they calmly won a nerve-shattering shootout in the seventh round. The penalty kick victory was Senior Night, with Charlie Adams, Judd Alexander, Lathan Allison, Joey Perras and Amane Matsuoka each scoring a critical goal. After Matsuoka's seventh-round shot, Winnacunnet shooter Ryan Murray sailed his shot one the bar, sealing the Marauder win and triggering a wild celebration as the victorious Hanover players were swallowed by the large and boisterous crown that had supported and listed them all game.
Hanover now advances to the Quarterfinal round of the tournament, and will host sixth-seeded Keene on Saturday at 2:00.
The penalty kick victory ends a bitter series of tournament losses via the shootout, four times in the past eight seasons. Coach Grabill had never won on penalties until Wednesday. The Marauders lost at home to Goffstown in 2011 in the infamous Lights Out game. They lost to Pinkerton in the Semifinals in 2014, and lost again to Londonderry in thee semifinals in 2015. Most recently, Hanover lost a bitter shootout defeat in 2017 at Pinkerton after their overtime game winner was stolen. Thus, this cathartic victory does a great deal for the franchise. Plus, perhaps, it will send the Marauders into the game against Keene a bit hungrier.
Hanover certainly started on the right foot against Winnacunnett, taking a 1-0 lead 44 seconds into the match when Charlie Adams got the ball with Matsuoka's help on the right side of the box, and found time and room to tuck a ball inside the far post. Winnacunnet was unfazed, and spend most of the next 30 minutes on the front foot. The Warriors tied the game ten minutes into the match when speedy Chaz Ziolkowski found space on the right side and beat the slow-to-close Hanover defense to a spot where he had a unguarded shot from close range past Pewrras. Eight minutes. later, they took a lead on a beautiful goal, with a long pass played to frontrunner Gavin O'Hara, who controlled the ball and slid a lateral pass to a speeding Ryan Murray, who ran past his defender and whipped a nice shot into the net. Hanover had little success offensively until the waning moments of the half, when they finally earned their first corner kicks, and almost got a short-range shot from Henry Aspinwall, who got possession deep in the box but saw a shot blocked.
Not prone to panic, Hanover grew into the game quickly in the second half, and tied the score on a spectacular free kick fro the left side into the upper right corner by Adams, his 22nd goal of the season. Winnacunnet stayed aggressive, and had a good attempt foiled moments later on a nice tackle in the box by Kyle Doucette. The Marauders missed a chance when a long Adams free kick nearly connected with his favorite target, Doucette. Joey Perras had to be at his best to keep Winnacunnet in check, coming off his line more than once to contest 50-50 balls, and making an excellent save after being shaken up. Hanover had another near miss in the 63rd minute when a pass across the face of the goal was nearly converted by Blake Palmer.
Winnacunnet shocked the large and supportive home crowd in the 66th minute during a rare foray into the Hanover end when Ziolkowski took the ball in the box and made a quick left to right run to create space for a short, hard, accurate shot past Perras. Hanover jumped right back into mix 90 seconds later when Latham Allison found room in a mosh pit in front of the Winnacunnet goal ti tie the game. Hanover had a few more looks in the final 10 minutes, but the best shot before the end of regulation was a close-range Warrior shot that sailed over the bar. There was no inevitability in this contest. The game was up for grabs.
That said, Hanover dominated the to 10-minute sudden victory overtime periods. Blake Palmer ripped a shot past the post, and Henry Aspinwall just missed connecting with it with a great far post run. Adams had a shot blocked for a dangerous corner. In the second overtime, the chances were even more numerous. Allison missed connenctions on a header. Palmer had another great shot slide just wide of the post. Allison and Matsuoka each had great looks before the final whistle.
Losing all of the time in penalties means that you're paranoid about penalties, and you tend to start practicing the second you reach postseason. Hanover had devoted some time to penalties during each postseason practice, and their demeanor during the shootout was a confident one. Adams led off for Hanover and cooly converted the leadoff penalty into the left corner. Marauder fans rejoiced when Joey Perras made a great dive too his left to deny Ziolkowski. Blake Palmer pulled his shot wide to the right and then Cam Hart converted, and the shootout was tied.
Eric Ringer's soft shot went right to Warrior goalie Nathan Today. but Hanover caught a break when Marcos Charlotte hit a shot that grazed the left upright and missed. The next two shooters for each team made their shots, with Judd Alexander and Latham Allison cooly converting for Hanover.
With the score tied at 5-5. Perras dramatically doffed his gloves and coldly hit his shot into the left corner. After Daniel Kim tied it for the Warriors, their third straight clutch shot, Matsuoka made no mistake for Hanover's fifth goal. Ryan Murray's shot almost made a bid for the parking lot, and Hanover had their cherished win. They survive, they advance, and their season continues.
Hanover now advances to the Quarterfinal round of the tournament, and will host sixth-seeded Keene on Saturday at 2:00.
The penalty kick victory ends a bitter series of tournament losses via the shootout, four times in the past eight seasons. Coach Grabill had never won on penalties until Wednesday. The Marauders lost at home to Goffstown in 2011 in the infamous Lights Out game. They lost to Pinkerton in the Semifinals in 2014, and lost again to Londonderry in thee semifinals in 2015. Most recently, Hanover lost a bitter shootout defeat in 2017 at Pinkerton after their overtime game winner was stolen. Thus, this cathartic victory does a great deal for the franchise. Plus, perhaps, it will send the Marauders into the game against Keene a bit hungrier.
Hanover certainly started on the right foot against Winnacunnett, taking a 1-0 lead 44 seconds into the match when Charlie Adams got the ball with Matsuoka's help on the right side of the box, and found time and room to tuck a ball inside the far post. Winnacunnet was unfazed, and spend most of the next 30 minutes on the front foot. The Warriors tied the game ten minutes into the match when speedy Chaz Ziolkowski found space on the right side and beat the slow-to-close Hanover defense to a spot where he had a unguarded shot from close range past Pewrras. Eight minutes. later, they took a lead on a beautiful goal, with a long pass played to frontrunner Gavin O'Hara, who controlled the ball and slid a lateral pass to a speeding Ryan Murray, who ran past his defender and whipped a nice shot into the net. Hanover had little success offensively until the waning moments of the half, when they finally earned their first corner kicks, and almost got a short-range shot from Henry Aspinwall, who got possession deep in the box but saw a shot blocked.
Not prone to panic, Hanover grew into the game quickly in the second half, and tied the score on a spectacular free kick fro the left side into the upper right corner by Adams, his 22nd goal of the season. Winnacunnet stayed aggressive, and had a good attempt foiled moments later on a nice tackle in the box by Kyle Doucette. The Marauders missed a chance when a long Adams free kick nearly connected with his favorite target, Doucette. Joey Perras had to be at his best to keep Winnacunnet in check, coming off his line more than once to contest 50-50 balls, and making an excellent save after being shaken up. Hanover had another near miss in the 63rd minute when a pass across the face of the goal was nearly converted by Blake Palmer.
Winnacunnet shocked the large and supportive home crowd in the 66th minute during a rare foray into the Hanover end when Ziolkowski took the ball in the box and made a quick left to right run to create space for a short, hard, accurate shot past Perras. Hanover jumped right back into mix 90 seconds later when Latham Allison found room in a mosh pit in front of the Winnacunnet goal ti tie the game. Hanover had a few more looks in the final 10 minutes, but the best shot before the end of regulation was a close-range Warrior shot that sailed over the bar. There was no inevitability in this contest. The game was up for grabs.
That said, Hanover dominated the to 10-minute sudden victory overtime periods. Blake Palmer ripped a shot past the post, and Henry Aspinwall just missed connecting with it with a great far post run. Adams had a shot blocked for a dangerous corner. In the second overtime, the chances were even more numerous. Allison missed connenctions on a header. Palmer had another great shot slide just wide of the post. Allison and Matsuoka each had great looks before the final whistle.
Losing all of the time in penalties means that you're paranoid about penalties, and you tend to start practicing the second you reach postseason. Hanover had devoted some time to penalties during each postseason practice, and their demeanor during the shootout was a confident one. Adams led off for Hanover and cooly converted the leadoff penalty into the left corner. Marauder fans rejoiced when Joey Perras made a great dive too his left to deny Ziolkowski. Blake Palmer pulled his shot wide to the right and then Cam Hart converted, and the shootout was tied.
Eric Ringer's soft shot went right to Warrior goalie Nathan Today. but Hanover caught a break when Marcos Charlotte hit a shot that grazed the left upright and missed. The next two shooters for each team made their shots, with Judd Alexander and Latham Allison cooly converting for Hanover.
With the score tied at 5-5. Perras dramatically doffed his gloves and coldly hit his shot into the left corner. After Daniel Kim tied it for the Warriors, their third straight clutch shot, Matsuoka made no mistake for Hanover's fifth goal. Ryan Murray's shot almost made a bid for the parking lot, and Hanover had their cherished win. They survive, they advance, and their season continues.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Busy Wednesday Ahead: Two Games, Uniform Return, Survey Completion , Shirt Distribution
Wednesday will be a full day for the soccer program.
First and foremost every player on every team must complete the post-season survey as soon as possible. Many did yesterday, but far too many did not. Here is the link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdi7T9NdcilnDZAJ7oa81FavuPep1OpIZB6HVNeduT7oUgJWQ/viewform
Please contact the Athletic Office if the link does not work for you. It is important that you complete this survey. It is anonymous, but they are tracking the number of respondents per team, and our numbers have disappointed the office. Please complete the survey.
Please return your uniforms. Players for all three sub-varsity teams should bring their uniforms.
I cannot be available during Activity Period, but I will be in school for the last two periods, and after school.
I will also begin distributing the Hanover Soccer shirts that every player on every team will receive, once he has returned his uniform.
All Junior Varsity players are invited to play in today's final intrasquad scrimmage. Coach Willie Johnson will be organizing the game, which kicks off at 3:00 p.m. on the HHS grass field. I will be at the game to collect uniforms and give out Hanover Soccer shirts.
The Varsity plays Winnacunnet High School in a first round NHIAA Division One playoff game hat 6:00 on the HHS turf. Please join us! Cash/check donations to the Haven will be doubled by an anonymous donor.
The Freshmen concluded their season with an exciting 3-1 victory over the Hanover Varsity Girls. It is a great rivalry, and has produce three excellent matches. The girls host a quarterfinal game on Sunday at 2:00, and would love our support! After a scoreless first half, Coach Grabill fired the team up with a bag full of GU. The already twitchy team began speaking and acting like higher primates, and swarmed the Marauder Girls. Jack Gardner scored a pair of excellent goals, and Hanover played excellent team defense. Plans are afoot to celebrate the season in style.
First and foremost every player on every team must complete the post-season survey as soon as possible. Many did yesterday, but far too many did not. Here is the link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdi7T9NdcilnDZAJ7oa81FavuPep1OpIZB6HVNeduT7oUgJWQ/viewform
Please contact the Athletic Office if the link does not work for you. It is important that you complete this survey. It is anonymous, but they are tracking the number of respondents per team, and our numbers have disappointed the office. Please complete the survey.
Please return your uniforms. Players for all three sub-varsity teams should bring their uniforms.
I cannot be available during Activity Period, but I will be in school for the last two periods, and after school.
I will also begin distributing the Hanover Soccer shirts that every player on every team will receive, once he has returned his uniform.
