In a matchup of two of Division One's best programs, a senior-laden Manchester Central squad earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a Marauder team that played well enough to win, but still demonstrated the need to improve at both ends of the field. Coaches, players, media, spectators and officials agreed afterwards that it was an attractive, well-played and highly entertaining match. Hanover had every right to feel good about how well they had played, but frustrated that they could not convert a number of good scoring chances until they were behind by two goals.
The heavily-hyped match between the two second place teams in Division One was a tense one from the outset. Playing Central at historic Gill Stadium is as intimidating as it gets, but the Mauauders were able to absorb Central's early pressure, and by the midway point of half the two teams were playing on even terms. Central was attacking directly right down the middle, and had one dangerous threat quelled at the seven minute mark when keeper Connor Edson came off his line expertly to make a save on Eric Rodriguez, who had a near breakaway. Marauder defenders Luke Strohbehn and Max Greenwald had to be at their best to contain Rodriguez and the speedy Jacob Chiza.
Hanover midfielders Asa Berolzheimer, Jonah Levine and Ian Caldwell began willing more and more balls in the center of the park, and orchestrating some dangerous attacks for the Marauders. Jamie Dinulos broke in on the left baseline and fed a ball to Levine at the top of the box for a dangerous shot that was well-saved by Little Green goalkeeper Alec Patterson. An even better buildup created a nice shot opportunity for Seth Stadheim, but the heady freshman striker was unable to convert. Tim Alibozek broke into the middle of the penalty area from the right side and his a sizzling left-footed shot that forced Patterson to make a spectacular diving save. Finally, Josh Wallace nearly found the corner of the net with a full-out bicycle kick on the left side of the penalty area.
For all of their work offensively, Hanover had nothing to show as halftime approached, and with less than two minutes to play they gave up a well-made goal against the run of play. Central Midfielder
Anes Dkema played a well-weighted through pass to the speedy and talented Rodriguez, who avoided a tackle and broke in alone on Edson, beating him to the near post. Central happily came off at halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Matters got worse for Hanover at the five-minute mark of the second half. Rodriguez broke in to the Hanover end, and worked his way across the edge of the penalty area, avoiding Marauder defenders who were properly wary of diving in, but unable to contain him. Rodriguez worked the ball to rangy Central defender Evan MacDoanld outside the left corner of the penalty area, and the junior found the time and space to launch a shot to the upper right corner of the goal, eluding Edson's desperate dive by inches. For all of Hanover's good work, they had conceded two goals and were on the verge of losing their grip on the game.
This would have been a good time for the Marauders to quit. Somehow, they managed to keep plugging, and did their best to dig themselves out of their abyss. Central was happy to sit back a bit, but even with that it was clear that Hanover was slowly taking it up a notch, pinning the Little Green in their half of the field, winner corners, and eventually creating some dangerous opportunities. With fifteen minutes to play, Hanover pulled a crucial goal back, and as was the case in their recent win against Salem, it was substitutes Josh Wallace and Jake Acker who got the job done. Wallace worked his way into the box for a dangerous shot, and the rebound fell right to Acker, who buried the ball for his first career goal. The Marauders were right back into the game with plenty of time left.
Hanover was able to threaten several more times, with two corner kicks, a free kick into the box, and some great individual work by Jamie Dinulos and Josh Wallace. Seth Stadheim worked free near the right post, but was unable to get the ball across the face of the goal. Jonah Levine had a good opportunity from the top of the penalty area, but his shot was blocked. In the end, Central's ability to manage the end of the match prevailed, and Hanover walked away empty-handed. Glad that they had played well? No question. The Marauders received a lot of post-game praise for their skill, style and composure. Frustrated? For sure. Hanover has improved with every match, but they have only won once in the last four games, and that's a challenge to swallow.
Things don't get a lot easier for the Marauders, who face a challenging match on Friday at Keene. The Blackbirds have been impressive in the early going, with a 2-0 win against Bedford and a tie against top-ranked Timberlane. Keene is 4-3-1, coming off a 5-0 win over Spaulding. The senior-laden Blackbirds are particularly tough at home on the grass of Scripture Field. Hmm, Scripture Field. Maybe Rev. Rob can pull out some inspirational speeches for Hanover. "We can win this game," contended the Coach. "We have to tighten things up defensively, and continue to learn how to take advantage of the wonderful chances we are creating. The Keene game is a chance to put all of the pieces together." Departure time is 2:00 for the 4:30 game.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Concussion Baseline Testing Finishes Wednesday
The remaining soccer players who need to have concussion baseline testing in the computer lab will do this Wednesday after school in two shifts:
2:00 p.m. -
Brook Leigh, Daniel Pinigin, Caleb Putnam, Ian Surat-Mosher, Vinvent Versteeg, Max Wonsavage, Kezar Berger.
2:30 p.m. -
Brendan Amos, Yedne Atkins, Asa Berolzheimer, George Geraghty, Gwynn Granizo-Mackenzie, Jack Hazard, Peter Huizenga, Angus McClelland, Robbie Murdza, Jack Pattison, Daniel Ray, Tenzin Tashi, Addison Wanner.
Wednesday morning update! We can now take everyone at 2:00! Do your best to get to the computer lab right after school!
2:00 p.m. -
Brook Leigh, Daniel Pinigin, Caleb Putnam, Ian Surat-Mosher, Vinvent Versteeg, Max Wonsavage, Kezar Berger.
2:30 p.m. -
Brendan Amos, Yedne Atkins, Asa Berolzheimer, George Geraghty, Gwynn Granizo-Mackenzie, Jack Hazard, Peter Huizenga, Angus McClelland, Robbie Murdza, Jack Pattison, Daniel Ray, Tenzin Tashi, Addison Wanner.
Wednesday morning update! We can now take everyone at 2:00! Do your best to get to the computer lab right after school!
Monday, September 29, 2014
Varsity and JV Head to Manchester for Central Games; Schedule Change for Oct. 6-7
The Varsity and JV teams will play Manchester Central on Tuesday, playing separate games at separate venues at separate times. The JV will depart at 1:30 and play the Central JV at Livingston Park at 4:00 p.m. The Varsity will depart at 3:40 and play Central at Gill Stadium at 6:30.
Livingston Park is on the Daniel Webster Highway, half a mile south of Rt 93. Take Exit 9 South, go through the lights at the first intersection (opposite Burger King). Go through the next set of lights, and the entrance to Livingston Park is on the right. There is also an entrance further down, near Dunkin Donuts.
Gill Stadium is at 396 Valley Street, Manchester, NH 03103. It is between Beech Street (One way southbound) and Maple Street (One way northbound).
Important schedule change: The Varsity and JV games at Manchester Memorial, listed for Monday, October 6th, will be played on Tuesday, October 7th. The JV game will be at 4:00 at Clem Lemire Field. The Varsity game will be played at 5:30 at McDonough-Chabot Field. Both fields are at Memorial High School.
Livingston Park is on the Daniel Webster Highway, half a mile south of Rt 93. Take Exit 9 South, go through the lights at the first intersection (opposite Burger King). Go through the next set of lights, and the entrance to Livingston Park is on the right. There is also an entrance further down, near Dunkin Donuts.
Gill Stadium is at 396 Valley Street, Manchester, NH 03103. It is between Beech Street (One way southbound) and Maple Street (One way northbound).
Important schedule change: The Varsity and JV games at Manchester Memorial, listed for Monday, October 6th, will be played on Tuesday, October 7th. The JV game will be at 4:00 at Clem Lemire Field. The Varsity game will be played at 5:30 at McDonough-Chabot Field. Both fields are at Memorial High School.
