Hanover Captains Charlie Adams and Kyle Doucette have been named to the the New Hampshire Lions Cup team, and will be part of the 23-man senior all-star team that will play the Vermont seniors this July 17th. Their participation continues a long tradition of Hanover players making the team, which draws from all four divisions. They will see a number of familiar faces, with Bedford, Timberlane and Winacunnet also sending two players each. Division Two finalists Lebanon and Con-Val will also contribute two players each, with Logan Falzarano and Cooper Bourne representing Lebanon. Sunapee scoring star Michael Mullen and Mascoma leader Ben Schwartz, who each helped their team make deep playoff runs, will represent their team, giving the Upper Valley excellent representation.
Coach Rob Grabill, who shared D1 Coach of the Year honors with Bedford's Stuart Pepper, will be one of the four New Hampshire coaches. Grabill was New Hampshire Head Coach in 2008. The Lions Twin game has helped raise thousands of dollars for Lion charities in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019
Hanover High School Soccer Awards 2019
Hanover High School Soccer Awards 2019
Varsity Team Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Charlie Adams
Defensive Player of the Year – Kyle Doucette
Rookie of the Year – Eric Ringer
Most Improved – Latham Allison
Unsung Hero – Judd Alexander
Goal of the Year – Charlie Adams (Free kick vs. Winnacunnett)
Sportsmanship Award – Noah Pikielny
Most Valuable Player
NHSCA All-State – Division One
First Team: Charlie Adams, Kyle Doucette
Second Team: Eli Stack
Honorable Mention: Blake Palmer
Coach of The Year – Rob Grabill
United Soccer Coaches
All-American – Charlie Adams
All-New England – Kyle Doucette (Alternate)
NISOA Soccer Officials
Championship MVP – Joey Perras
Lions Twin State Cup
NH Senior All Stars – Charlie Adams, Kyle Doucette
Twin State Cup Assistant Coach – Rob Grabill
Junior Varsity One Awards
Most Valuable Player - Palmer Okai
Golden Boot – Oscar Miller
Coaches Award -Tom Lyons
Most Improved – Teddy Ruth
Goal of the Year – Pierce Hamlin
NHSCA Coach of the Year – Willie Johnson
Junior Varsity Two Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Eli Bush
Defensive Player of the Year – James Kirkpatrick
Most Improved – Jackson Liu
Rookie of the Year – Asa Wise
Golden Boot – Archer Judd
Golden Gloves – Jared Licht
Coaches Award – A.J. Ristino, Henry Bernard
Sportsmanship – Henry Bernard
MVP – Henry Bernard
Freshman Awards
Golden Gloves – Ty Nolon
Golden Boot – Jack Gardner
Sportsmanship – Owen Smith, Jack Stadheim
Most Improved – Kevin Choi, Soren Stettenheim
Defender of the Year – Owen Smith
Coaches Award – Ty Nolon, Ethan Munson
MVP – Jack Gardner, Jack McGrath, Jack Stadheim
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Varsity Banquet Puts a Cap on the Season; Final All-Star Games
This is the final weekend of the soccer season. We will be holding office hours in the Gym during Activity Period on Friday. Players who missed the Soccer Celebration Tuesday night may pick up their team certificates. We will do a final collection of uniforms and practice gear, and hand out Hanover Soccer shirts to players who have not yet received theirs.
Friday night, the Varsity will gather to celebrate their championship season. In addition to team honors, All-State and All-Region results, awarded by the NH Soccer Coaches Association, will be announced. There will be several of them! These and all team awards for all teams will be published Saturday. (We said today, but it makes more sense to publish them all together).
On Saturday, the top senior players in NH from all divisions will gather in Concord to try out for Lions Twin State Soccer Cup team. The top 22 seniors will play against their counterparts from Vermont in July. The team will be named on Saturday night, and Hanover players selected will be announced Sunday here in the blog. Hanover has a long, proud history of having players selected, and excelling in the game. Last year, Marauder Captain Liam Collins was the winner of the NH Team Sportsmanship Award. Amazingly, Hanover has had six Sportsmanship winners in the past 14 years.
On Sunday, Hanover Captains Charlie Adams and Kyle Doucette will travel to Exeter to play in the annual Senior All-Star game.
Between now and the start of Thanksgiving break, all players on all teams are asked to find Coach Grabill for a five-minute conversation. This is very important for players interested in participating next year. The feedback received is very important for the continuing functioning of the program. Players can message Coach Grabill to make an appointment. Coach Grabill will be available during Activity Period, for one hour after school, and during selected periods to be announced. Interviews start on Monday.
Players interested in playing in the Hartford Futsal League are encouraged to organize teams. The League begins December 1 and play continues through March. Games are Sundays at the White River School. There is room for several teams. The best format is organizing on class lines. The juniors are pretty far ahead on this. Here is the contact information for Hartford Rec:
https://hartfordvt.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30085
Please keep checking the blog through Monday, before we disappear. New material every day!