All Junior Varsity players are invited to play in today's final intrasquad scrimmage. Coach Willie Johnson will be organizing the game, which kicks off at 3:00 p.m. on the HHS grass field. I will be at the game to collect uniforms and give out Hanover Soccer shirts.
The Varsity plays Winnacunnet High School in a first round NHIAA Division One playoff game hat 6:00 on the HHS turf. Please join us! Cash/check donations to the Haven will be doubled by an anonymous donor.
The Freshmen concluded their season with an exciting 3-1 victory over the Hanover Varsity Girls. It is a great rivalry, and has produce three excellent matches. The girls host a quarterfinal game on Sunday at 2:00, and would love our support! After a scoreless first half, Coach Grabill fired the team up with a bag full of GU. The already twitchy team began speaking and acting like higher primates, and swarmed the Marauder Girls. Jack Gardner scored a pair of excellent goals, and Hanover played excellent team defense. Plans are afoot to celebrate the season in style.
Monday, October 28, 2019
Big Games Coming Up For All Hanover Players
As our fabulous fall weather continues, the games keep piling up on the Hanover Soccer calendar. There are a number of compelling games in the coming days.
, the
First, the Freshmen will scrimmage the Varsity Girls at 3:30 until 5:00 on Tuesday. The Freshmen will wear white tops, shorts and socks.
On Wednesday after school, all Junior Varsity players (1 and 2) will scrimmage on the HHS Grass Field, with a 3:00 p.m. kickoff. Coach Willie Johnson will work with the JV2 Captains to finalize two even teams. Spare freshmen may (and only may) be get a shot at subbing.
Wednesday evening, the Marauder Varsity hosts D1 foe Winnacunnet in a first-round NHIAA playoff game at 6:00 on the Merriman-Branch turf. Hanover is the #3 seed, and Winnacunnet, beaten by the Marauders 5-2 in Hampton earlier this season, is #14. If Hanover wins, they will host a Quarterfinal game on Saturday at 2:00. The other side of the bracket has #6 Keene hosting #11 Londonderry.
We have finished collecting food for the Haven this season, but a generous donor has given us a wonderful chance to collect cash/check donations. This anonymous donor will match any gift turned in tomorrow. Rob and Laura Adams and Deb Kennedy will be happy to accept checks or cast tomorrow. All donations will be doubled!
Please remember the meeting for ALL players on all teams on Tuesday at 10:45 during Activity Period. JV1 and JV2 players should return their uniforms to the meeting. Freshmen will return uniforms Wednesday after Tuesday's game.
Please remember the four-team Soccer Celebration on Tuesday November 12 at 6:00 in the HHS Gym. Dessert Buffet (with gluten-free), Participation Trophies (We're all Winners), and limited pontificating by coaches. All family members welcome.
, the
First, the Freshmen will scrimmage the Varsity Girls at 3:30 until 5:00 on Tuesday. The Freshmen will wear white tops, shorts and socks.
On Wednesday after school, all Junior Varsity players (1 and 2) will scrimmage on the HHS Grass Field, with a 3:00 p.m. kickoff. Coach Willie Johnson will work with the JV2 Captains to finalize two even teams. Spare freshmen may (and only may) be get a shot at subbing.
Wednesday evening, the Marauder Varsity hosts D1 foe Winnacunnet in a first-round NHIAA playoff game at 6:00 on the Merriman-Branch turf. Hanover is the #3 seed, and Winnacunnet, beaten by the Marauders 5-2 in Hampton earlier this season, is #14. If Hanover wins, they will host a Quarterfinal game on Saturday at 2:00. The other side of the bracket has #6 Keene hosting #11 Londonderry.
We have finished collecting food for the Haven this season, but a generous donor has given us a wonderful chance to collect cash/check donations. This anonymous donor will match any gift turned in tomorrow. Rob and Laura Adams and Deb Kennedy will be happy to accept checks or cast tomorrow. All donations will be doubled!
Please remember the meeting for ALL players on all teams on Tuesday at 10:45 during Activity Period. JV1 and JV2 players should return their uniforms to the meeting. Freshmen will return uniforms Wednesday after Tuesday's game.
Please remember the four-team Soccer Celebration on Tuesday November 12 at 6:00 in the HHS Gym. Dessert Buffet (with gluten-free), Participation Trophies (We're all Winners), and limited pontificating by coaches. All family members welcome.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Practice and Game Schedule Oct. 28 - 30 All Players Please Read This!
HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER
GAME AND PRACTICE SCHEDULE Oct. 28-30, 2019
Monday, Oct. 28
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Varsity Practice – HHS Turf
Tuesday, Oct. 29
10:45 a.m. MANDATORY MEETING FOR ALL PLAYERS ON ALL FOUR TEAMS DURING ACTIVITY PERIOD. THIS IS FOR ALL FALL ATHLETES IN ALL FALL SPORTS. ATTENDANCE WILL BE TAKEN.
All JV1 and JV2 players should come to the meeting with all game and practice uniforms , including socks- washed, folded, bagged and clearly labeled. All players on all teams who return uniforms (Freshmen are due Wednesday) get a great new piece of soccer gear.
3:30 p.m. Freshmen Game vs. Varsity Girls – HHS Turf
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Varsity Practice HHS Turf
Wednesday, Oct. 30
10:30 a.m. All Freshmen return uniforms to the Gym during Activity Period. Return your uniforms and get sweet gear. Return all gear, including socks.
*We are hoping to schedule an all-JV scrimmage this week (Both JV1 AND JV2 teams combined and then redrafted. Maybe NH vs. VT). Stay tuned.
SAVE THE DATE: FOUR-TEAM SOCCER CELEBRATION AND DESSEWRT BUFFET – TUESDAY, NOV. 12 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE HHS GYM. ALL FAMILIES WELCOME
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Freshmen Win State Championship Tournament
The Marauder Freshmen played their best soccer at exactly the right time, winning the Concord Freshman Tournament and claiming the distinction of being the best freshman program in New Hampshire. Unbeaten in group play, Hanover beat the host Concord team 3-0 in the semifinals and then beat a tough Winnacunnet team 2-1 in the finals on a last-minute goal by Cam Forbush. In the process of winning the Marauders faced three teams they had met earlier in the season, and in every case they improved on their previous efforts. This was definitely the case in their opening group game, when they beat the Exeter team that had gashed them less than two weeks ago. After giving top five goals in the first 30 minutes against Exeter in the first encounter, the Marauders scored twice in the early going and limited the Blue Hawks to a single goal, winning 2-1. Eschewing (ROT alert)
their tendency to leak goals early, Hanover turned the tables with a pair of Jack Gardner goals in the first five minutes. Gardner headed home a cross from Augie Krawitt and then converted a pass from Jack Stadheim to give the Marauders a lead they would not relinquish. Exeter managed to score once, but could not crack the defense spearheaded by the firm of Smith, Munson and Watts, and backstopped by goalkeeper Ty Noon.
Hanover's next two group games ensured a trip to the semifinals. They tied an excellent Londonderry team 1-1 on a goal by Soren Stettenheim, a header facilitated by Jack Stadheim, and then beat Dover 7-0. Cam Bonner led the way against the Green Wave with a hat trick, with Gardner, Stadheim, Liam Worden and Tom Mosdal scoring single goals. Theo Joseph had a trio of assists.
Hanover faced Concord in the semifinals, and they blanked a team that had scored three goals on them three weeks ago, while scoring three of their own. Worden opened the scoring with a back heel, Stettenheim continued his hot streak, and Stadheim put the icing on the cake with a blast from outside the penalty area.
The Marauders were not about the let down in the finals against a strong, athletic Winnacunnet team.
The Warriors scored first on a penalty kick after an accidental hand ball in the box, but Hanover countered when Stettenheim took a pass from Worden and dribbled the opposition, tying the match and earning the distinction of being the only Marauder to score in three different games. The team battled back and forth, and with time winding down they were given a corner kick and took full advantage. As he has all season, Jack McGrath hit an excellent corner kick that found Cam Forbush at the back post for the winning score.
As has been the case all season, the tournament title was a product of team play. Everyone contributed, and everyone owns a share of the glory. One significant name needs to be mentioned, however. Coach Chris Dawes has been an integral part of this team's improvement, and his calm and capable management of this squirrelly bunch in both training and game settings has directly contributed to Hanover's victory.
Happily, the season will be extended for the young Marauders, who will scrimmage the Hanover Varsity Girls on Tuesday, probably in the afternoon on the turf. There has been some friendly trash talking about this rivalry, but the focus of Tuesday's match is clear: the objective will be helping the top-seeded Hanover girls prepare for their tournament opener next Sunday. Everyone on the boys' side, this editor included, will refrain from referencing past results, and focus on being the best possible scrimmage partner. The 16-0-0 Hanover girls have improved significantly since the start of the year, and it will be a good challenge for the Freshmen to see if they can demonstrate similar progress in their own play.
their tendency to leak goals early, Hanover turned the tables with a pair of Jack Gardner goals in the first five minutes. Gardner headed home a cross from Augie Krawitt and then converted a pass from Jack Stadheim to give the Marauders a lead they would not relinquish. Exeter managed to score once, but could not crack the defense spearheaded by the firm of Smith, Munson and Watts, and backstopped by goalkeeper Ty Noon.
Hanover's next two group games ensured a trip to the semifinals. They tied an excellent Londonderry team 1-1 on a goal by Soren Stettenheim, a header facilitated by Jack Stadheim, and then beat Dover 7-0. Cam Bonner led the way against the Green Wave with a hat trick, with Gardner, Stadheim, Liam Worden and Tom Mosdal scoring single goals. Theo Joseph had a trio of assists.
Hanover faced Concord in the semifinals, and they blanked a team that had scored three goals on them three weeks ago, while scoring three of their own. Worden opened the scoring with a back heel, Stettenheim continued his hot streak, and Stadheim put the icing on the cake with a blast from outside the penalty area.
The Marauders were not about the let down in the finals against a strong, athletic Winnacunnet team.
The Warriors scored first on a penalty kick after an accidental hand ball in the box, but Hanover countered when Stettenheim took a pass from Worden and dribbled the opposition, tying the match and earning the distinction of being the only Marauder to score in three different games. The team battled back and forth, and with time winding down they were given a corner kick and took full advantage. As he has all season, Jack McGrath hit an excellent corner kick that found Cam Forbush at the back post for the winning score.
As has been the case all season, the tournament title was a product of team play. Everyone contributed, and everyone owns a share of the glory. One significant name needs to be mentioned, however. Coach Chris Dawes has been an integral part of this team's improvement, and his calm and capable management of this squirrelly bunch in both training and game settings has directly contributed to Hanover's victory.
Happily, the season will be extended for the young Marauders, who will scrimmage the Hanover Varsity Girls on Tuesday, probably in the afternoon on the turf. There has been some friendly trash talking about this rivalry, but the focus of Tuesday's match is clear: the objective will be helping the top-seeded Hanover girls prepare for their tournament opener next Sunday. Everyone on the boys' side, this editor included, will refrain from referencing past results, and focus on being the best possible scrimmage partner. The 16-0-0 Hanover girls have improved significantly since the start of the year, and it will be a good challenge for the Freshmen to see if they can demonstrate similar progress in their own play.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Marauders Top Londonderry 4-0, Finish The Season 13-2-1
Hanover finished the regular season on a high note, exploding for four second half goals in a ten-minute stretch to beat Londonderry 4-0 and end with a 13-2-1 record. The Marauders clinched third place in Division One behind Bedford and Central, and will open the playoffs at home on Wednesday.