Reserves On A Roll; Beat Cardigan Mountain 4-3
The Hanover Reserve team continued its run of exciting, close matches on Monday, outlasting Cardigan Mountain School 4-3. The visiting Cougars got on the board first when a centering pass deflected off of a defender and into the next, but the undaunted Marauders tied the match at the 16 minute mark when Benny Gantrish fed his fellow Captain Jonathan Klotz for an epic volley to tie the score. Cardigan got the next goal to take a 2-1 lead, but once again the Klotz-Gantrish connection tied the match on a restart at the 27-minute mark. Klotz centered the ball to Gantrish, who made no mistake, and the game was tied once again. The Marauders took their first lead of the match five minutes before the end of the first half as Gabe Loud, a mainstay on defense all afternoon, pounced on a rebound after an indirect kick and gave his team a 3-2 halftime lead.
The two teams battled back and fourth for the first 30 minutes of the second half with plenty of close calls but no change in the scoreline until Sam Waite slotted a perfect lead pass on a free kick to speedy Kaz Matsuoka, who broke in alone on the Cardigan net and game Hanover a seemingly safe 4-2 lead. The Cougars battled right back, and stormed the Marauder goal. Keeper Arturo Johnson, whose active presence in the box was a highlight for Hanover all afternoon, made a number of saves to keep Cardigan off the board, including one with his face, deflecting the ball off the bar and out for a corner. The relentless pressure finally yielded a goal with four minutes to play, but Hanover parked the bus in front of the goal at that point, and the clock expired to give the Marauders a satisfying 4-3 win.
Coach Willie Johnston cited all three of his Captains: Klotz, Gantrish and Johnson, for their standout efforts, and also lauded Gabe Loud for his work defending Cardigan's talented striker, and Aidan Connolly, who was a valuable two-way presence.
The Reserves will look to keep the ball rolling next week with a pair of games, traveling to Kimball Union Academy a week from Wednesday, and then hosting Mount Royal Academy two days later on October 10th. Both games will be rematches of one-goal games, so it looks like the thrills will keep coming for the Marauders when the calendar turns to October.
The two teams battled back and fourth for the first 30 minutes of the second half with plenty of close calls but no change in the scoreline until Sam Waite slotted a perfect lead pass on a free kick to speedy Kaz Matsuoka, who broke in alone on the Cardigan net and game Hanover a seemingly safe 4-2 lead. The Cougars battled right back, and stormed the Marauder goal. Keeper Arturo Johnson, whose active presence in the box was a highlight for Hanover all afternoon, made a number of saves to keep Cardigan off the board, including one with his face, deflecting the ball off the bar and out for a corner. The relentless pressure finally yielded a goal with four minutes to play, but Hanover parked the bus in front of the goal at that point, and the clock expired to give the Marauders a satisfying 4-3 win.
Coach Willie Johnston cited all three of his Captains: Klotz, Gantrish and Johnson, for their standout efforts, and also lauded Gabe Loud for his work defending Cardigan's talented striker, and Aidan Connolly, who was a valuable two-way presence.
The Reserves will look to keep the ball rolling next week with a pair of games, traveling to Kimball Union Academy a week from Wednesday, and then hosting Mount Royal Academy two days later on October 10th. Both games will be rematches of one-goal games, so it looks like the thrills will keep coming for the Marauders when the calendar turns to October.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Game and Practice Schedule - Sept. 29 - Oct. 6
Game and Practice Schedule
Sept. 29 – Oct. 7,
2014
Monday, Sept. 29
3:30 – 5:00 Varsity Practice – HHS Turf
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practice for JV and Freshmen at Dresden
4:30 p.m. Reserve
Game vs. Cardigan at Dresden.
Tuesday, Sept. 30
1:30 p.m. JV Bus Departs for Manchester Central
3:30 p.m. Varsity Bus Departs for Manchester Central
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practices for Freshmen and Reserves at Dresden
4:00 p.m. JV Game at Central at Livingston Park
6:30 p.m. Varsity Game at Central at Gill Stadium
Wednesday, Oct. 1
2:00 p.m. Concussion Testing for Freshmen and Juniors not previously
tested at HHS Computer Lab.
2:45 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
tested at HHS Computer Lab.
2:45 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
3:15 – 4:45 Regular practices for JV and Reserves
4:00 – 5:30 Varsity practice at Dresden Fields
3:00 p.m. Freshman Scrimmage vs. Girls' JV - HHS Grass Field
3:00 p.m. Freshman Scrimmage vs. Girls' JV - HHS Grass Field
Thursday, Oct. 2
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practices for JV, Reserves and Freshmen at Dresden
4:30 – 6:00 Varsity Practice at Dresden Fields
Friday, Oct. 3
2:00 p.m. JV and Varsity Depart for Games at Keene
2:00 p.m. Freshmen Depart for Londonderry Game
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus
Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular
practice for Reserves at Dresden Fields
4:30 p.m. Freshman Game
at Londonderry
4:30 p.m. JV and
Varsity Games at Keene
Sunday, Oct. 5
12:30 p.m. CROP Hunger Walk in
Lebanon (Optional)
Looking ahead:
Mon. Oct. 6 Freshman Game at Bedford 4:00
Tue. Oct. 7 Varsity and JV Games at Manchester Memorial 4:30
Wed. Oct. 8 Reserve Game at Kimball Union 4:30
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Soccer Wins in Reserve Team's 2-1 Loss to Kimball Union
It happened again! We had one of those transcendent, everybody-wins afternoons at The Pasture. On a beautiful fall day in front of a large, appreciative crowd, the Reserves and their Kimball Union opponents staged a wonderfully entertaining match. KUA ended up taking a 2-1 decision, but that was truly beside the point. The game was wide open, back and forth, and full of scoring chances, breakaways, daring goalkeeping, and great theater.
It had been more than a week since the Reserves had played, but it was clear that they had made good use of their practice time. The Marauders were well-organized and showed higher levels of skill and fitness. KUA took a 1-0 lead in the first half, but Austen "Game Day" Thum tied the match at the end of a good passing play.
Both teams had a ton of scoring chances in the second half. Hanover was led by Tenzin Tashi, whose patented spin move gave the defense fits. He had four or five near misses, and combined well with hardworking midfielders Benny Gantrish and Kaz Matsuoka, each of whom had good chances of their own.
KUA also had a number of threats which were foiled by a number of defenders, including Tenzing Rumrill, Avery Wallis and Daniel Wilson. Arturo Johnson, taking for Joseph Glock in the Marauder goal, was daring and effective in thwarting several KUA breakaways, coming off his line with superb timing. KUA finally got on the scoreboard with 12 minutes to play in the second half when a rash challenge in the box resulted in a penalty kick. Ironically, the spot kick was converted by HHS ex-pat Henry Pletcher. It was, Assistant Coach Erik McEwen observed, exactly like Frank Lampard scoring against his old Chelsea team, an ironic turn of events in last week's Premiership match. But Lampard isn;t that good at tennis.
Hanover fought back, and had three or four great looks, with Tashi's one-on-one with the KUA goalie somehow coming up empty. The clock ran out on the Marauders this time, but they will be eager to turn the tables when they play KUA down the road. In the meantime, they return to action almost immediately, with a Monday afternoon match with Cardigan back at the Pasture.
This was the third one-goal game of the season for the Reserves, who have been blessed by having a series of competitive matches against good opposition. The team's cohesion is a reflection of the excellent coaching by Head Coach Willie Johnson, whose energy and dedication have created an excellent team culture. Be sure to catch next Monday's match!
It had been more than a week since the Reserves had played, but it was clear that they had made good use of their practice time. The Marauders were well-organized and showed higher levels of skill and fitness. KUA took a 1-0 lead in the first half, but Austen "Game Day" Thum tied the match at the end of a good passing play.
Both teams had a ton of scoring chances in the second half. Hanover was led by Tenzin Tashi, whose patented spin move gave the defense fits. He had four or five near misses, and combined well with hardworking midfielders Benny Gantrish and Kaz Matsuoka, each of whom had good chances of their own.