Friday night, the Varsity will gather to celebrate their championship season. In addition to team honors, All-State and All-Region results, awarded by the NH Soccer Coaches Association, will be announced. There will be several of them! These and all team awards for all teams will be published Saturday. (We said today, but it makes more sense to publish them all together).
On Saturday, the top senior players in NH from all divisions will gather in Concord to try out for Lions Twin State Soccer Cup team. The top 22 seniors will play against their counterparts from Vermont in July. The team will be named on Saturday night, and Hanover players selected will be announced Sunday here in the blog. Hanover has a long, proud history of having players selected, and excelling in the game. Last year, Marauder Captain Liam Collins was the winner of the NH Team Sportsmanship Award. Amazingly, Hanover has had six Sportsmanship winners in the past 14 years.
On Sunday, Hanover Captains Charlie Adams and Kyle Doucette will travel to Exeter to play in the annual Senior All-Star game.
Between now and the start of Thanksgiving break, all players on all teams are asked to find Coach Grabill for a five-minute conversation. This is very important for players interested in participating next year. The feedback received is very important for the continuing functioning of the program. Players can message Coach Grabill to make an appointment. Coach Grabill will be available during Activity Period, for one hour after school, and during selected periods to be announced. Interviews start on Monday.
Players interested in playing in the Hartford Futsal League are encouraged to organize teams. The League begins December 1 and play continues through March. Games are Sundays at the White River School. There is room for several teams. The best format is organizing on class lines. The juniors are pretty far ahead on this. Here is the contact information for Hartford Rec:
https://hartfordvt.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30085
Please keep checking the blog through Monday, before we disappear. New material every day!
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Willie Johnson is Named JV Coach of The Year
On Wednesday, the NH Soccer Coaches Association met in Concord for their annual awards meeting. Over 70 coaches from across the state, boys' and girls', all divisions, met to learn the results of the All-State voting. They also then gathered in smaller groups to vote on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region awards, deciding the five All-New England and All-American players from NH. Several Marauders were honored, and these will be announced on Friday at the Varsity Banquet.
One honor is announced now: Marauder JV1 Coach Willie Johnson was elected by the Division One coaches as the D1 JV Coach of the Year. This is an incredible honor for Willie and his players, acknowledging not just the team's quality of play, but also their sportsmanship. Willie's dedication to his players is evident in everything he does: planning and organization of training sessions, team selection, game management, communication with players and parents, and his care for his athletes as students. A well-deserved honor!
The sub varsity team honors will be published in tomorrow's blog. Saturday's blog will contain all of the Varsity team awards as well as All-State and All-Region honors.
One honor is announced now: Marauder JV1 Coach Willie Johnson was elected by the Division One coaches as the D1 JV Coach of the Year. This is an incredible honor for Willie and his players, acknowledging not just the team's quality of play, but also their sportsmanship. Willie's dedication to his players is evident in everything he does: planning and organization of training sessions, team selection, game management, communication with players and parents, and his care for his athletes as students. A well-deserved honor!
The sub varsity team honors will be published in tomorrow's blog. Saturday's blog will contain all of the Varsity team awards as well as All-State and All-Region honors.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
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.
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.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Hanover Soccer Schedule November 11-17
Hanover Soccer Schedule Nov. 11-17
Tuesday, Nov. 12
4:30 p.m. Mandatory meeting for all Varsity Players and Coaches - Ramunto's
5:00 p.m. All coaches Meeting at Ramunto's
6:00 p.m. Four-Team Soccer Celebration - HHS Gym. Potluck Dessert Buffet
Wednesday Nov. 13
6:00 p.m. NHSA Coachers Meeting
Friday. Nov. 15
6:00 p.m. Varsity Banquet
Saturday, Nov. 16
11:00. a.m. Lions Cup Tryouts - Concord
Sunday, Nov. 17.
Senior All Star Game - Exeter
There will be a new blog post every day this week. Please stay tuned. I have a lot to say and a lot to share.
Tuesday, Nov. 12
4:30 p.m. Mandatory meeting for all Varsity Players and Coaches - Ramunto's
5:00 p.m. All coaches Meeting at Ramunto's
6:00 p.m. Four-Team Soccer Celebration - HHS Gym. Potluck Dessert Buffet
Wednesday Nov. 13
6:00 p.m. NHSA Coachers Meeting
Friday. Nov. 15
6:00 p.m. Varsity Banquet
Saturday, Nov. 16
11:00. a.m. Lions Cup Tryouts - Concord
Sunday, Nov. 17.
Senior All Star Game - Exeter
There will be a new blog post every day this week. Please stay tuned. I have a lot to say and a lot to share.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
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!
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!
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