Coming off a disappointing 2-2 tie with Pinkerton Academy, the Marauders never looked back, dominating play in the first half and then quickly disposing of the Lancers early in the second, with a pair of goals by Kyle Doucette, and single scores by Eric Ringer and Charlie Adams, who assisted on all three of the goals he didn't score.
The Marauders took control of the match early, earning four corner kicks in the first ten minutes and a total of eight in the half. They outshot Londonderry 11-1, and got closer and closer to scoring as the half unwound. Adams hit a dangerous shot in the seventh minute, clanging it off the top corner of the
goal. Blake Palmer got loose in the penalty area off of a free kick, but couldn't connect omg a close range attempt. Kyle Doucette headed an Adams corner kick over the bar at the 20 minute mark, a harbinger of things to come. Adams nearly flicked home a header five minutes later.
Five minutes from the end of the half, Hanover had their best look of all, as Henry Aspinwall fed Eric Ringer for a long shot that sailed just past the left upright. Doucette almost guided the eighth corner kick of the half into the net, but the half ended with the score tied at 0-0.
If the Marauders were worried or frustrated, they didn't show it after halftime, taking a 1-0 lead before three minutes had elapsed. As has been the case several times this season, Adams took advantage of a long throw-ion by Ringer, controlling the ball on the right side of the penalty area and turning to fire a dart inside the left post. Three minutes later, the roles were reversed, as a perfectly placed free kick by Adams found Ringer in a perfect position for an easy tap-in and a 2-0 lead. Is minutes later, Hanover's ninth corner kick struck pay dirt when Doucette looped an interesting looking semi-bicycle that floated over goalkeeper Colby DiMaggio. Hanover's stunning surge ended two minutes later when Doucette got his head on an Adams free kick and collected his fourth goal in the last four games.
There was work left to the done, and a host of Marauders were more than eager to see the match off. Defenders Noah Pikielny and Brendan Brigham, on in relief of Dylan Kotlowitz, were excellent. Doucette played a bit of defense, too, teaming with Judd Alexander to lock down the middle of the Marauder line. Will Blinkhorn, Toño Correa, Nathan Subrahmanian and Jacob Kubik-Pauw all took the pressure off the defense with their quality two-way play.
Hanover's outstanding effort puts them the front foot heading into the playoffs. They will train on the turf Monday and Tuesday, awaiting the announcement of the playoff brackets mid-day Monday. They will host a first-round playoff game on Wednesday, and home to play it under the lights at 6:00. If they win against the 14th seed, they will host a quarterfinal match on Saturday at 2:00, perhaps against Keene. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down, Sparky. The Marauders have worked hard to prepare for the second season, and they will be well advised to take things a step at a time, perhaps recalling a pair of one-goal wins, one in overtime (Thanks, Judd) in last year's first two playoff games. This is the time of year that Hanover teams have lived for the past 55 years. Not their first rodeo.
Coming off a disappointing 2-2 tie with Pinkerton Academy, the Marauders never looked back, dominating play in the first half and then quickly disposing of the Lancers early in the second, with a pair of goals by Kyle Doucette, and single scores by Eric Ringer and Charlie Adams, who assisted on all three of the goals he didn't score.
The Marauders took control of the match early, earning four corner kicks in the first ten minutes and a total of eight in the half. They outshot Londonderry 11-1, and got closer and closer to scoring as the half unwound. Adams hit a dangerous shot in the seventh minute, clanging it off the top corner of the
goal. Blake Palmer got loose in the penalty area off of a free kick, but couldn't connect omg a close range attempt. Kyle Doucette headed an Adams corner kick over the bar at the 20 minute mark, a harbinger of things to come. Adams nearly flicked home a header five minutes later.
Five minutes from the end of the half, Hanover had their best look of all, as Henry Aspinwall fed Eric Ringer for a long shot that sailed just past the left upright. Doucette almost guided the eighth corner kick of the half into the net, but the half ended with the score tied at 0-0.
If the Marauders were worried or frustrated, they didn't show it after halftime, taking a 1-0 lead before three minutes had elapsed. As has been the case several times this season, Adams took advantage of a long throw-ion by Ringer, controlling the ball on the right side of the penalty area and turning to fire a dart inside the left post. Three minutes later, the roles were reversed, as a perfectly placed free kick by Adams found Ringer in a perfect position for an easy tap-in and a 2-0 lead. Is minutes later, Hanover's ninth corner kick struck pay dirt when Doucette looped an interesting looking semi-bicycle that floated over goalkeeper Colby DiMaggio. Hanover's stunning surge ended two minutes later when Doucette got his head on an Adams free kick and collected his fourth goal in the last four games.
There was work left to the done, and a host of Marauders were more than eager to see the match off. Defenders Noah Pikielny and Brendan Brigham, on in relief of Dylan Kotlowitz, were excellent. Doucette played a bit of defense, too, teaming with Judd Alexander to lock down the middle of the Marauder line. Will Blinkhorn, Toño Correa, Nathan Subrahmanian and Jacob Kubik-Pauw all took the pressure off the defense with their quality two-way play.
Hanover's outstanding effort puts them the front foot heading into the playoffs. They will train on the turf Monday and Tuesday, awaiting the announcement of the playoff brackets mid-day Monday. They will host a first-round playoff game on Wednesday, and home to play it under the lights at 6:00. If they win against the 14th seed, they will host a quarterfinal match on Saturday at 2:00, perhaps against Keene. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down, Sparky. The Marauders have worked hard to prepare for the second season, and they will be well advised to take things a step at a time, perhaps recalling a pair of one-goal wins, one in overtime (Thanks, Judd) in last year's first two playoff games. This is the time of year that Hanover teams have lived for the past 55 years. Not their first rodeo.
JV1 Beats Londonderry 3-1, Finishes 14-1-1, Claims D1 Title
Boarding the bus for the trip to Londonderry, the JV1 team were handed the news that the culminating event of their season, the State JV Tournament in Nashua on Sunday, had been cancelled because of anticipated rain. The Marauders knew that their toughest foe in the tournament would be undefeated Londonderry, interestingly placed with Hanover in group play. There was a chance that the Marauders might play the Lancers (known to drop a Varsity player or two into the lineup) three times, with the final one for all the marbles. With the tournament cancelled, the team quickly see-focused on the Friday game in front of them, and everyone agreed that this would be the dee facto state title game. With everything on the line and 15-0-0 Londonderry waiting for them on their home field, Hanover played their best game of the year and beat the Lancers 3-1. The Marauders are the 2019 State Champions.
The game started well for Hanover, who took a 1-0 lead after four minutes on a goal by Isak Larusson. The Marauders almost doubled the lead two minutes later when Eric Tysinger almost headed in a cross from Larusson, Hanover continued to have an edge in play, but the tall, athletic Londonderry squad threatened a number of times. Marauder goalie CJ Wheelan made a good save on a shot from the top of the penalty area, and the Lancers nearly connected on a corner kick, as the ensuing shot looped just wide of the right post. With eight minutes to play in the half, the Lancers tweed the game, knifing through the middle with some nice combination play.
Hanover had a great look early in the second half on an attempt by Mitch Aspinwall off the back post. Eight minutes later, the Marauders thought they had earned a penalty kick when Oscar was cleaned out by the goalkeeper, but the call never came. Then it was Londonderry's turn to come close. In the 53rd minute, Wheelan was in the right place at the right time to save a header off of a corner kick.
With 20 minutes to play, Zane Schiffman scored the eventual game winner, connecting with a cross from Derek Lacy for a 2-1 lead. Londonderry nearly re-tied the match in the 68th minute when a 30 yard shot clanged off the crossbar, but Hanover got the last word with two minutes to play, when Larusson collected his second score of the day on a funky side-foot pass from Thomas Glass.
Hanover's defense, led by Tom Lyons and Palmer Okai, was superb all afternoon, and Wheelan had his best game of the season in goal. It was in every sense a total team victory, with everyone on the squad playing significant minutes and demonstrating good communication and two-way play. Congratulations to Coach Willie Johnson and the Boyz for a superb championship season!
The game started well for Hanover, who took a 1-0 lead after four minutes on a goal by Isak Larusson. The Marauders almost doubled the lead two minutes later when Eric Tysinger almost headed in a cross from Larusson, Hanover continued to have an edge in play, but the tall, athletic Londonderry squad threatened a number of times. Marauder goalie CJ Wheelan made a good save on a shot from the top of the penalty area, and the Lancers nearly connected on a corner kick, as the ensuing shot looped just wide of the right post. With eight minutes to play in the half, the Lancers tweed the game, knifing through the middle with some nice combination play.
Hanover had a great look early in the second half on an attempt by Mitch Aspinwall off the back post. Eight minutes later, the Marauders thought they had earned a penalty kick when Oscar was cleaned out by the goalkeeper, but the call never came. Then it was Londonderry's turn to come close. In the 53rd minute, Wheelan was in the right place at the right time to save a header off of a corner kick.
With 20 minutes to play, Zane Schiffman scored the eventual game winner, connecting with a cross from Derek Lacy for a 2-1 lead. Londonderry nearly re-tied the match in the 68th minute when a 30 yard shot clanged off the crossbar, but Hanover got the last word with two minutes to play, when Larusson collected his second score of the day on a funky side-foot pass from Thomas Glass.
Hanover's defense, led by Tom Lyons and Palmer Okai, was superb all afternoon, and Wheelan had his best game of the season in goal. It was in every sense a total team victory, with everyone on the squad playing significant minutes and demonstrating good communication and two-way play. Congratulations to Coach Willie Johnson and the Boyz for a superb championship season!
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Freshmen, JV1 Prepare for Weekend Tournaments
The JV1 and Freshman teams will conclude their seasons this weekend with Division One "State Championship" Tournaments. The Freshmen will travel to Concord for and eight-team tournament, and the JV1s will play in a 16-team tournament in Nashua Sunday. The Freshmen will depart at 6:00 a.m. SHARP on Saturday. JV 1 will leave at 6:30 SHARP on Sunday. Players on both teams need to bring both home and away uniforms.
The Freshman tournament will be played at the Rundlett Middle School in Concord on two adjoining fields. Pool play will be begin at 8:00 with two four-team groups. The top two teams in each group will play in the semifinals, followed by a Championship game. The tournament will conclude by approximately 2:00 p.m. Coach Chris Dawes will be in charge of the team. Coach Yosef Osheyack will run training at Dresden at the regular time on Friday. Remember: players should bring both home and away uniforms.
The JV1 team will travel to Nashua North High School on Sunday for the opening rounds of the JV Tournament. Hanover will play 40-minute games against Londonderry (8:50), Alvirne (9:40) and Merrimack (12:10). Hanover will wear white in the first two games, and maroon in the third.
Quarterfinals games will be played at 1:00 at Nashua North. If Hanover plays, there will wear white.
Winners of the quarterfinals at North High School will travel to Nashua South High School for the Semifinals at 2:30. The Finals will be played at Nashua South at 3:20.
The weather forecast for Sunday calls for a good deal of rain. We will update the status of the tournament whenever we receive information. Players should prepare to play in the rain, with rain gear, a change of clothes, and (yes) the ubiquitous garbage bag.
