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.
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