KUA also had a number of threats which were foiled by a number of defenders, including Tenzing Rumrill, Avery Wallis and Daniel Wilson. Arturo Johnson, taking for Joseph Glock in the Marauder goal, was daring and effective in thwarting several KUA breakaways, coming off his line with superb timing. KUA finally got on the scoreboard with 12 minutes to play in the second half when a rash challenge in the box resulted in a penalty kick. Ironically, the spot kick was converted by HHS ex-pat Henry Pletcher. It was, Assistant Coach Erik McEwen observed, exactly like Frank Lampard scoring against his old Chelsea team, an ironic turn of events in last week's Premiership match. But Lampard isn;t that good at tennis.
Hanover fought back, and had three or four great looks, with Tashi's one-on-one with the KUA goalie somehow coming up empty. The clock ran out on the Marauders this time, but they will be eager to turn the tables when they play KUA down the road. In the meantime, they return to action almost immediately, with a Monday afternoon match with Cardigan back at the Pasture.
This was the third one-goal game of the season for the Reserves, who have been blessed by having a series of competitive matches against good opposition. The team's cohesion is a reflection of the excellent coaching by Head Coach Willie Johnson, whose energy and dedication have created an excellent team culture. Be sure to catch next Monday's match!
Tuesday 9/30 Game Times and Locations (Manchester Central)
The JV boys will play Manchester Central at 4:00 at Livingston Park in Manchester. Dismissal is at 1:15.
The Varsity will play Manchester Central at 6:30 at Gill Stadium. Departure time is 3:30 p.m.
The Varsity will play Manchester Central at 6:30 at Gill Stadium. Departure time is 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Thursday Schedule Update
The Varsity film session Thursday has been postponed. Varsity practice at 6:30 on the turf.
Reserve game vs. KUA at 4:30 at the Pasture. Wear Maroon. You can take the practice bus to the game.
Reserve game vs. KUA at 4:30 at the Pasture. Wear Maroon. You can take the practice bus to the game.
JV Has a Rough Outing in a 2-1 Loss To Bedford
It was a dreary day at the Pasture, as the Bedford Bulldogs
controlled most of the possessions in the Junior Varsity's seventh game, especially in the
second half. The highlight of the
afternoon for Hanover came early in the first half, off of a ball that Jack
Hazard swung across the field to open space.
Robbie Murdza ran down the ball a second before the Bedford goalie got
there, and he slid into the ball and the keeper almost simultaneously and
squirted one in for a 1 – 0 lead.
Although Hanover had the lead, most of the game was played defensively,
other than a few home team runs leading to ineffective shots that sailed or
shanked far from the posts.
The second half was, for 10 minutes, a matter of good Hanover
luck as two shots bounced around the posts before sliding away untouched. The rest of the final half featured a rocket
from the Bedford striker that tied the game and a tough-to-swallow call with five
minutes to play, costing the Marauders a penalty kick goal that passed through the well positioned goalie
for the lead that held up for a final 2 -
1 Bedford win.
The loss was Hanover’s third, all by one goal. So, the 4 – 3 record could be much different,
but there it stands, with nearly half the season gone.
Two road games are scheduled for next week, Tuesday, 9/29 at
Manchester Central and Friday, 10/3, at Keene.
Check the JV Shutterfly Account for snacks, especially for the return
trips. Coach Grabill has asked that this
food does not leave a bus mess. Please comply with that request.
See you then.
Matt
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Marauders Tied 1-1 By Bedford; Central Up Next
Hanover worked hard for 100 minutes against a well-coached Bedford team on a crisp, sunny fall afternoon at Merriman-Branch, and emerged with a 1-1 draw. The Marauders took the lead on a well-made goal from Jonah Levine, and surrendered the tying goal early in the second half. The visiting Bulldogs circled the wagons after that, and Hanover was unable to create another go-ahead goal. Losing a lead is always frustrating, but the Marauders had a lot to show for a hard day at the office, playing attractive soccer and keeping their composure throughout.
The Marauders got off to a bright start. In the first minute, a slick passing combination between Tim Alibozek and Seth Stadheim set Alibozek free on the baseline for a centering pass that was almost turned into the goal by a charging Jamie Dinulos. Minutes later, Dinulos broke in on the left flank, but was tackled for a corner kick before he could get a shot off. Hanover had a territorial advantage for most of the half, and got good shots from Ian Caldwell and Alibozek.
Hanover broke through in the 36th minute, taking a 1-0 lead on Jonah Levine's second goal of the season. Jamie Dinulos broke in on the left baseline and hit a centering pass that Levine first-timed into the goal.
Bedford was well-organized and aggressive defensively, and waited for their chances. They only had one, but it almost tied the game in the final minute. Bulldog talisman Danial Smushkin pounced on a poor clearing pass outside of the Marauder penalty area and dribbled past three diving defenders before breaking in on Konrad Mitchell. The Hanover keeper came off his line superbly, and spread wide to gobble up the ball, exposing himself to Smushkin's high spikes.
Hanover continued to probe for a second goal as the second half started, and almost hit paydirt right off the kickoff, as Asa Berolzheimer and Stadheim came very close. With the Marauders pushing up, they were potentially vulnerable to a counterattack, and nine minutes into the half, Bedford tied the game against the run of play. A long, very high ball was played into the Hanover end, and Mitchell elected to stay on his line. Luke Strohbehn managed to clear the ball, but conceded a corner kick in the process. Bedford pounced on the gift, and converted the corner with a header to the far corner that was nearly cleared by a well-positioned by Jonah Levine.
Hanover stayed composed, and maintained their edge in play, not losing composure in the face of a 10-2 Bedford edge in fouls. Josh Wallace hit a dangerous cross from the left corner that was well-played by Bulldog keeper Joshua Reeks. Ian Caldwell and Jake Acker had good looks at goal, and Avery Kravitz hit a wonderful shot from the right side that required a diving save from Reeks.
With time winding down, Bedford appeared to be more and more content with playing for a draw, and regulation time expired with the score knotted at 1-1.
The Marauders completely dominated the two ten-minute overtimes, winning all of the 50-50 balls and linking passes with precision and determination. Jamie Dinulos had two excellent chances in the first overtime, and Caldwell had another sniff in the second. Hanover's one corner kick in the final extra period didn't produce anything, and each team walked away with a point at the conclusion of a hard-fought match.
The draw leaves Hanover with a 5-1-1 record, keeping them in a second-place tie with Manchester Central in the standings. The one blemish on Central's record is a 2-1 loss in overtime to............
Bedford. Coincidentally, Hanover's next match, one week hence, is against Central at Manchester's storied Gill Stadium. The Marauders and Little Green have a history of close matches, and have been the top two teams in Division One for the past two-plus seasons. This will be a compelling match, and a good mid-season measuring stick for two programs accustomed to being around at the end of the season.
The Marauders got off to a bright start. In the first minute, a slick passing combination between Tim Alibozek and Seth Stadheim set Alibozek free on the baseline for a centering pass that was almost turned into the goal by a charging Jamie Dinulos. Minutes later, Dinulos broke in on the left flank, but was tackled for a corner kick before he could get a shot off. Hanover had a territorial advantage for most of the half, and got good shots from Ian Caldwell and Alibozek.
Hanover broke through in the 36th minute, taking a 1-0 lead on Jonah Levine's second goal of the season. Jamie Dinulos broke in on the left baseline and hit a centering pass that Levine first-timed into the goal.
Bedford was well-organized and aggressive defensively, and waited for their chances. They only had one, but it almost tied the game in the final minute. Bulldog talisman Danial Smushkin pounced on a poor clearing pass outside of the Marauder penalty area and dribbled past three diving defenders before breaking in on Konrad Mitchell. The Hanover keeper came off his line superbly, and spread wide to gobble up the ball, exposing himself to Smushkin's high spikes.