The Freshman tournament will be played at the Rundlett Middle School in Concord on two adjoining fields. Pool play will be begin at 8:00 with two four-team groups. The top two teams in each group will play in the semifinals, followed by a Championship game. The tournament will conclude by approximately 2:00 p.m. Coach Chris Dawes will be in charge of the team. Coach Yosef Osheyack will run training at Dresden at the regular time on Friday. Remember: players should bring both home and away uniforms.
The JV1 team will travel to Nashua North High School on Sunday for the opening rounds of the JV Tournament. Hanover will play 40-minute games against Londonderry (8:50), Alvirne (9:40) and Merrimack (12:10). Hanover will wear white in the first two games, and maroon in the third.
Quarterfinals games will be played at 1:00 at Nashua North. If Hanover plays, there will wear white.
Winners of the quarterfinals at North High School will travel to Nashua South High School for the Semifinals at 2:30. The Finals will be played at Nashua South at 3:20.
The weather forecast for Sunday calls for a good deal of rain. We will update the status of the tournament whenever we receive information. Players should prepare to play in the rain, with rain gear, a change of clothes, and (yes) the ubiquitous garbage bag.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Marauders Tied by Pinkerton 2-2
Less than 24 hours after a strong performance in their last regular season home game, the Hanover Varsity traveled to Pinkerton and played a frustrating 2-2 tie with Pinkerton, a fallen franchise that has a sole win over Spaulding. The Marauders fell behind in the first half, scored two quick goals to take the lead early in the second half, and then surrendered a game-tying goal. Hanover dominated play in the remaining 27 minutes of regulation, and then were only able to play four minutes of the allotted 20 minutes of overtime due to darkness. Frustrating.
The Marauders took the match seriously, starting their customary lineup, and had an edge in play in the first half, although their offense in the final third was tepid. Eli Stack had the best Hanover attempt in the first half, taking a pass from Blake Palmer and hitting a shot that glanced off thee crossbar on the way over. With less than seven minutes to play in the half, Pinkerton scored a shock goal when one of their long throw-ins bounced around in the penalty area, and was finally slotted home by Reilly Beaulieu
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Marauders stayed calm and quickly evened things up 1:20 after the interval when Kyle Doucette met a Charlie Adams corner kick with a perfect run, crushing a powerful header into the back of the net. The duo has been working on this set play all season, and it was gratifying to see it connect. Three minutes later, Hanover took the lead when Stack controlled the ball at the edge of the penalty area and fed Adams, who found room the drive a hard shot that ticked off the inside of the far post for his 19th goal of the season. Five minutes later the Marauders almost grabbed a critical insurance goal when Amane Matsuoka got behind the defense with only the goalie to beat, but he couldn't find the handle and the keeper was able to smother the ball at close range.
Two minutes later, disaster struck when a Pinkerton striker eluded a stepping defender and got a good look at goal on the right side of the penalty area. Giovanni Iob's shot toward the far post slipped through Joey Perras' hands, and the match was tied at 2-2. With lots of time left in regulation, there was no need to panic. Pinkerton pulled bodies back, but there was optimism that the Marauders would find the space and time necessary to score. They had a number of looks, and a golden opportunity go by the boards when Eli Stack's breakaway shot was blocked by a desperate defender.
As time ran down, Hanover actually came closer to losing than winning, and only a sensational diving save by Perras on a close range shot from Dan Humphrey keep the score at 2-2.
Regular season high school games tied after regulation allow for 20 minutes of golden goal overtime. However, but the time that overtime started, darkness was already falling. The officials allowed overtime play to begin, but it was clear from the very start that there would be no way for 20 minutes to be played. Hanover started on the front foot and got shots from Adams and Eric Ringer, and several chances to play the ball into the penalty area. With 15 minutes remaining, though, the officials correctly ended the game.
Responsibility for the situation rests solely with Coach Grabill, who allowed a 4:30 start time to be listed when the original Pinkerton match was rained out last Thursday. Perhaps it was the assumption that overtime wouldn't be necessary against a one-win team. Perhaps it was just careless not to consider the possibility. There's no guarantee that Hanover would have scored with 15 more minutes on the front foot, but we'll never know. There was little damage to Marauder playoff prospects. Hanover still controls their own fate, and have the opportunity to lock down third place and a pair of home playoff games when they travel to Londonderry Friday for a game under the lights. At least they get to play the whole match.
The Marauders took the match seriously, starting their customary lineup, and had an edge in play in the first half, although their offense in the final third was tepid. Eli Stack had the best Hanover attempt in the first half, taking a pass from Blake Palmer and hitting a shot that glanced off thee crossbar on the way over. With less than seven minutes to play in the half, Pinkerton scored a shock goal when one of their long throw-ins bounced around in the penalty area, and was finally slotted home by Reilly Beaulieu
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Marauders stayed calm and quickly evened things up 1:20 after the interval when Kyle Doucette met a Charlie Adams corner kick with a perfect run, crushing a powerful header into the back of the net. The duo has been working on this set play all season, and it was gratifying to see it connect. Three minutes later, Hanover took the lead when Stack controlled the ball at the edge of the penalty area and fed Adams, who found room the drive a hard shot that ticked off the inside of the far post for his 19th goal of the season. Five minutes later the Marauders almost grabbed a critical insurance goal when Amane Matsuoka got behind the defense with only the goalie to beat, but he couldn't find the handle and the keeper was able to smother the ball at close range.
Two minutes later, disaster struck when a Pinkerton striker eluded a stepping defender and got a good look at goal on the right side of the penalty area. Giovanni Iob's shot toward the far post slipped through Joey Perras' hands, and the match was tied at 2-2. With lots of time left in regulation, there was no need to panic. Pinkerton pulled bodies back, but there was optimism that the Marauders would find the space and time necessary to score. They had a number of looks, and a golden opportunity go by the boards when Eli Stack's breakaway shot was blocked by a desperate defender.
As time ran down, Hanover actually came closer to losing than winning, and only a sensational diving save by Perras on a close range shot from Dan Humphrey keep the score at 2-2.
Regular season high school games tied after regulation allow for 20 minutes of golden goal overtime. However, but the time that overtime started, darkness was already falling. The officials allowed overtime play to begin, but it was clear from the very start that there would be no way for 20 minutes to be played. Hanover started on the front foot and got shots from Adams and Eric Ringer, and several chances to play the ball into the penalty area. With 15 minutes remaining, though, the officials correctly ended the game.
Responsibility for the situation rests solely with Coach Grabill, who allowed a 4:30 start time to be listed when the original Pinkerton match was rained out last Thursday. Perhaps it was the assumption that overtime wouldn't be necessary against a one-win team. Perhaps it was just careless not to consider the possibility. There's no guarantee that Hanover would have scored with 15 more minutes on the front foot, but we'll never know. There was little damage to Marauder playoff prospects. Hanover still controls their own fate, and have the opportunity to lock down third place and a pair of home playoff games when they travel to Londonderry Friday for a game under the lights. At least they get to play the whole match.
JV1 Beats Pinkerton 2-0; Now 13-1-1
The JV1 squad scored twice in the second half to break a scoreless tie and beat Pinkerton Academy 2-0 on Wednesday, pushing their record to 13-1-1 and setting up a showdown Friday with an equally strong Londonderry team in the regular season finale.
It took a while for the Marauders to settle into the game, and Pinkerton had several good chances, including a cross in the third minute that found a wide open Astro striker, who blasted the ball over the net. Two minutes later Pinkerton created a similar scoring chance, but this time Palmer Okai was in the right place to defend it. Hanover's first decent chance came in the 10th minute when Isak Larusson carried the ball deep into the attacking zone and fired a cross looking for Eric Tysinger, but the goalie gobbled up the centering pass.
CJ Wheelan made three saves in rapid succession 25 minutes into the match, diving to his right to deny a shot headed inside the right post, and then denying two rebound shots, one with another dive on a closer shot. Hanover nearly scored five minutes from the end of the half when Thomas Glass slid a ball to Owen Stannard, whose shot was just wide of the post.
The Marauders began to exert more control in the second half. Murphy Hunt nearly scored in the 55th minute, and ten minutes later Zane Schiffman finally broke the ice, cleaning up the rebound off the post from an Isak shot. Five minutes later, Murphy Hunt got the vital insurance goal, hitting a strong one-timer from near the edge of the penalty area.
Hanover trains on Thursday at Dresden and then head to Londonderry for a playoff preview with Londonderry, paired with the Marauders in group play at Sunday's D1 JV Championship in Nashua.
It took a while for the Marauders to settle into the game, and Pinkerton had several good chances, including a cross in the third minute that found a wide open Astro striker, who blasted the ball over the net. Two minutes later Pinkerton created a similar scoring chance, but this time Palmer Okai was in the right place to defend it. Hanover's first decent chance came in the 10th minute when Isak Larusson carried the ball deep into the attacking zone and fired a cross looking for Eric Tysinger, but the goalie gobbled up the centering pass.
CJ Wheelan made three saves in rapid succession 25 minutes into the match, diving to his right to deny a shot headed inside the right post, and then denying two rebound shots, one with another dive on a closer shot. Hanover nearly scored five minutes from the end of the half when Thomas Glass slid a ball to Owen Stannard, whose shot was just wide of the post.
The Marauders began to exert more control in the second half. Murphy Hunt nearly scored in the 55th minute, and ten minutes later Zane Schiffman finally broke the ice, cleaning up the rebound off the post from an Isak shot. Five minutes later, Murphy Hunt got the vital insurance goal, hitting a strong one-timer from near the edge of the penalty area.
Hanover trains on Thursday at Dresden and then head to Londonderry for a playoff preview with Londonderry, paired with the Marauders in group play at Sunday's D1 JV Championship in Nashua.
Freshmen Beat Keene 5-3
Tightening up on defense and continuing to score more than enough, the Marauder Freshmen led from wire and earned a satisfying 5-3 victory over Keene on Wednesday at Dresden. Hanover took a 1-0 lead when Jack Gardner played a nice through ball to Jack McGrath for an easy finish. Gardner then earned his second assist, crossing the ball to Jack Stadheim, who volleyed it home to give the Marauders a 2-0 lead. Gardner continued to create offensive opportunities, dribbling through several Keene players and drawing a foul in the penalty area, earning a penalty kick. Alex Brackett stepped up to take the kick and buried it, but the play was called back because the referee hadn’t didn't blow his whistle. Unfazed, Alex took the kick again and scored, giving Hanover a 3-0 lead
.
Keene made the game interesting, scoring back to back goals to cut the Marauder lead to one, but Hanover responded when Jack Gardner played a through ball to himself and blasted the ball into the back of the net. Keene scored again to cut the margin to one, but the Marauder responded once again when Ethan Munson played an excellent through ball to Gardner , who picked up his second goal and made the final margin 5-3.
The young Marauders will train Thursday at Dresden with Coach Dawes to prepare for the D1 State Tournament in Concord at Rundlett Middle School on Saturday.
JV2 Game Today Cancelled
Today's JV2 Game at KUA has been cancelled by KUA. The JV2 will practice today at Dresden from 3:00 - 4:30.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Seniors Lead The Way Over Nashua North, 5-0
The Marauders celebrated Senior Night in fine fashion on Tuesday, exploding for four second-half goals to put away Nashua North by a 5-0 score. Hanover is now 12-2 on the season and sits solidly in second place in NHIAA Division One with two regular season games remaining.
