Marauders Win NHIAA Title; Beat Bedford in PK Shootout

Hanover completed a magical playoff run by playing their best defensive soccer all season, beating undefeated and defending champion Bedford 3-2 in a penalty kick shootout after 100 scoreless minutes of regulation and sudden death overtime to win the Division One Championship, ending a four-year quest for the team's seventeen seniors.

Goalkeeper Joey Perras was Hanover's Man of the Match, making 14 saves to shut out Bedford for the first time in years, and then stopping three consecutive penalty shots in the shootout, the final save clinching the victory for Hanover.  The gleeful Marauders swarmed  their hero, and then almost immediately veered toward the stands to rush their fans, who cascaded onto the field after providing critical support for the entire match.

Hanover won three of their four playoff games in penalty kick shootouts, gaining confidence and expertise with each one. After winning the D1 title in 2013, the Marauders lost in shootouts three of the next four years.  That streak has now been officially buried.

The Marauders opened the game on the front foot, putting the ball into Bedford's net in the second minute, although the play that created the shot was ruled offsides. Charlie made a nice run into the Bedford box in the seventh minute, but was denied by an excellent tackle from a Bulldog defender.  David Stoffel, thrust into a starting role due to Eric Ringer's concussion, whistled a long left-footed shot over the bar in the 10th minute.  Bedford had several good looks, especially by the athletic Flanagan, but Hanover's defenders were doing an excellent job standing their opponents up and covering for each other.  18 minutes into the half, Adams hit a spectacular shot headed for the upper left corner that was tipped wide by Bulldog keeper Aiden Wisherd.  This is what a Division One Final was supposed to look like. Bedford had an edge win the latter stages of the first half, and Perras was forced to make several saves to keep the match scoreless.  The Bulldogs were warming to the task.

Hanover and Bedford had played on relatively even terms in the first half, but the Bulldogs dominated the second half, and only a series of saves by Perras on Bedford sharpshooters Zach Verow, Vitor Rodriguez, and Matthew Flanagan gave the Marauders a thread of hope.  Bedford outshot Hanover 7-0 and had five corner kicks.  Hanover had none, although in the closing minutes Alex Stevens came close to setting Adams up inside the Bedford box.

Surviving into sudden death overtime, the Marauders did what they had done in their semifinal win against Central, and recovered enough of their shape to keep play between the 18 yard lines.  Hanover's depth helped, as they struggled to make up for the absence of injured starters Amane Matsuoka and Eric Ringer.  The Marauders were not about to make excuses about missing players, however, and that attitude is what saw them through the match.  As the minutes ticked down in the second overtime, Zaach Verow broke once again into the Hanover box and his a low, hard shot to the right corner. Somehow, Perras dover to his left and stretched to his limit, pushing the certain goal wide of the post.

Hanover's shutout was spearheaded by Perras, but it would not have occurred without the amazing work of the Marauder back five of Kyle Dioucette, Judd Alexander, Noah Pikielny, Dylan Kotlowitz and Brendan Brigham, who played tenacious defense against a Bulldog squad that had been averaging four goals per game.

As the clock wound down toward the end of overtime, and penalties beckoned, the Marauders allowed themselves to hope.  It was still Bedford over there, however.  Victor Rodriquez stepped up first for the Bulldogs and buried his shot.  Adams led off for Hanover and went right, changing his target point successfully.  James Poshmann put Bedford ahead 2-1, but Blake Palmer equalized with a hard shot to the right corner.  Senior Nathan Statires was next, and saw his shot saved by Perras. Latham Allison gave Hanover a 3-2 lead with a hard, accurate shot past Wisherd's desperate drive.
Next up for Bedford was Flanagan, and again Perras denied the Bulldogs with a scintillating save.  Hanover had three match points in hand.  They could taste it.  Evan Nichols got his shot on frame, but Wisherd save it to keep his team alive.  Up stepped Bedford's Captain and talisman,Zach Verow.  His shot was too close to the middle, and Perras wouldn't be denied.  He dove left and got his body behind the ball, and it was over.  State Champions.

There will be other, better accounts of this dramatic, entertaining match, culminating a late-season run that saw the Marauders always under pressure, and always equal of the task.  Hanover had many, many heroes, including the squad members whose hard work and excellence in training continually raised the bar for their teammates.  One final name deserves mention before this account closes, early Sunday.  Hanover's precision, style and  superb possession game derived from the meticulous planning and sure vision of Associate Head Coach Sam Farnum. Coach Grabill did his usual work as gaffer, but Farnum's coaching this season is what put the Marauders over the top.  From the very start of the season, his fingerprints were all over.  His training sessions demanded a great deal, but their design was so engaging that practice became a high point for this team.  How very fortunate that the squad extended the season as long as possible, and soaked up every benefit of Farnham's marathon sessions.  Hanover last won the title in 2013.  Farnham was the Associate Head Coach that year.  Coincidence?  We think not.

A season like this one (17-2-1, State Champions) is a product more than just one campaign.  The seniors who graduated after the past two years, intermediate steps in this journey, can take heart that their contributions helped put the Marauders on the medal stand.  More than 100 players tried out this fall, and 96 hung around to play, and every of them owns a piece of this as well.  Hanover has more than a team. They have a program. All of those roads eventually led to the careworn turf of Manchester Memorial, where 17 seniors and their underclass mates closed out a dream season with medals and memories that will last the rest of their lives.

Be SURE to show up Tuesday at 6:00, dessert in hand, so that we can celebrate this and all of the amazing seasons enjoyed by all of the Marauders.  See you there!