Hanover continued to probe for a second goal as the second half started, and almost hit paydirt right off the kickoff, as Asa Berolzheimer and Stadheim came very close. With the Marauders pushing up, they were potentially vulnerable to a counterattack, and nine minutes into the half, Bedford tied the game against the run of play. A long, very high ball was played into the Hanover end, and Mitchell elected to stay on his line. Luke Strohbehn managed to clear the ball, but conceded a corner kick in the process. Bedford pounced on the gift, and converted the corner with a header to the far corner that was nearly cleared by a well-positioned by Jonah Levine.
Hanover stayed composed, and maintained their edge in play, not losing composure in the face of a 10-2 Bedford edge in fouls. Josh Wallace hit a dangerous cross from the left corner that was well-played by Bulldog keeper Joshua Reeks. Ian Caldwell and Jake Acker had good looks at goal, and Avery Kravitz hit a wonderful shot from the right side that required a diving save from Reeks.
With time winding down, Bedford appeared to be more and more content with playing for a draw, and regulation time expired with the score knotted at 1-1.
The Marauders completely dominated the two ten-minute overtimes, winning all of the 50-50 balls and linking passes with precision and determination. Jamie Dinulos had two excellent chances in the first overtime, and Caldwell had another sniff in the second. Hanover's one corner kick in the final extra period didn't produce anything, and each team walked away with a point at the conclusion of a hard-fought match.
The draw leaves Hanover with a 5-1-1 record, keeping them in a second-place tie with Manchester Central in the standings. The one blemish on Central's record is a 2-1 loss in overtime to............
Bedford. Coincidentally, Hanover's next match, one week hence, is against Central at Manchester's storied Gill Stadium. The Marauders and Little Green have a history of close matches, and have been the top two teams in Division One for the past two-plus seasons. This will be a compelling match, and a good mid-season measuring stick for two programs accustomed to being around at the end of the season.
Reserve Home Game Moved To Thursday
The Reserve hoe game scheduled for Wednesday will be played on Thursday ay 4:30 p.m. at the Dresden Fields. Hanover will wear maroon uniforms. There is no Reserve practice on Wednesday.
(There are also no JV and Freshman practices Wednesday). The Varsity will practice at 6:00 in the HHS turf.
(There are also no JV and Freshman practices Wednesday). The Varsity will practice at 6:00 in the HHS turf.
Important Schedule Updates For Tuesday and Wednesday
The Boys' JV home game with Bedford on Tuesday at 4:00 will be played at the Dresden Fields. Players are responsible for getting themselves to the field immediately after school. Parents help with this would be appreciated.
The Reserve game scheduled for Wednesday with KUA has boon postponed. There will be no Freshman or JV Practices on Wednesday afternoon. Varsity practice Wednesday will be at 6:00 - 7:30 on the turf.
The Reserve game scheduled for Wednesday with KUA has boon postponed. There will be no Freshman or JV Practices on Wednesday afternoon. Varsity practice Wednesday will be at 6:00 - 7:30 on the turf.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Schedule Updates for Monday and Wednesday
The Varsity practice on the HHS turf will be at 6:30, immediately after the JV football game.
There will be no Freshman practice on Wednesday. Any player on any team is excused from practice or the Reserve game if they wish to attend Ian Gemery's memorial service. Please inform your coaches.
There will be no Freshman practice on Wednesday. Any player on any team is excused from practice or the Reserve game if they wish to attend Ian Gemery's memorial service. Please inform your coaches.
Freshmen Beat Dover 2-0 For Second Win in a Row
The Freshmen
are beginning to like their tenancy on the turf at Merriman-Branch Field. On Saturday, less than 24 hours after they
had broken into the win column against Memorial, they returned to the scene and
dumped Dover 2-0. The formula was the
same for the ‘shmen, breaking a scoreless halftime tie with second half goals,
this time by Brook Leigh and Caleb Putnam.
After several
good offensive looks in the first half came up empty, Hanover hit paydirt. Benjamin Parrado hit a perfect lead pass 40
yards from goal to Leigh, who held off a defender and slid a shot past the
goalkeeper just as they both went to ground.
Putnam finished the scoring late in the game by intercepting a goal kick
and breaking in alone to power the ball
into the net for his fourth goal of the season.
Sawyer Hanlon
and Graham Penfield shared their second consecutive shutout in the Hanover
goal, as the Marauder team defense continued to excel.
Hanover now
has more than a week off from regularly scheduled games, although they are
likely to participate in several scrimmages next week, including the annual
matchup with the girls’ Junior Varsity team.
Game and Practice Schedule Sept. 22-27
Monday, Sept. 22
3:30 p.m. Varsity Film Study – Room 250
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practice for JV, Freshmen and Reserves at Dresden
6:30 – 8:00 Varsity Practice – HHS Turf
Tuesday, Sept. 23
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practices for Freshmen and Reserves at Dresden
4:00 p.m. Varsity and JV Home games with Bedford - JV at Dresden
Wednesday, Sept. 24
Reserve Game postponed - NO Freshman or JV Practices
6:00 – 7:30 Varsity practice at HHS Turf
Thursday, Sept. 25
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practices for JV and Freshmen at Dresden
4:30 Reserve Game vs. KUA at Dresden
4:30 Reserve Game vs. KUA at Dresden
6:30 – 8:00 Varsity Practice – HHS turf field
Friday, Sept. 26
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus
Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular
practice for Freshmen, Reserves, Varsity and JV at Dresden Fields
Saturday, Sept. 27
3:00 – 4:30 Varsity Practice at HHS turf field
Looking ahead:
Mon. Sept. 29 Reserve Home Game vs. Cardigan Mountain
Tue. Sept. 30 Varsity
and JV Game at Central – 4:00
Friday, September 19, 2014
Freshmen Beat Memorial 3-0 For Their First Win
The Freshmen had been in close matches with all of their first four opponents, and had two draws and two losses to show for it. Friday afternoon, on the sun-splashed turf of Merriman-Branch Field, they played their best soccer of the year and walked away with a soul-satisfying 3-0 win.
After a scoreless first half, the Marauders got goals from Caleb Putnam, Lincoln Adam and Ben Parrado to earn the victory. Hanover played solid defense in front of goalies Sawyer Hanlon and Graham Penfield. Every player on the roster contributed to the effort.
Both teams had stretches of territorial dominance in the first half, but the game was largely a stalemate. The Marauders had the ball on the Memorial goal line at one point, but neither team had any telling shots on goal. Hanover center backs David Wilson and Ben Parrado spearheaded a strong back line, aided and abetted by wing defenders Daniel Pinigin, Max Wonsavage, Azor Goodwin and Kezar Berger. Sam Pych won a lot of balls at midfield, and Hanover also got good two-way play from Will Cambpell, Lincoln Adam and Brook Leigh.
Hanover took a definite edge in play at the start of the second half. Graham Penfield, who had been creative as a midfielder, took over in goal. Hanlon moved to the back line, and Parrado slid into a center midfield slot and was very effective at helping control the play. The Marauders also took advantage of using every player, receiving good work at midfield from Ian Surat-Mosher, Ben Ralston-Daniel, Jasper Meyer and Alex Benton.
Twenty minutes into the half, Hanover took a 1-0 lead on Caleb Putnam's third goal of the season. Sam Pych set the play up, playing a nice pass from midfield into space for Caleb, who beat a defender and hit a sweet shot to the lower corner of the goal. The Marauders kept pressing, and ten minutes later they doubled the lead when Putnam, who had been sent into space by Will Campbell, hit a hard shot across the fact of the goal that was saved by the Memorial goalie, who could not hold onto the ball. Lincoln Adam, racing in from the left flank, crushed the rebound into the net for a 2-0 lead.
The Marauders continued to play tough defense. Both Daniel Pinigin and Kezar Berger exemplified
Hanover's strong play, never diving in defensively, and manifesting impressive throw-ins. Vincent Versteeg and Jasper Meyer both worked extremely hard at midfield, and won a lot of balls with their second effort. Five minutes from the end, Ben Parrado authored Hanover's third goal, slotting home the renbound from a Marauder corner kick.
Hanover gets right back into action on Saturday, entertaining Dover at Merriman-Branch Field at 2:30.