The Marauders started 11 seniors, and spent most of the first half camped in the Nashua North end of Merriman-Branch Field. After six minutes of patient ball control, Hanover took a 1-0 lead when David Stoffel took the ball and penetrated into the North penalty area, dishing the ball to Eli Stack, who eluded two defenders and drove a hard left-footed shot into the back of the next from close range. It was his sixth goal of the season, and fourth in the last six games. Stoffel collected his first assist of the season.
The remainder of the first half saw the Marauders do everything but score, outshooting the Titans by a 17-1 margin. Blake Palmer hit the post at the nine-minute mark, and Stack almost doubled the score at 14 minutes, pushing a shot just wide of the left post. Three minutes later, a wild flurry saw Amane Matsuoka hit a hard shot that was saved, with Stack collecting the ball and crashing it off the crossbar. The rebound came to Charlie Adams, who whistled a shot over the bar. So it went throughout the half. Although Hanover wasn't able to find the back of the net. they exhausted the North defenders, particularly as a number of subs rolled off the Marauder bench, including Henry Aspinwall, who had two dangerous shots in the closing minutes.
The Marauders stayed focused after halftime, and took a 2-0 lead after seven minutes. Charlie Adams slid a pass to Blake Palmer on the left side of the box, and the senior winger ripped a hard left-footer into the far side netting. for his seventh goal of the season. Ten minutes later, Adams was tripped in the penalty area and converted the ensuing spot kick for a 3-0 Marauder lead. Hanover's fourth goal was highlight reel quality. Matsuoka collected the ball on the right flank and then cut into the penalty area, finding Adams with a deft pass. Adams eluded a defender with a move reminiscent of Maradona and patiently waited for an opening to slot his 18th goal of the season.
Nashua North kept competing, and over the course of the half managed half a dozen shots, all of them from the edge of the penalty area and beyond. Andrew Enelow, who started the second half in goal, made all of the routine saves look routine, and shared the shutout with Joey Perras. All of Hanover's defenders played well, with Senior Noah Pikielny standing out with his two-way play.
The final Marauder goal was another piece of work, echoing the earlier Matsuoka/Adams production.
Jackson Lake took the ball near the top of the North penalty area, and spun free with a nifty move, sliding the ball to Stoffel, who calmly eluded a defender and slotting the ball home for his third goal in three games.
All 17 senior players on the Varsity roster were honored at halftime, and all saw significant playing time. JV2 callups Henry Bernard and Archer Judd were also slotted for some last-minute action, but the official with five minutes of time on his wrist decided that 3 1/2 minutes were enough, and left them twisting in the wind on the sidelines. Lucky for Nashua North, and devastating for Judd's vocal supporters. The Marauders will have little time to bask in their victory, returning to action Wednesday with a trip to Pinkerton Academy
The Marauders started 11 seniors, and spent most of the first half camped in the Nashua North end of Merriman-Branch Field. After six minutes of patient ball control, Hanover took a 1-0 lead when David Stoffel took the ball and penetrated into the North penalty area, dishing the ball to Eli Stack, who eluded two defenders and drove a hard left-footed shot into the back of the next from close range. It was his sixth goal of the season, and fourth in the last six games. Stoffel collected his first assist of the season.
The remainder of the first half saw the Marauders do everything but score, outshooting the Titans by a 17-1 margin. Blake Palmer hit the post at the nine-minute mark, and Stack almost doubled the score at 14 minutes, pushing a shot just wide of the left post. Three minutes later, a wild flurry saw Amane Matsuoka hit a hard shot that was saved, with Stack collecting the ball and crashing it off the crossbar. The rebound came to Charlie Adams, who whistled a shot over the bar. So it went throughout the half. Although Hanover wasn't able to find the back of the net. they exhausted the North defenders, particularly as a number of subs rolled off the Marauder bench, including Henry Aspinwall, who had two dangerous shots in the closing minutes.
The Marauders stayed focused after halftime, and took a 2-0 lead after seven minutes. Charlie Adams slid a pass to Blake Palmer on the left side of the box, and the senior winger ripped a hard left-footer into the far side netting. for his seventh goal of the season. Ten minutes later, Adams was tripped in the penalty area and converted the ensuing spot kick for a 3-0 Marauder lead. Hanover's fourth goal was highlight reel quality. Matsuoka collected the ball on the right flank and then cut into the penalty area, finding Adams with a deft pass. Adams eluded a defender with a move reminiscent of Maradona and patiently waited for an opening to slot his 18th goal of the season.
Nashua North kept competing, and over the course of the half managed half a dozen shots, all of them from the edge of the penalty area and beyond. Andrew Enelow, who started the second half in goal, made all of the routine saves look routine, and shared the shutout with Joey Perras. All of Hanover's defenders played well, with Senior Noah Pikielny standing out with his two-way play.
The final Marauder goal was another piece of work, echoing the earlier Matsuoka/Adams production.
Jackson Lake took the ball near the top of the North penalty area, and spun free with a nifty move, sliding the ball to Stoffel, who calmly eluded a defender and slotting the ball home for his third goal in three games.
All 17 senior players on the Varsity roster were honored at halftime, and all saw significant playing time. JV2 callups Henry Bernard and Archer Judd were also slotted for some last-minute action, but the official with five minutes of time on his wrist decided that 3 1/2 minutes were enough, and left them twisting in the wind on the sidelines. Lucky for Nashua North, and devastating for Judd's vocal supporters. The Marauders will have little time to bask in their victory, returning to action Wednesday with a trip to Pinkerton Academy
Monday, October 21, 2019
Freshmen Lose A Wild One 6-5 to Exeter
For the second game in a row the Freshmen dug themselves a huge hole against a strong opponent, and then proceeded to play superb soccer, staging a comeback before falling just short in a 6-5 loss to Exeter. After falling behind to Cardigan 3-0 on S aturday before charging back in a 5-4 loss, they resolved to start more strongly. So much for resolve. Exeter played aggressively from the start, and the Marauders were careless in their own end. Two minutes after kickoff, a Hanover defender missed on a clear, giving their deadly #25 an open shot. A well-intentioned back header to goalkeeper Ty Nolon was poached by Exeter’s talisman for a 2-0 lead at thee 14-minute mark, and three minutes later a soft square ball in the middle lead to another easy Exeter goal. When #25 made the score 4-0 at the 20-minute mark, it looked as though the game would be a complete runaway. Hanover was actually not playing badly, and to their immense credit, they stayed calm, kept playing, and refused to stop trusting themselves and each other. The Marauders were creating shots. Liam Worden, Soren Stettenheim and Jack Gardner all had good shots before Jack Stadheim had an even better one, ringing a shot off the post. Despite the relief offered by. Alex Brackett, Will Taylor, and Ian Smith at midfield, Exeter scored AGAIN ten minutes before halftime on their one well-made goal of the afternoon. It would have been so easy to give up, blame others, lose focus (a few tried), and spend the rest of the day wallowing in a promising game gone south. Happily, the Marauders held fast and kept playing. With five minutes to go, Jack Stadheim broke into the box and was tackled, and the official who had been calling the game tightly continued to call the game tightly, awarding a penalty kick. Stadheim hit his spot kick right to the goalkeeper, who saved it. Fortunately, Stadheim made it to the ball first and tucked it into the back of the net to stop the carnage. Hanover wasn’t done. A minute from the interval, Stadheim and Jack Gardner completed a series of accurate wall passes, giving Gardner the room to tuck a superb shot just inside the left post.
Having made the score respectable by halftime, the Marauders lost no momentum after the break, completely dominating possession and territory. Stadheim started the fun with a shot off the crossbar. Gardner had a great look from the corner of the box and hit a shot that may still be in orbit. Following a free kick into the box by Jack McGrath five minutes into the half, right back Cam Forbush snuck into the fray at the edge of the box and looped a shot under the balk to make the score 5-3. Game on. Stadheim and Gardner kept hammering, and then the Marauders subbed well into the half. Exeter extended the lead to 6-4, but even that wasn’t enough to throw the Marauders off. The boys off the bench kept up the momentum, and with 13 minutes to play Theo Joseph was in the right place at the right time at the far post, jamming home rebound from Owen Smith. First career goal for Theo, but not the last.
With the score 6-4, the Marauders continued to play with precision and confidence. Berekeley Chamberlain had a number of excellent plays on the wing, and after several near misses Gardner pulled the team to within a goal, converting a cross from Cam Bonner, who collected his first career assist. With seven minutes to play, Hanover continued to play good position, moving the ball around and refusing to play “hero ball”. With three minutes to play, a series of passes isolated Stettenheim at the far post, and he did everything right, getting a hard, low shot on goal that was blocked with a timely save. Ty Nolon got to relieve one of the iconic moments for his favorite team, charging into the box on a corner like Manchester United’s Peter Schmeichel. He didn’t score, but he didn’t get burned by his upfield adventure. The Marauders had one more chance before time expired, as Alex Brackett connected with a header that sailed over to bar.
There is much to be learned from a game like this. Falling behind 5-0 means there is a lot of work to be done. Digging out with five great goals means that progress is being made. Wednesday’s home game with Keene will give the Young Marauders a chance to show what they have learned.
JV2 Beats Fall Mountain 4-0
The JV2 squad continues to play its best soccer at the end of the season, going on the road Monday to beat Fall Mountain 4-0.
Archer Judd picked up right where he left off, scoring two goals to give Hanover a 2-0 lead. Eli Bush got the assist with his corner kick on the first goal, and Archer hit a sick chip over the goalkeeper for the second. Mitchell Rowley continued his excellent play with the third score, and Captain A. J. Ristino showed his offensive chops with the final tally after Coach Yosef Osheyack moved him off the back line.
The defense played a great job in front of goalkeeper Jared Licht, who made several diving saves to earn his shutout. James Kirkpatrick, Asa Wise and Jackson Liu led a strong crops of defenders.
The JV2s train on Tuesday at Dresden and then close the season with a road trip to KUA on Wednesday.
Big Dates Ahead For Hanover Soccer
As we head toward to conclusion of the season, there are several significant dates for many of you to consider:
Tuesday, October 22 - Senior Night
At halftime of Tuesday's Varsity game against Nashua North (6:00 kickoff), we will honor every senior in the program, more than 20 of them! Each senior will be introduced, and have a photo taken with family/host family/tribe. All family members are invited. Twenty-plus players, 10-minute halftime, so the speeches will be pretty brisk. See you there!
Saturday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. -NHIAA Quzarterfinal
If the Marauders continue to play well, they are likely to finish as one of the top four teams in Division One. They are currently second. Should that occur, Hanover will be scheduled to host a Quarterfinal game at 2:00 on Saturday, November 2. Save the Date!
Four Team end of Season Celebration
All four teams will celebrate the end of the season in our annual gathering in the HHS Gym. Players, parents, siblings, fans and friends are invited. We will begin with our notorious all-dessert buffet, with gluten-free options, of course! Following that, every player will be introduced and honored in a breathtakingly efficient operation, with brief comments by coaches. We look forward to having everyone together to look back on an exciting season.
Tuesday, October 22 - Senior Night
At halftime of Tuesday's Varsity game against Nashua North (6:00 kickoff), we will honor every senior in the program, more than 20 of them! Each senior will be introduced, and have a photo taken with family/host family/tribe. All family members are invited. Twenty-plus players, 10-minute halftime, so the speeches will be pretty brisk. See you there!
