Hanover Soccer Family Celebrates; Marauders Nationally Ranked

If there was any doubt that it's time to close the fall soccer season, look outside.  But while the roads froze and the wind howled, the Hanover soccer family gathered in the cozy HHS gym and celebrated the journeys of four Marauder teams.  More than 80 players we're joined by coaches, parents and siblings to sample the sumptuous dessert buffet, receive team certificates, applaud the many winners of team awards.  The award winners will be listed in full detail in Thursday's post.

The Freshmen received their certificates from Coach Chris Dawes, whose addition to the coaching staff in mid-September helped every player improve individual technique significantly and grow tactically.  The young Marauders were constructed with the specific goal of peaking for the Concord Division One Tournament at the end of the season.  Coach Dawes led the squad to the NH D1 Championship, beating Exeter and Dover in pool play, and tying Londonderry.  Hanover beat host Concord 3-0 in the semifinals, and won a thrilling 2-1 game against Winnacunnet to take the title.  The lads then reunited with Coach Grabill to play a superb match against the Hanover girls, helping them prep for postseason.  That well-matched scrimmage relationship  was a highlight of the season for the Young Marauders, was was their in-house rivalry with JV2.

The JV2 awards focused on the outstanding leadership of Henry Bernard, Eli Bush, Archer Judd and Aidan Ristino, who helped the Reserves play their strongest soccer in years.  Although disappointed that several season-ending contests were cancelled by the hosts, Hanover showed their prowess in late season games with Sunapee, Fall Mountain and Cardigan.  Coach Erik McEwen presented the certificates, and everyone saluted Coach Yosef Osheyack, whose U.S. National Deaf Soccer team had just won a 3-2 decision over Mexico in the Pan American Games.  Training for the Games was a priority for YoYo all fall, but he was still able to help the Marauders with a number of training sessions and game coverage.

JV1 Coach Willie Johnson, a finalist for NH Division One JV Coach of the year, presided over the most entertaining segment of the night, honoring a feisty squad that didn't need a cancelled postseason tournament to certify them as the best sub varsity squad in the state.  The Marauders, with a record of 14-1-1, took care of that in their final regular season game, beating undefeated Londonderry in their own house, and leaving no doubt.  The JV players did a wonderful job honoring Coach Willie, and his haiku game was top-notch.

The Marauder Varsity are still trying to process the amazing two-week run in the NHIAA Tournament, four crazily-competitive games against the best teams in the state that led them to their second D1 title and 18th in program history.  Soon, there will be time to hear the extended stories about the three penalty kick shootouts, the back-to-back triumphs over Central and Bedford, the division's two heavyweights, the #2 and #1 seeds in the tournament. Now, the Marauders are in the conversation at the top of the table, and don't plan to cede that spot any time soon.  They will gather as a team to celebrate on Friday, and the tales will keep flowing.

In the meantime, the Marauders received word late Tuesday that they have been ranked as the #2  team in the final United Soccer Coaches New England Regional poll.  Wait, there's more.  Hanover is also ranked 16th nationally in the final national poll. In Region One (NE),  Hanover was second behind 16-0-2 Nauaset, the perennial Massachusetts powerhouse.  Fairfield (CT), 13-0-3, was third, and Lincoln-Sudbury (MA), Coach Grabill's alma mater, came fourth at 15-1-2.    VT power Champlain Valley was seventh with a mark of 16-0-1.

In the national poll, Hanover was 16th, just behind 23-2-0 George Washington, from Charleston, WVA, and just ahead of  #17 Elizabeth, NJ, with a record of 20-0-4.    Check out the link to the polls:

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/high-school-rankings/boys-fall/

There is more to come.  Stay tuned to the blog.  Thanks to all for a wonderful season.