After a scoreless first half, the Marauders got goals from Caleb Putnam, Lincoln Adam and Ben Parrado to earn the victory. Hanover played solid defense in front of goalies Sawyer Hanlon and Graham Penfield. Every player on the roster contributed to the effort.
Both teams had stretches of territorial dominance in the first half, but the game was largely a stalemate. The Marauders had the ball on the Memorial goal line at one point, but neither team had any telling shots on goal. Hanover center backs David Wilson and Ben Parrado spearheaded a strong back line, aided and abetted by wing defenders Daniel Pinigin, Max Wonsavage, Azor Goodwin and Kezar Berger. Sam Pych won a lot of balls at midfield, and Hanover also got good two-way play from Will Cambpell, Lincoln Adam and Brook Leigh.
Hanover took a definite edge in play at the start of the second half. Graham Penfield, who had been creative as a midfielder, took over in goal. Hanlon moved to the back line, and Parrado slid into a center midfield slot and was very effective at helping control the play. The Marauders also took advantage of using every player, receiving good work at midfield from Ian Surat-Mosher, Ben Ralston-Daniel, Jasper Meyer and Alex Benton.
Twenty minutes into the half, Hanover took a 1-0 lead on Caleb Putnam's third goal of the season. Sam Pych set the play up, playing a nice pass from midfield into space for Caleb, who beat a defender and hit a sweet shot to the lower corner of the goal. The Marauders kept pressing, and ten minutes later they doubled the lead when Putnam, who had been sent into space by Will Campbell, hit a hard shot across the fact of the goal that was saved by the Memorial goalie, who could not hold onto the ball. Lincoln Adam, racing in from the left flank, crushed the rebound into the net for a 2-0 lead.
The Marauders continued to play tough defense. Both Daniel Pinigin and Kezar Berger exemplified
Hanover's strong play, never diving in defensively, and manifesting impressive throw-ins. Vincent Versteeg and Jasper Meyer both worked extremely hard at midfield, and won a lot of balls with their second effort. Five minutes from the end, Ben Parrado authored Hanover's third goal, slotting home the renbound from a Marauder corner kick.
Hanover gets right back into action on Saturday, entertaining Dover at Merriman-Branch Field at 2:30.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Freshman Play at Home on Friday; Varsity Update
Our hearts are so heavy tonight as we struggle to cope with the news we received today about Ian Gemery's death. We are holding his family, friends and the Hanover High School and Norwich communities in our thoughts. Several of the soccer teams have discussed a desire to honor Ian's memory, and we will work with the athletic administration to make this happen in an appropriate way. We'll address in this blog post matters about tomorrow's Freshman game and other matters which seem trivial and mundane. We are in agreement that every student can make individual choices about team participation tomorrow, but that we will go forward with our planned schedule. The routine of school and sports is part of the process of community, and a source of support.
The Freshmen will host Manchester Memorial on the HHS turf field at 4:30. We'd love to use the scoreboard both tomorrow and Saturday, but we need some parent volunteers to operate the clock.
Please contact Coach Grabill if you are available to do this. Training is provided.
The Varsity will practice on the turf immediately after the Freshman game. Varsity players should be completely ready to go at 6:15, and may warm up on the football practice field. Please be ready on time. Varsity players are reminded to bring their black jerseys (and checks) to the Atrium tomorrow before school.
Please be in touch if you need to talk. I am available throughout the day tomorrow, and will be at school most of the day.
The Freshmen will host Manchester Memorial on the HHS turf field at 4:30. We'd love to use the scoreboard both tomorrow and Saturday, but we need some parent volunteers to operate the clock.
Please contact Coach Grabill if you are available to do this. Training is provided.
The Varsity will practice on the turf immediately after the Freshman game. Varsity players should be completely ready to go at 6:15, and may warm up on the football practice field. Please be ready on time. Varsity players are reminded to bring their black jerseys (and checks) to the Atrium tomorrow before school.
Please be in touch if you need to talk. I am available throughout the day tomorrow, and will be at school most of the day.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Freshmen Beat Cardigan, 1-1, Highlighting a Great Day at the Pasture
If you spend enough years farming soccer players, occasionally you'll have a once-in-a-year great day. You can't plan for them, goodness knows, or they wouldn't be special. Sometimes the very best soccer occasions come out of nowhere. It takes a special combination of circumstances, including the setting, the weather, the opponent, the spectators (a cast of hundreds, in this case), and a team that is willing to take a big risk, led by a coach who pushes all of the right buttons. Today was one of those days.
The Pasture was humming, and that was part of the fun. All four teams were out there with various agendas. The Junior Varsity and Reserves were there for practice, and the Freshmen were there for a game with Cardigan Mountain School that had just been added to the schedule. With those three teams sharing the two fields, the Varsity was scheduled to start practice just when the first two were finishing up.
Subvarsity Coaches Edson, Callanan and Johnson had choreographed the field use meticulously: Freshmen warming up in one end of the game field, and Reserves on the other end, prior to Cardigan's arrival. The Junior Varsity had the other field all to themselves, and made the best use of it with a short scrimmage. Then the Freshmen cleared out, giving the Reserves a chance to go full field for 15 minutes, as the Cardigan busses rolled in. Then, in perfect synchronicity, the Hanover Frosh and Cardigan took to the field for final pregame warmups, and the JV and Reserves hooked up in a spirited scrimmage. Every inch of the two fields was being used to their highest and best use. And lo, here came the varsity, limping in after a hard-fought game yesterday, and slowly basking in the late summer sun on the sidelines.
That sets the scene. Now for the backstory on our Cardigan rivalry. Even at our best, we are hard pressed to compete with them. They draw talented students from all over, and usually have several highly skilled internationals. They had a huge pool (over 100, more than Hanover) trying out for their Varsity, including many 9th graders. Big 9th graders, like our friends Tucker Williams and Jono Schaefer. We've managed a couple of ties over the years, and that's it. The programs are familiar friends. Coaches Edson and Wennik know and respect each other, and have worked closely together.
Many of the players know each other It's a good rivalry, based on mutual respect.
Hanover came into the match with a number of players compromised or unavailable. Stellar midfielder Henry Kahl was recovering from a concussion. Azor Goodwin was ill.
Harris LaRock, a rising star in goal, was recovering from a recent hand injury. Sam Pych and Will Campbell were dinged up. But the latter two were willing to give it a go. Coach Edson was offered the possibility of borrowing Seth Stadheim from the Varsity, but he showed great confidence in his team and made a good choice: "Nope. These are my guys. We're a team. We'll go as is."
Sawyer Hanlon and Lincoln Adam were tapped to play one half each on goal. This should be interesting, we thought. The game kicked off, and a swarm of slick-passing green-clad Cardigan players flooded the Hanover end. But it was apparent right away that Hanover was organized enough to play resolute defense, and link passes when they won the ball. They might even have a chance to counterattack and get the ball to striker Caleb Putnam. Hanover bent but didn't break for the longest time, until finally one of their talented midfielders hit a great shot form outside the box into the upper corner. Uh-oh. Here comes the flood, we thought.
It never happened. Led by the superb play of center backs Benjamin Parrado and David Wilson, the Hanover defense kept their shape, didn't dive in, blocked shots, and kept Cardigan at bay. Sawyer Hanlon handled shots, crosses and through balls like a seasoned pro. The Marauder midfield, led by Sam Pych, managed to maintain possession long enough to keep the pressure from being relentless. At halftime, the score remained 1-0.
Both teams plunged into the second half, and the script stayed the same. Cardigan attacked with patience and skill, and Hanover held them off, now with Lincoln Adam in goal, darting from post to post and demonstrating great game sense and presence of mind. Coach Edson used every player at his disposal, trusting them all to work hard and play smart. As the clock wound down, it appeared as though the Marauders were headed toward a hard-won moral victory. But they wanted more. With a few minutes to play, Sam Pych won the ball at midfield and found Caleb Putnam with a lead pass. Putnam carried the ball into the Cardigan third, eluded a defender, and drove a high, hard shot under the bar and over the outstretched arms of Cougar goalkeeper Ned Kelly. Cardigan had a few more swipes in the Hanover offensive end, but the Marauders stayed resolute, and time ran out, It was a triumphant, transcendent tie.