Saturday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. -NHIAA Quzarterfinal
If the Marauders continue to play well, they are likely to finish as one of the top four teams in Division One. They are currently second. Should that occur, Hanover will be scheduled to host a Quarterfinal game at 2:00 on Saturday, November 2. Save the Date!
Four Team end of Season Celebration
All four teams will celebrate the end of the season in our annual gathering in the HHS Gym. Players, parents, siblings, fans and friends are invited. We will begin with our notorious all-dessert buffet, with gluten-free options, of course! Following that, every player will be introduced and honored in a breathtakingly efficient operation, with brief comments by coaches. We look forward to having everyone together to look back on an exciting season.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Game and Practice Schedule Oct. 21-27
HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER
GAME AND PRACTICE SCHEDULE Oct. 21-27, 2019
Monday, Oct. 21
2:00 p.m. Dismissal/Departure for JV2 at Fall Mt.
3:45 p.m. Busses depart for games at Dresden Fields
5:00 p.m. JV1 Practice at HHS Turf
4:30 p.m. JV2 Game at Fall Mt.
4:30 p.m. Freshman Home Game vs. Exeter
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Varsity Practice – HHS Turf
Tuesday, Oct. 22
4:00 p.m. Freshman, JV2 Practices at HHS Grass
4:00 p.m. JV1 Home Game vs. Nashua North – HHS Turf
6:00 p.m. Varsity Home Game (Senior Night) vs. Nashua North
Wednesday, Oct. 23
2:00 p.m. Bus Departs for JV2 Match at KUA
2:00 p.m. Bus Departs for Varsity/JV1 Games at Pinkerton
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Varsity Practice at Huntley
2:45 p.m. Busses Depart for Practices/Game at Dresden
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Practice for JV1 Dresden
4:00 p.m. Freshman Match vs. Keene – Dresden
4:00 p.m. JV2 Match at KUA
4:30 p.m. Varsity/JV1 Games at Pinkerton
4:30 p.m. Varsity/JV1 Games at Pinkerton
Thursday, Oct. 24
3:45 p.m. Bus Departs for Practices at Dresden
4:00- 5:30 p.m. Varsity, JV1, Freshman Practices at Dresden
Friday, Oct. 25
2:00 p.m. Dismissal/Departure for JV/Varsity at Londonderry
3:45 p.m. Practice Busses Depart for Dresden
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Training for Freshmen at Dresden
4:30 p.m. JV1 Game at Londonderry
6:00 p.m. Varsity Game at Londonderry
Saturday, Oct. 26
6:00 a.m. Bus Departs for Freshman Tournament at Concord
Sunday, Oct. 27
6:30 a.m. Bus Departs for JV1 Tournament at Nashua
Friday, October 18, 2019
Freshmen and JV2 Head For Cardigan Saturday
The Freshman and JV2 teams will play at the Cardigan M mountain School in Canaan on Saturday at6 1:00, wearing white. The bus will leave Hanover High at 11:15. Coach Erik McEwen will ride on the bus and coach the JV2s. Coach Grabill will meet the teams at Cardigan at Noon and coach the Freshmen.
The Freshmen host Exeter on Monday at Dresden at 4:30. They will take the regular practice bus after school. The Freshmen play Keene at Dresden on Wednesday at 4:00.
The JV2s play Wednesday at KUA, Leaving after school.
The Freshmen play in the Concord Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 26th. Pool play starts at 8:00 a.m. The bus will leave Hanover at 6:00 a.m. Coach Dawes will travel with the team.
The Freshmen host Exeter on Monday at Dresden at 4:30. They will take the regular practice bus after school. The Freshmen play Keene at Dresden on Wednesday at 4:00.
The JV2s play Wednesday at KUA, Leaving after school.
The Freshmen play in the Concord Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 26th. Pool play starts at 8:00 a.m. The bus will leave Hanover at 6:00 a.m. Coach Dawes will travel with the team.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Freshman and JV2 Games Cancelled
The Freshman game at Salem and the JV2 game at Hartford have been cancelled by those respective schools. There will be no makeups. There is no training today. Both teams will train tomorrow at Dresden Friday and play at Cardigan Saturday at 1:00. The team bus will leave HHS at 11:15 for both teams.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Marauders Hope to Dodge Thursday Rain/Senior Night/ Summer International Travel
All four Marauder teams are schedule to play on the road, Thursday, and we will be keeping a close eye on the weather, hoping that most of the rain and wind will pass. The home team gets to make the call on cancellations, and we will update regularly throughout the morning on the blog.
If all goes as scheduled, the Freshmen. will leave after the end of sixth period for Salem. The JV1 and JV2 teams will leave after sixth period for Pinkerton. The JV2s will leave after school for Hartford. All teams will wear white. All players should come prepared for rainy day play: jacket, change of shirt/socks, garbage bag to store stuff.
Next Tuesday, The Marauders will host a doubleheader on the HHS turf, entertaining Nashua North. The JV1 game will kick off at 4:00, and the Varsity game will start at 6:00. At halftime of the Varsity game, we will honor all 23 members of the program who are graduating seniors. The 17 Varsity seniors and 6 JV2 seniors will pose for the traditional photos with family members. (ALL welcome - parents, grandparents, godparents, siblings, cousins). Amazingly, we will so all of this in exactly the allotted 10 minutes for halftime.
This Saturday from 4:00 - 5:00, Sam Gest, a Marauder graduate and staff member for Woza Soccer, will be in Hanover to describe the company's international soccer travel programs. Woza offers trips to Costa Rica, Peru and Africa (South Africa and Malawi) that combine travel, service, and leadership development. Several Hanover players have gone on Woza trips, and had wonderful experiences. There will be no Touchline or Hanover trips to Iceland or Ireland this summer, Sio this might a a chance for those eager to travel and grow as a player. Sam and Marauder volunteer coach Brendan Barth, a Woza leader last summer will be at the Saturday Open House, held at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, 40 College Street, Hanover, NH. 03755. Contact Coach Grabill with questions, and check out Woza at: www.wozasoccer.com
If all goes as scheduled, the Freshmen. will leave after the end of sixth period for Salem. The JV1 and JV2 teams will leave after sixth period for Pinkerton. The JV2s will leave after school for Hartford. All teams will wear white. All players should come prepared for rainy day play: jacket, change of shirt/socks, garbage bag to store stuff.
Next Tuesday, The Marauders will host a doubleheader on the HHS turf, entertaining Nashua North. The JV1 game will kick off at 4:00, and the Varsity game will start at 6:00. At halftime of the Varsity game, we will honor all 23 members of the program who are graduating seniors. The 17 Varsity seniors and 6 JV2 seniors will pose for the traditional photos with family members. (ALL welcome - parents, grandparents, godparents, siblings, cousins). Amazingly, we will so all of this in exactly the allotted 10 minutes for halftime.
This Saturday from 4:00 - 5:00, Sam Gest, a Marauder graduate and staff member for Woza Soccer, will be in Hanover to describe the company's international soccer travel programs. Woza offers trips to Costa Rica, Peru and Africa (South Africa and Malawi) that combine travel, service, and leadership development. Several Hanover players have gone on Woza trips, and had wonderful experiences. There will be no Touchline or Hanover trips to Iceland or Ireland this summer, Sio this might a a chance for those eager to travel and grow as a player. Sam and Marauder volunteer coach Brendan Barth, a Woza leader last summer will be at the Saturday Open House, held at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, 40 College Street, Hanover, NH. 03755. Contact Coach Grabill with questions, and check out Woza at: www.wozasoccer.com
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Marauders Share The Ball in 10-0 Win Over Spaulding
One-sided games against overmatched opponents rarely produce good soccer and good feelings, yet that's what Hanover's 10-0 decision against Spaulding produced on a sunny Tuesday at Megriman-Branch Field. Twenty-seven players played for the Marauders, and without exception every one of them contributed to a well-played game. Eighteen different players had a shot on goal, and nine different players scored. Four of those got their first Varsity goal. There were nine assists, and none of them was recorded by a player who scored. The quality of the goals was uniformly good. There were no garbage goals, no opposition mistakes. Every one of them is worth describing.
Eleven seniors started the game for Hanover, and they wasted little time in controlling possession. After a five-minute stretch of good movement, Peter Burnham had the first look at goal, hitting a hard shot that drifted left past the upper left corner. David Stoffel and Pat Osborn both hit short shots straight to the keeper, and then at 11:28 Will Blinkhorn dropped one of the nicest dimes of the day, chipping a perfectly-weighted lead pass into the path of Osborn, who finished clinically for his second goal of the season. Shortly afterwards, Stoffel ripped a left-footed rocket that clanged off the upright. A free kick in the Hanover end gave Spaulding their first opportunity, and they nearly cashed in, although Mark Kimani missed an unmarked far post header. A minute after that, Stoffel doubled the score, finishing well on a nice through ball from Charlie Adams.
The scoring pace quickened after several substitutions. Blake Palmer scored the first of a brace, a near post header on a corner kick from Adams at 24:30. Twenty seconds later, Palmer scored again, with Eli Stack sending him in alone. Goalkeeper Addison Bigelow got his hands on the shot, but it bounced off the far post and in. Three minutes later Adams teed up another corner kick and found Kyle Doucette for his first Varsity goal after several near misses in recent games. This sort of thing might come in handy.
Adams was hustled out of the match, never to return, in an effort to keep the score down. 97 seconds later, Nathan Subrahmanian, who had come on for Adams, collected his first goal of the year, with another good assist from Stack. Following a brilliant run down the right, Jacob Kubik-Pauw earned his first Varsity assist with a pass to Amane Matsuoka for a 12-yard shot for his fourth goal of the season.
With a 7-0 halftime lead, the Marauders were nevertheless determined to play hard at both ends, and in particular get a clean sheet. Kubik-Pauw pricked up where he left off five minutes after the interval, threading the ball to Archer Judd, who proved that his elevation to the squad was merited. Judd calmly dangled a defender and buried a shot for his first Varsity goal. The firsts continued. Ten minutes later, Henry Bernard justified his selection for the second this the season. making several threats before a solo run got him dragged down in the box. With all of the speed and subtlety of Enelow going for the GU, Toño Correo grabbed the ball and march to the spot, hammering the penalty kick for his first Varsity goal. There was one more box to tick before time expired, and with minutes to play Bernard collected his sought-after point, setting up Brendan Brigham for his first Varsity goal.
At the other end, Andrew Enelow earned his first Varsity shutout. It was well-earned, with several second-half saves demanding full attention. Enelow's diving save to his left on a long but well-taken bid from talented Mike Moore on the 70th minute was noteworthy, as was the quality of his kicking game and communication.
The Marauders are now 11-2 and tied for second in NHIAA Division One play, following Manchester Central's 3-2 loss to Bedford. There are three games left to play in the regular season, and they are all challenging. Hanover will need no motivation returning to Pinkerton on Thursday, after the rain clears. They will train Wednesday at Dresden at 2:00, before the rain comes.