This is the sort of game that can make or break a team. The Marauders faced the possibility of a blowout loss, and had plenty of excuses available. But they clearly showed the results of weeks of patient coaching, and were willing to submit themselves, and dare to play their best against strong opposition. The game didn't build their collective character as much as it revealed it. This is a group willing to stand together and sacrifice for each other. Not a bad mid-season report card!
The JV and Reserves had departed after the Varsity practice began, but all of the coaches remained, and took great interest in the game. So did the varsity players, who had to be chided again and again to focus on their practice. Once or twice, a drill was halted so the whole group could watch a particular set play. Here was a demonstration of one of the best things about the Hanover program. The varsity players know the freshmen, and root for them, and they celebrated with them at the end.
That doesn't happen everywhere. JV Coach Callanan couldn't take his eyes off the game, knowing that many of these boys might be playing for him next year. The thought pleased him.
Cardigan and Hanover exchanged handshakes and trudged off the field as the still-warm sun cast its slanting rays on the scene as it continued to set over the hills to the West. The Varsity finished their hard workout with a spirited half-field scrimmage between the players from New Hampshire and those from Vermont. Then they huddled up and left, as did a few stragglers from the Freshman game, exchanging pleasantries. The Pasture, which had teemed with over 100 players a few hours earlier, was completely quiet. The last two Varsity players picked up a few loose balls, collected some litter and lost and found, and headed home. There was no one left to see the dying sun vividly illuminating the brilliant green grass, still lush after a season's growth, and then leave the Pasture in shadow, suddenly chilled. Still warmed by the memory of a very full afternoon, your scribe hobbled home.
The Pasture was humming, and that was part of the fun. All four teams were out there with various agendas. The Junior Varsity and Reserves were there for practice, and the Freshmen were there for a game with Cardigan Mountain School that had just been added to the schedule. With those three teams sharing the two fields, the Varsity was scheduled to start practice just when the first two were finishing up.
Subvarsity Coaches Edson, Callanan and Johnson had choreographed the field use meticulously: Freshmen warming up in one end of the game field, and Reserves on the other end, prior to Cardigan's arrival. The Junior Varsity had the other field all to themselves, and made the best use of it with a short scrimmage. Then the Freshmen cleared out, giving the Reserves a chance to go full field for 15 minutes, as the Cardigan busses rolled in. Then, in perfect synchronicity, the Hanover Frosh and Cardigan took to the field for final pregame warmups, and the JV and Reserves hooked up in a spirited scrimmage. Every inch of the two fields was being used to their highest and best use. And lo, here came the varsity, limping in after a hard-fought game yesterday, and slowly basking in the late summer sun on the sidelines.
That sets the scene. Now for the backstory on our Cardigan rivalry. Even at our best, we are hard pressed to compete with them. They draw talented students from all over, and usually have several highly skilled internationals. They had a huge pool (over 100, more than Hanover) trying out for their Varsity, including many 9th graders. Big 9th graders, like our friends Tucker Williams and Jono Schaefer. We've managed a couple of ties over the years, and that's it. The programs are familiar friends. Coaches Edson and Wennik know and respect each other, and have worked closely together.
Many of the players know each other It's a good rivalry, based on mutual respect.
Hanover came into the match with a number of players compromised or unavailable. Stellar midfielder Henry Kahl was recovering from a concussion. Azor Goodwin was ill.
Harris LaRock, a rising star in goal, was recovering from a recent hand injury. Sam Pych and Will Campbell were dinged up. But the latter two were willing to give it a go. Coach Edson was offered the possibility of borrowing Seth Stadheim from the Varsity, but he showed great confidence in his team and made a good choice: "Nope. These are my guys. We're a team. We'll go as is."
Sawyer Hanlon and Lincoln Adam were tapped to play one half each on goal. This should be interesting, we thought. The game kicked off, and a swarm of slick-passing green-clad Cardigan players flooded the Hanover end. But it was apparent right away that Hanover was organized enough to play resolute defense, and link passes when they won the ball. They might even have a chance to counterattack and get the ball to striker Caleb Putnam. Hanover bent but didn't break for the longest time, until finally one of their talented midfielders hit a great shot form outside the box into the upper corner. Uh-oh. Here comes the flood, we thought.
It never happened. Led by the superb play of center backs Benjamin Parrado and David Wilson, the Hanover defense kept their shape, didn't dive in, blocked shots, and kept Cardigan at bay. Sawyer Hanlon handled shots, crosses and through balls like a seasoned pro. The Marauder midfield, led by Sam Pych, managed to maintain possession long enough to keep the pressure from being relentless. At halftime, the score remained 1-0.
Both teams plunged into the second half, and the script stayed the same. Cardigan attacked with patience and skill, and Hanover held them off, now with Lincoln Adam in goal, darting from post to post and demonstrating great game sense and presence of mind. Coach Edson used every player at his disposal, trusting them all to work hard and play smart. As the clock wound down, it appeared as though the Marauders were headed toward a hard-won moral victory. But they wanted more. With a few minutes to play, Sam Pych won the ball at midfield and found Caleb Putnam with a lead pass. Putnam carried the ball into the Cardigan third, eluded a defender, and drove a high, hard shot under the bar and over the outstretched arms of Cougar goalkeeper Ned Kelly. Cardigan had a few more swipes in the Hanover offensive end, but the Marauders stayed resolute, and time ran out, It was a triumphant, transcendent tie.
This is the sort of game that can make or break a team. The Marauders faced the possibility of a blowout loss, and had plenty of excuses available. But they clearly showed the results of weeks of patient coaching, and were willing to submit themselves, and dare to play their best against strong opposition. The game didn't build their collective character as much as it revealed it. This is a group willing to stand together and sacrifice for each other. Not a bad mid-season report card!
The JV and Reserves had departed after the Varsity practice began, but all of the coaches remained, and took great interest in the game. So did the varsity players, who had to be chided again and again to focus on their practice. Once or twice, a drill was halted so the whole group could watch a particular set play. Here was a demonstration of one of the best things about the Hanover program. The varsity players know the freshmen, and root for them, and they celebrated with them at the end.
That doesn't happen everywhere. JV Coach Callanan couldn't take his eyes off the game, knowing that many of these boys might be playing for him next year. The thought pleased him.
Cardigan and Hanover exchanged handshakes and trudged off the field as the still-warm sun cast its slanting rays on the scene as it continued to set over the hills to the West. The Varsity finished their hard workout with a spirited half-field scrimmage between the players from New Hampshire and those from Vermont. Then they huddled up and left, as did a few stragglers from the Freshman game, exchanging pleasantries. The Pasture, which had teemed with over 100 players a few hours earlier, was completely quiet. The last two Varsity players picked up a few loose balls, collected some litter and lost and found, and headed home. There was no one left to see the dying sun vividly illuminating the brilliant green grass, still lush after a season's growth, and then leave the Pasture in shadow, suddenly chilled. Still warmed by the memory of a very full afternoon, your scribe hobbled home.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
JV Rolls On With a 4-2 Win at Salem
On a cloudy day in southern
New Hampshire, the JV boys ran away from the Salem Blue Devils in the second
half to post a convincing 4 – 2 win. The
first team of juniors kept things scoreless, while not getting any serious
offensive runs or shots themselves. The
sophomores entered at the 20 minute mark and allowed a goal when a free kick
from 30 feet bounced around the goal until Salem finally nicked one off the
third rebound to give them a 1 – 0 lead.
The team kept playing with a
lack of assertiveness, but the boys in maroon started to control the flow. However, our many corner kicks led to much
ado about nothing, and the Blue Devil lead was intact until the last minute of
the half. With the clock winding down, a
weak defensive attempt to clear slid right to Jensen Dodge, who met the loose
ball and sent a rocket below and away from the goalie to tie the game at 1 – 1.
The half time talk from the normally
easy going Coach Callanan was not so easy going, and the boys took notice. The second half was markedly different than
the first, with Hanover playing with more intensity as they got after balls and
sent things in forward motion right away, compared to being on our heels much
of the first half.
Before long, a free kick from
Sander Macaulay curled in from the right where it was met by an beautifully
timed, sliding shot from Dan Healy that found the net with authority, and gave
us a 2 – 1 lead. The lead was short
lived though, as Salem’s speedy strider Nikal Pekesh solidly headed in a corner
to retie the game at 2.
But our boys were
playing
hard now, and you could feel that the game would end up being ours. And
it was.
We were moving well, and attacking offensively. Jack Hazard took a hard
foul inches out of
the box, but the free kick was rejected
by the Salem wall. A few offensive runs
were negated by pushes and knockdowns the drew no whistles. The
intensity had been turned up. It felt like a goal was bound to happen.
Luke Messersmith just went wide with a left
foot ripper, then a great save off another Messersmith shot on the left
post
kept things tied.
Then, a break. Macaulay’s long cross went to Sam Ives, who
sent off a bounding ball that was misjudged, and the goalie went down just as
the ball flopped over his head for a surprising, tie breaking goal. 3 – 2 Hanover. A free kick from Macaulay came
in low and hard to seal the deal with only 5 minutes to play. Final score 4 – 2 Hanover.
Next game is in a week at
home, with Bedford at 4:00. See you
there.
Men in Black, Starring Will Smith: Marauders Beat Salem 4-0
Hanover had the perfect formula for bouncing back from their Saturday loss to Nashua South, their first in nearly two years. They enjoyed one of their most productive practice sessions on Monday, and then donned their long-awaited black road uniforms for their match with Salem. The Other Will Smith led the men in black to a satisfying 4-1 victory over the Blue Devils, keeping the Hanover in second place in the NHIAA Division One standings.
The Marauders were so excited about their new strip that they chose to warm up in their black-long-sleeved jerseys, designed for playing soccer in late October and November. The only problem was that the day's rain had departed, and a warm sun bathed Grant Field at Salem, threatening to make Hanover's garb seasonally appropriate. "Don't worry," crooned Coach Grabill to Henry Allison. "I'll conjure up a few clouds." Allison, a seasoned outdoorsman, looked skeptical, but before he could react further a bank of clouds boiled up on the western horizon, keeping things nice and cool. The stage was set.
Hanover started briskly, with Ian Caldwell hammering a long shot over the bar in the early going, and Jonah Levine authoring a similarly threatening scoring bid. The Marauders had a decent territorial edge, although Salem showed the potential to counterattack, especially with some shabby tackling by the Marauder back four. At the midway point of the half, Assistant Coach Ben Snyder sidled up to Grabill and suggested inserting Josh Wallace, Jake Acker and Will Smith to give the offense a little jolt. "Are you nuts?", hissed Grabill. "Wallace is due, but the other two are strictly garbage time players." Snyder persisted in his advocacy for the trio, and Grabill relented. Thirty seconds after the switch, Wallace carried the ball down the right touchline and hit a timely right-footed centering pass. A Salem clearing pass went awry, and Acker pounced on the ball and made a skillful run through the defense to the baseline before hitting a sharp right-footed cross that was met by a streaking Smith with a rocket header into the back of the net. Tick, tack, toe. Grabill sidled over the Snyder and clutched his arm. "Remember, Ben, those subs were my idea, capiche?" Snyder was more interested in watching Smith untangle himself from the net, where he had almost decapitated himself with the force of his run.
Hanover's one-goal looked tenuous when Salem's All-State forward Todd Righini hit a rocket of a shot off the upright when the Marauder midfield defense allowed him too much room. With five minutes to play in the half the lead disappeared when Righini converted a well-executed free-kick opportunity in the penalty area, whipping a hard shot past the Hanover wall into the corner of the net.
Facing a disappointing halftime tie, the Marauders reacted immediately after their kickoff. Jonah Levine ran onto a loose ball just over midfield, and played a one-time pass to Ian Caldwell. Caldwell spun and played a pass to Tim Alibozek on the right wing, and TimmyTime hit an immediate return pass into space for Caldwell. Bucket rumbled into the Salem penalty area, deftly eluded a lunging defender and closing towards the goal. Not far from the right post, he hit a bad angle shot into the upper right corner. Caldwell's spectacular score came exactly 25 seconds after the kickoff. It was a masterful response, and gave the Marauders a huge boost going into the half.
Well aware of the danger of counterattacks after the interval, Hanover nevertheless pressed the attack.
With 20 minutes left in the match, the Marauders went to the bench again and got instant results. After a good buildup orchestrated by Levine, Acker jumped on a loose ball in the Salem penalty area and drove a hard shot on net. Blue Devil goalkeeper Drew Hailey made the save, but Josh Wallace, streaking in from the left wing, was in a perfect position to pound the ball into the net for a 3-1 lead.
Barely a minute later, the Marauders put the game out of reach. Some excellent midfield passing sprung Wallace loose on the left wing, and Josh's early and well-placed crossing pass connected with a streaking Seth Stadheim, who gave Hanover a 4-1 advantage with his first varsity goal. Game, set and match.
Actually , Stadheim wasn't the only Marauder to open his account. Each of the Hanover goal scorers had tallied a first career score, representing the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes. That's who the Marauders are this year. They are growing with each game, and new heroes are answering the call with every outing.
The final ten minutes of the game were handled with aplomb by even more fresh faces. Salem had another gilt-edged scoring chance when Righini had the opportunity to tee up a free kick just outside of the Marauder penalty area. Relief goalkeeper Patrick Logan expertly constructed a defensive wall, and the phalanx of players stood firm as Righini's drive screamed into their midst. Reilly Decker took one for the team, and emerged unscathed.
"This was an important win," commented Grabill, "especially because of the quality of the goals we created, and because of our response to several challenges during the course of the match. We're a better team than we were a week ago, and we have a lot more ground to cover." The Marauders now have a week to prepare for a big showdown at home against perennial power Bedford. "We hope we can make the most of that week," said Grabill. "We're moving in the right direction."
The Marauders were so excited about their new strip that they chose to warm up in their black-long-sleeved jerseys, designed for playing soccer in late October and November. The only problem was that the day's rain had departed, and a warm sun bathed Grant Field at Salem, threatening to make Hanover's garb seasonally appropriate. "Don't worry," crooned Coach Grabill to Henry Allison. "I'll conjure up a few clouds." Allison, a seasoned outdoorsman, looked skeptical, but before he could react further a bank of clouds boiled up on the western horizon, keeping things nice and cool. The stage was set.
Hanover started briskly, with Ian Caldwell hammering a long shot over the bar in the early going, and Jonah Levine authoring a similarly threatening scoring bid. The Marauders had a decent territorial edge, although Salem showed the potential to counterattack, especially with some shabby tackling by the Marauder back four. At the midway point of the half, Assistant Coach Ben Snyder sidled up to Grabill and suggested inserting Josh Wallace, Jake Acker and Will Smith to give the offense a little jolt. "Are you nuts?", hissed Grabill. "Wallace is due, but the other two are strictly garbage time players." Snyder persisted in his advocacy for the trio, and Grabill relented. Thirty seconds after the switch, Wallace carried the ball down the right touchline and hit a timely right-footed centering pass. A Salem clearing pass went awry, and Acker pounced on the ball and made a skillful run through the defense to the baseline before hitting a sharp right-footed cross that was met by a streaking Smith with a rocket header into the back of the net. Tick, tack, toe. Grabill sidled over the Snyder and clutched his arm. "Remember, Ben, those subs were my idea, capiche?" Snyder was more interested in watching Smith untangle himself from the net, where he had almost decapitated himself with the force of his run.