Eleven seniors started the game for Hanover, and they wasted little time in controlling possession. After a five-minute stretch of good movement, Peter Burnham had the first look at goal, hitting a hard shot that drifted left past the upper left corner. David Stoffel and Pat Osborn both hit short shots straight to the keeper, and then at 11:28 Will Blinkhorn dropped one of the nicest dimes of the day, chipping a perfectly-weighted lead pass into the path of Osborn, who finished clinically for his second goal of the season. Shortly afterwards, Stoffel ripped a left-footed rocket that clanged off the upright. A free kick in the Hanover end gave Spaulding their first opportunity, and they nearly cashed in, although Mark Kimani missed an unmarked far post header. A minute after that, Stoffel doubled the score, finishing well on a nice through ball from Charlie Adams.
The scoring pace quickened after several substitutions. Blake Palmer scored the first of a brace, a near post header on a corner kick from Adams at 24:30. Twenty seconds later, Palmer scored again, with Eli Stack sending him in alone. Goalkeeper Addison Bigelow got his hands on the shot, but it bounced off the far post and in. Three minutes later Adams teed up another corner kick and found Kyle Doucette for his first Varsity goal after several near misses in recent games. This sort of thing might come in handy.
Adams was hustled out of the match, never to return, in an effort to keep the score down. 97 seconds later, Nathan Subrahmanian, who had come on for Adams, collected his first goal of the year, with another good assist from Stack. Following a brilliant run down the right, Jacob Kubik-Pauw earned his first Varsity assist with a pass to Amane Matsuoka for a 12-yard shot for his fourth goal of the season.
With a 7-0 halftime lead, the Marauders were nevertheless determined to play hard at both ends, and in particular get a clean sheet. Kubik-Pauw pricked up where he left off five minutes after the interval, threading the ball to Archer Judd, who proved that his elevation to the squad was merited. Judd calmly dangled a defender and buried a shot for his first Varsity goal. The firsts continued. Ten minutes later, Henry Bernard justified his selection for the second this the season. making several threats before a solo run got him dragged down in the box. With all of the speed and subtlety of Enelow going for the GU, Toño Correo grabbed the ball and march to the spot, hammering the penalty kick for his first Varsity goal. There was one more box to tick before time expired, and with minutes to play Bernard collected his sought-after point, setting up Brendan Brigham for his first Varsity goal.
At the other end, Andrew Enelow earned his first Varsity shutout. It was well-earned, with several second-half saves demanding full attention. Enelow's diving save to his left on a long but well-taken bid from talented Mike Moore on the 70th minute was noteworthy, as was the quality of his kicking game and communication.
The Marauders are now 11-2 and tied for second in NHIAA Division One play, following Manchester Central's 3-2 loss to Bedford. There are three games left to play in the regular season, and they are all challenging. Hanover will need no motivation returning to Pinkerton on Thursday, after the rain clears. They will train Wednesday at Dresden at 2:00, before the rain comes.
Freshmen Battle Londonderry to a 4-4 Draw
It was a crisp autumn evening, a perfect night for soccer. The game opened with both teams playing aggressive balls into corners, but losing momentum before creating any serious scoring opportunities. However, three minutes into the game Hanover was punished for poor marking when a Londonderry striker emerged open at the six yard box, retrieved the ball, and blasted it into the bottom left corner. There was nothing goalkeeper Ty Nolan could do. As the game progressed, Nolan showed his dominance in net, saving a fantastic upper 90 shot from the 18. Londonderry was intimidated to the point that they began to miss the net entirely, rather than have their shot denied by Nolan. Owen Smith held down the fort with excelent tackles. Hanover evened the score at after a Jack Stadheim goal. The game continued, with great opportunities on each side. With 15 minutes left in the first half, a disjointed defense on Hanover's part lead to a goal giving Londonderry a 2-1 lead going into the second half.
Owen Smith, Jackson Watts, Alex Bracket, Ethan Munsen, Will Taylor, and Jack McGrath did a fantastic job of holding down the center of Hanover's defensive third. On the wings, Cam Forbush connected well with Augie Krawitt, Wyatt Sklarin with Berkely Chamberlain, Kevin Chou with Theo Joseph, and Tom Mosdal with Liam Worden. On the offensive side, Simon Taenzer, Ian Smith, Soren Stettenheim, Cam Bonner, Jack Stadheim, and Jack Gardner were terrifying in their pressure against Londonderry.
Going into the second half, Hanover came out hard. Stettenheim won a ball at the top of Londonderry's 18, but was ultimately doomed after a missed pass wide to Chamberlain. Hanover kept up the offensive and a beautiful throw by Stadheim into the box almost set up a Gardner goal, who was thrown off balance by a push from behind. Seconds later, Gardner was back, and on a breakaway, after some beautiful footwork, Gardner earned a corner for Hanover, which he would end up converting to tie the game 2-2. Only minutes later, Gardner scored again off a Stettenheim pass. Hanover was leading for the first time in the game. Bouncing back, Londonderry scored off a lucky long ball that escaped Nolan's grasp by inches. Straight from the kick off, Hanover was back. Within five minutes to play, Gardner got his third goal, off a fantastic Chamberlain cross. Sklarin did a great job of winning balls on the left side. 20 minutes remained in the half. Hanover's defense was phenomenal, with every player on the field working hard.
Watts was great at winning 50/50 balls. Nolan made many more excellent saves. Bonner had some great chances, and Ian Smith and Taenzer produced excellent passing sequences. Alex Bracket played a good physical game at midfield. With less than five minutes to play, Londonderry broke through Hanover's left flank, hitting a shot and forcing Nolan to come out and make an awesome diving block. The rebound goes straight to a Londonderry forward who shoots. After seeing Nolan come off his line, Mosdal was ready for the shot, and made a stunning block to save the open net. However he could not save the shot off the rebound, and Londonderry scored the final goal of the night. Chris Dawes, the Mauraders coach for the game, kept them fighting hard for the duration.
The young Marauders train on Wednesday at Dresden from 3:00 - 4:30. (Note: No bus either way). They return to the road on Thursday with a trip to Salem after the rain clears;.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Marauder Teams Open a Busy Week
All four Hanover teams have important games this week. beginning with a trio of games on Tuesday.
The Freshmen will depart for their game at Londonderry after the end of 5th period. They are reminded to check in with 6th and 7th period teachers in advance, particularly since there is another early dismissal for the Salem game on Thursday.
The Varsity and JV1 have home games at 4:00 on Tuesday.
There is no JV2 training Tuesday. JV2 players are invited to the Varsity game at 4:00. We need four JV2 players to volunteer as ball runners for the Varsity game. This is a requirement from the referees. Please be willing to help out.
The Freshmen will depart for their game at Londonderry after the end of 5th period. They are reminded to check in with 6th and 7th period teachers in advance, particularly since there is another early dismissal for the Salem game on Thursday.
The Varsity and JV1 have home games at 4:00 on Tuesday.
There is no JV2 training Tuesday. JV2 players are invited to the Varsity game at 4:00. We need four JV2 players to volunteer as ball runners for the Varsity game. This is a requirement from the referees. Please be willing to help out.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Marauders Respond With Gritty 5-2 Victory at Winnacunnet
Bouncing back from Tuesday's disappointing loss in emphatic fashion, the Marauders exploded for three goals in three minutes to break a 2-2 second half tie and beat a tough Winnacunnet team in challenging playing conditions. Hanover is now 10-2 in Division One play and locked into a trajectory that will place them no worse than third. Eli Stack, Latham Allison and Charlie Adams each scored between 54:25 and 56:53, taking complete control of a match that was back and forth and fractious in the first half.
The game started well enough for the Marauders, who like Winnacunnet took a bit of time adjusting to the quartering Nor'easter blowing off the Atlantic Ocean, six blocks away. The patchy pitch never proved to be a huge problem, perhaps owing to two good days of training at Dresden. Blake Palmer got a great look four minutes into the match as he mover across the box from right to left, but his left-footed drive was smothered by goalkeeper Nathan Todaro. Winacunnet played directly to a pair of strong front runners, and got good play from a German exchange student, Arne Hildebrant. Hanover had an edge, but the Warriors were countering well, and got the first goal shortly after Hanover had subbed four players. Chaz Ziolkowski made a great run into the Hanover box and hit a hard shot to the right of Joey Perras, The Marauder keeper made a diving save, but the ball fell right to the feet of Chris Lepere, closing hard from the left side. His hard shot beat Perras, who had recovered to het into position, but couldn't get enough of the well-placed drive.
Hanover was unfazed, and nine minutes later those same subs will still around when one of them scored to level the match. A minute after Toño Correa had nearly broken the ice, David Stoffel picked a great time to score the best goal of his career (so far), taking a back heel from Adams and ripping a lefty shot from the corner of the box inside the far post to tie the match. Less than a minute later, the Marauders snatched the lead when Adams redirected a long Eric Ringer throw-in with his head. Hanover's 2-1 advantage would last less than three minutes. Against the run of play, Winnacunnet was gifted a corner kick and they punished the play, with James O'Hara ramming home a header a well-served ball. Hanover had the best bid to break the deadlock in the remaining eight minutes of the half when Adams sent Blake Palmer in alone, but Today was able to come off his line and smother the shot.
Hanover came back to the bench at the interval calm and confident. No speeches were needed, and the Marauders went right to work in the second half. Kyle Doucette had the best bid in the early going, volleying a driven near post corner right into the waiting arms of Todaro. Fourteen minutes into the half, Stack scored a statement goal, taking the ball deep on the left side and making a hard run to his right, looking for daylight. He created the space he needed to hit short shot inside the right post to retake the lead for Hanover. The Marauders went right after it, and a minute later Latham Allison redirected a short corner by Eric Ringer for a 4-2 advantage. It was Ringer's sixth assist on the season, second on the team. Before Winnacunnet could even blink, Hanover scored again as Adams and Stack slithered though their defense with a series of short passes, giving Charlie an opening on the left side that he buried far side netting for his sixteenth goal of the season. He is not scoring to break records, He is scoring to win soccer games.
A game which could have been been determined by weather, or officiating, or irritating play by opponents was instead seized and decided by the players with a moment of brilliance built atop a great stretch of possession built atop weeks of training by Coach Farnham. The Marauders imposed their will confidently, and stayed focused on the task at hand, seeing the match off with a number of excellent contributions. Blinkhorn, Osborn, and Brigham all played strongly, and Tucker Monson distinguished himself in his first Varsity start, going 80 minutes with high grades and two documented headers.
The Marauders will relish two days off, regroup on Monday with a team breakfast and training on the turf at 3:00, and then host Spaulding at 4:00 on Tuesday. It is going to be the first of two Senior Days. The Main Event will still be on Tue. Oct. 22, when the Marauders host Nashua North at 6:00. All 17 Varsity and Six JV2 Seniors will be honored. But this Tuesday, we will get ahead of the process of getting as many seniors onto the turf as possible, and starting as many as possible, and getting as many as possible into the scorebook. By contrast, Thursday at Pinkerton could very well be Youth Day. One day at a time for a Marauder team eager to extend the season as long as possible.
The game started well enough for the Marauders, who like Winnacunnet took a bit of time adjusting to the quartering Nor'easter blowing off the Atlantic Ocean, six blocks away. The patchy pitch never proved to be a huge problem, perhaps owing to two good days of training at Dresden. Blake Palmer got a great look four minutes into the match as he mover across the box from right to left, but his left-footed drive was smothered by goalkeeper Nathan Todaro. Winacunnet played directly to a pair of strong front runners, and got good play from a German exchange student, Arne Hildebrant. Hanover had an edge, but the Warriors were countering well, and got the first goal shortly after Hanover had subbed four players. Chaz Ziolkowski made a great run into the Hanover box and hit a hard shot to the right of Joey Perras, The Marauder keeper made a diving save, but the ball fell right to the feet of Chris Lepere, closing hard from the left side. His hard shot beat Perras, who had recovered to het into position, but couldn't get enough of the well-placed drive.
Hanover was unfazed, and nine minutes later those same subs will still around when one of them scored to level the match. A minute after Toño Correa had nearly broken the ice, David Stoffel picked a great time to score the best goal of his career (so far), taking a back heel from Adams and ripping a lefty shot from the corner of the box inside the far post to tie the match. Less than a minute later, the Marauders snatched the lead when Adams redirected a long Eric Ringer throw-in with his head. Hanover's 2-1 advantage would last less than three minutes. Against the run of play, Winnacunnet was gifted a corner kick and they punished the play, with James O'Hara ramming home a header a well-served ball. Hanover had the best bid to break the deadlock in the remaining eight minutes of the half when Adams sent Blake Palmer in alone, but Today was able to come off his line and smother the shot.
Hanover came back to the bench at the interval calm and confident. No speeches were needed, and the Marauders went right to work in the second half. Kyle Doucette had the best bid in the early going, volleying a driven near post corner right into the waiting arms of Todaro. Fourteen minutes into the half, Stack scored a statement goal, taking the ball deep on the left side and making a hard run to his right, looking for daylight. He created the space he needed to hit short shot inside the right post to retake the lead for Hanover. The Marauders went right after it, and a minute later Latham Allison redirected a short corner by Eric Ringer for a 4-2 advantage. It was Ringer's sixth assist on the season, second on the team. Before Winnacunnet could even blink, Hanover scored again as Adams and Stack slithered though their defense with a series of short passes, giving Charlie an opening on the left side that he buried far side netting for his sixteenth goal of the season. He is not scoring to break records, He is scoring to win soccer games.
A game which could have been been determined by weather, or officiating, or irritating play by opponents was instead seized and decided by the players with a moment of brilliance built atop a great stretch of possession built atop weeks of training by Coach Farnham. The Marauders imposed their will confidently, and stayed focused on the task at hand, seeing the match off with a number of excellent contributions. Blinkhorn, Osborn, and Brigham all played strongly, and Tucker Monson distinguished himself in his first Varsity start, going 80 minutes with high grades and two documented headers.
The Marauders will relish two days off, regroup on Monday with a team breakfast and training on the turf at 3:00, and then host Spaulding at 4:00 on Tuesday. It is going to be the first of two Senior Days. The Main Event will still be on Tue. Oct. 22, when the Marauders host Nashua North at 6:00. All 17 Varsity and Six JV2 Seniors will be honored. But this Tuesday, we will get ahead of the process of getting as many seniors onto the turf as possible, and starting as many as possible, and getting as many as possible into the scorebook. By contrast, Thursday at Pinkerton could very well be Youth Day. One day at a time for a Marauder team eager to extend the season as long as possible.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Game and Practice Schedule Oct. 14-19
Game and Practice Schedule October 14-19
Monday, Oct. 14
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Varsity Practice – HHS Turf
Tuesday, Oct. 15
1:15 p.m. Bus Departs for Freshmen at Londonderry
3:45 p.m. Busses depart for games at Dresden Fields, practice at Huntley
4:00 p.m. JV1 and Varsity Home Games vs. Spaulding-Turf/Grass
4:30 p.m. Freshmen Game at Londonderry
Wednesday, Oct. 16
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Practice for JV1, JV2, Freshmen – Dresden
7:30 – 9:00 p.m. Varsity Practice – HHS Turf
Thursday, Oct. 17
2:00 p.m. Bus Departs for JV1 and Varsity at Pinkerton
2:00 p.m. Bus Departs for Freshmen at Salem
2:00 p.m. Bus Departs for JV2 at Hartford
4:30 p.m. JV1 /Varsity Games at Pinkerton
4:30 p.m. Freshman Game at Salem
4:30 p.m. JV2 Game at Hartford
Friday, Oct. 18
3:45 p.m. Practice Busses Depart for Dresden
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Training for JV1, JV2, Freshmen and Varsity
Saturday, Oct. 19
11:15 a.m. Bus Departs for Cardigan
1:00 p.m. Freshman, JV2 Games at Cardigan
JV2 Plays Well in 2-2 Draw at Sunapee
Last Friday, the JV2s had their first turf game of the season, and all went well in their match with a good Sunapee team, save for the fact that they lost 2-0. Fast forward five days, and the Marauders showed a lot of improvement, going on the road to tie a Sunapee team laden with Varsity players 2-2.
Despite missing several players, Hanover played a strong passing game and got good performances from a number of standouts. Goalkeeper Jared Licht needed to miss the match for Yom Kippur, so Road Downard stepped into the goal and made some outstanding plays.
Archer Judd scored both goals for Hanover. The first came after Charlie Birkmeyer won a ball at midfield and fed the senior Captain for a well-placed shot to the lower right corner. Senior Captain Eli Bush set up the second goal, beating two defenders on the right wing and hitting a shot that the goalkeeper saved, but could not control. Archer was in the right place at the right time to put home the rebound. Sunapee rallied for two goals in the second half, including one in the waning moments of the game.
Hanover got strong defensive performances from center back James Kirkpatrick and Senior Captain A.J. Ristino, who help off constant threats on the small field from the speedy Sunaopee attackers, some of them Varsity players. Hanover played hard and physically, and maintained the3 comp[osede passing acumen that they are noted for.
The JV2s will train Thursday at Dresden and have the weekend off, returning Tuesday to train for their game next Thursday at Hartford.
Despite missing several players, Hanover played a strong passing game and got good performances from a number of standouts. Goalkeeper Jared Licht needed to miss the match for Yom Kippur, so Road Downard stepped into the goal and made some outstanding plays.
Archer Judd scored both goals for Hanover. The first came after Charlie Birkmeyer won a ball at midfield and fed the senior Captain for a well-placed shot to the lower right corner. Senior Captain Eli Bush set up the second goal, beating two defenders on the right wing and hitting a shot that the goalkeeper saved, but could not control. Archer was in the right place at the right time to put home the rebound. Sunapee rallied for two goals in the second half, including one in the waning moments of the game.
Hanover got strong defensive performances from center back James Kirkpatrick and Senior Captain A.J. Ristino, who help off constant threats on the small field from the speedy Sunaopee attackers, some of them Varsity players. Hanover played hard and physically, and maintained the3 comp[osede passing acumen that they are noted for.
The JV2s will train Thursday at Dresden and have the weekend off, returning Tuesday to train for their game next Thursday at Hartford.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Timberlane Deals Marauders a Rare Home Loss, 2-0
The high-riding Marauders hit a speed bump on Tuesday against a hard-working a capable Timberlane team, losing a 2-0 match that featured offensive frustration and some critical defensive missteps. The loss broke a seven-game winning streak and dropped the Marauders to 3rd place in Division One with a 9-2 record.
The game unraveled very quickly for Hanover. Timberlane got the ball into the Marauder end off the kickoff, and after earning an early corner they watched an own goal by the Hanover defense hand them a 1-0 lead. The ball was played to the edge of the Marauder penalty area, and Joey Perras came off his line to play it. He called for the ball, but his call was late, and Kyle Doucette had already started a move to head the ball. His back header went past Perras and bounced into the vacated goal. It turned out to be the game winner.
Confident that they had time to tack back the game, the Marauders worked their way back, getting their first shot on goal 10 minutes into the match on a Charlie Adams free kick. Seven minutes later Adams almost finished Hanover's best chance of the afternoon, a first-timing a hard shot on a cross from Amane Matsuoka that was saved by Timberlane goalkeeper Dimitri Kakouris. Timberlane was dangerous on the counter throughout the game, and nearly got a second goal on an unmarked far post header that Perras was well-positioned to save. Kakouris made an even better save on Adams at the 27 minute mark, diving full-out to his right to snare an Adams deflection off a long cross from Dylan Kotlowitz.
Hanover had mustered enough offense in the first half to suggest that they might be able to continue to build momentum in the second. They had their chances, particularly at the 50 minute mark, when Adams chipped a ball into space for Matsuoka, in alone on goal. He was unable to muster a shot, and the moment passed. Two minutes later, Timberlane struck a mortal blow with their second goal, the result of some good work in the Hanover box by big striker Matthew Barney, who survived several attempts to win the ball and found time and space to hit a left footer inside the left post from ten yards to make the score 2-0. The Marauders did the right thing, and didn't. They had plenty of room to build, with Timberlane content to get numbers behind the ball. Blake Palmer worked free on the left flank for a hard shot saved on the short side. Minutes later there was a furious flurry of shots by Palmer and Eli Stack, resulting in a corner. Kyle Doucette got a near post header on goal, but it was saved.
Hanover continued to press, but the clock was their enemy, and the determined Owls, twice losers to Hanover last year, found all the motivation they needed to see the game off. Full credit to them.
The Marauders will hope to learn from their loss, and will prepare for their Friday trip to Winnacunnet with practices at Dresden then next two afternoons.
The game unraveled very quickly for Hanover. Timberlane got the ball into the Marauder end off the kickoff, and after earning an early corner they watched an own goal by the Hanover defense hand them a 1-0 lead. The ball was played to the edge of the Marauder penalty area, and Joey Perras came off his line to play it. He called for the ball, but his call was late, and Kyle Doucette had already started a move to head the ball. His back header went past Perras and bounced into the vacated goal. It turned out to be the game winner.
Confident that they had time to tack back the game, the Marauders worked their way back, getting their first shot on goal 10 minutes into the match on a Charlie Adams free kick. Seven minutes later Adams almost finished Hanover's best chance of the afternoon, a first-timing a hard shot on a cross from Amane Matsuoka that was saved by Timberlane goalkeeper Dimitri Kakouris. Timberlane was dangerous on the counter throughout the game, and nearly got a second goal on an unmarked far post header that Perras was well-positioned to save. Kakouris made an even better save on Adams at the 27 minute mark, diving full-out to his right to snare an Adams deflection off a long cross from Dylan Kotlowitz.
Hanover had mustered enough offense in the first half to suggest that they might be able to continue to build momentum in the second. They had their chances, particularly at the 50 minute mark, when Adams chipped a ball into space for Matsuoka, in alone on goal. He was unable to muster a shot, and the moment passed. Two minutes later, Timberlane struck a mortal blow with their second goal, the result of some good work in the Hanover box by big striker Matthew Barney, who survived several attempts to win the ball and found time and space to hit a left footer inside the left post from ten yards to make the score 2-0. The Marauders did the right thing, and didn't. They had plenty of room to build, with Timberlane content to get numbers behind the ball. Blake Palmer worked free on the left flank for a hard shot saved on the short side. Minutes later there was a furious flurry of shots by Palmer and Eli Stack, resulting in a corner. Kyle Doucette got a near post header on goal, but it was saved.
Hanover continued to press, but the clock was their enemy, and the determined Owls, twice losers to Hanover last year, found all the motivation they needed to see the game off. Full credit to them.
The Marauders will hope to learn from their loss, and will prepare for their Friday trip to Winnacunnet with practices at Dresden then next two afternoons.
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