Hanover's one-goal looked tenuous when Salem's All-State forward Todd Righini hit a rocket of a shot off the upright when the Marauder midfield defense allowed him too much room. With five minutes to play in the half the lead disappeared when Righini converted a well-executed free-kick opportunity in the penalty area, whipping a hard shot past the Hanover wall into the corner of the net.
Facing a disappointing halftime tie, the Marauders reacted immediately after their kickoff. Jonah Levine ran onto a loose ball just over midfield, and played a one-time pass to Ian Caldwell. Caldwell spun and played a pass to Tim Alibozek on the right wing, and TimmyTime hit an immediate return pass into space for Caldwell. Bucket rumbled into the Salem penalty area, deftly eluded a lunging defender and closing towards the goal. Not far from the right post, he hit a bad angle shot into the upper right corner. Caldwell's spectacular score came exactly 25 seconds after the kickoff. It was a masterful response, and gave the Marauders a huge boost going into the half.
Well aware of the danger of counterattacks after the interval, Hanover nevertheless pressed the attack.
With 20 minutes left in the match, the Marauders went to the bench again and got instant results. After a good buildup orchestrated by Levine, Acker jumped on a loose ball in the Salem penalty area and drove a hard shot on net. Blue Devil goalkeeper Drew Hailey made the save, but Josh Wallace, streaking in from the left wing, was in a perfect position to pound the ball into the net for a 3-1 lead.
Barely a minute later, the Marauders put the game out of reach. Some excellent midfield passing sprung Wallace loose on the left wing, and Josh's early and well-placed crossing pass connected with a streaking Seth Stadheim, who gave Hanover a 4-1 advantage with his first varsity goal. Game, set and match.
Actually , Stadheim wasn't the only Marauder to open his account. Each of the Hanover goal scorers had tallied a first career score, representing the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes. That's who the Marauders are this year. They are growing with each game, and new heroes are answering the call with every outing.
The final ten minutes of the game were handled with aplomb by even more fresh faces. Salem had another gilt-edged scoring chance when Righini had the opportunity to tee up a free kick just outside of the Marauder penalty area. Relief goalkeeper Patrick Logan expertly constructed a defensive wall, and the phalanx of players stood firm as Righini's drive screamed into their midst. Reilly Decker took one for the team, and emerged unscathed.
"This was an important win," commented Grabill, "especially because of the quality of the goals we created, and because of our response to several challenges during the course of the match. We're a better team than we were a week ago, and we have a lot more ground to cover." The Marauders now have a week to prepare for a big showdown at home against perennial power Bedford. "We hope we can make the most of that week," said Grabill. "We're moving in the right direction."
Monday, September 15, 2014
Tough Day at The Office - Varsity Loses 3-1 to Nashua South
Saturday's cold fall rain at Nashua South presaged Hanover's 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Purple Panthers. During a scoreless first half, the gloomy clouds gathered. Then the rains came, and after coughing up two goals in the first eight minutes of the second half, the Marauders were forced the chase the game, and they never caught up, surrendering a third goal before pulling back a token sore by Avery Kravitz in the dying minutes of the game.
The loss dropped Hanover out of first place in the NHIAA Division One standings, and broke an unbeaten streak that stretched back to November, 2012. Ah, but it could have been much worse. The Marauders kept their cool in the face of systematic unsporting play by their opponents, who earned two yellow cards, and should have been shown several more. Nashua South got the win they wanted, but their inability to honor the game in the process will cost them far more in the long run. Hanover stayed composed and classy to the bitter end, and if they are able to learn the lessons offered, perhaps the soccer gods will reward them in the postseason.
The game started pretty well for Hanover, which outshot Nashua South by a 10-1 margin, and had several gilt-edged chances to score in the first 40 minutes. They would long to have any one of them back before the day was over. After a perfunctory 10 opening minutes, Jonah Levine cranked a shot form distance that was at the very least a fair warning. Minutes later, Jamie Dinulos walked the tightrope on the left endline and hit a great shot from point blank range that goalkeeper Christpher Jiminez, a busy man all day, managed to save. Asa Berolzheimer tried to bundle in the rebound, but it was not to be. Midway through the half, Avery Kravitz, on for Tim Alibozek on the right wing, and was spring for a clean breakaway, and got a good, hard shot on goal that forced Jiminez to make a spectacular diving save. Seth Stadheim was sniffing for the rebound, but it didn't fall his way.
Nashua South had several free kick opportunities given to them, but were unable to sustain any sort of coherent attack, although by now it was clear that this team was a long way from its doormat status in recent years. They were big, confident and cocky, and coming off of a 4-0 win in their last game.
Still, Hanover was getting the lion's share of possession and territory.
Jonah Levine was the next Marauder to come close to scoring, stealing a flaccid flat pass and breaking in on Jiminez. His hard, low shot was saved, and the ensuing corner was ineffective. Jonah then almost converted a cross from Andrew Kazal, and then Ian Caldwell stole a ball and ran through the box, missing his short side shot into the side netting with Dinulos begging at the far post. The half ended scoreless, but Hanover came off the pitch confident, knowing that the next goal would surely be theirs.
Unfortunately, the roof fell in, and quickly at that, as the opportunistic Panthers made their own chances and finished with ruthless efficiency in the opening minutes of the half. Less than two minutes in, Ryan Guidaboni, who was a torn in Hanover's side all day, tracked down Luke Strohbehn when he was slow to clear the ball, stripped him, and fed it to a streaking Mauricio Acevedo, who raced into the box and deposited a hard shot to the corner that gave Konrad Mitchell no chance.
Six minutes later, South doubled their lead, counterattacking after a Hanover free kick went right into the hands of Jiminez, who quickly set up Kevin Batista Dos Santos on the right flank. Dos Santos lofted a cross to the left that settled over the top of defenders Max Greenwald and Adam Pikelny, and was collected on the run by Srishall Thopa, who cut back to his right, beat both backs, and hit the corner with a professional finish.
Hanover stayed composed, even as Nashua South's time-wasting tactics began early. It was like seeing the Christmas stuff in CVS before Halloween. With 20 minutes to play, Hanover began playing their best soccer of the day, and a comeback seemed still believable. Jonah Levine saw his low shot roll just past the left post after a good sequence, and then Ian Caldwell's shot after a corner kick was blocked. After a good Konrad Mitchell save on a counterattack, Caldwell's brilliant cross set up Alibozek for a hard left footed shot on not. Even with only 12 minutes left, all Hanover needed was their first break.
Then, disaster. Hanover gave away an unnecessary foul in the right corner, and the ensuing free kick found Daniel Dukeshire in the box, and his header gave Nashua South seemingly insurmountable 3-0 lead. Still Hanover kept playing well, and working to get a goal. Several Marauder free kicks and corners were disappointingly ineffective. Caldwell made a great run into the box and was fouled 1/16th on an inch outside the penalty area, but the resulting free kick was airmailed by Asa Berolzheimer. Avery Kravitz topped that with a drive from the top of the box that landed one exit up the busy highway. Then Kravitz finally connected to pull a goal back, sinishing a nice sequence from Dinulos to Stadheim to Levine and to Avery for his first varsity goal.
Hanover was well into injury time, appropriately awarded to compensate for Nashua South's unsporting time wasting. Jamie Dinulos hit a great shot that was saved for a corner, and then Alibozek was wide past the post with his best shot of the day after a patient buildup. Acker skied a right footer over the bar, bravely taken, and the three tweets sounded to end the match.
The value of the lessons learned on this disappointing day will be manifest next time out on Tuesday's road trip to Salem, so it won't take long to see if Saturday's result was a portent or an aberration.
Hanover made all the right moves after the final whistle, allowing Nashua South to savor their win without a single bitter word, never pointing fingers or finding fault or suggesting a new formation or a better brand of GU. There were mistakes aplenty on the day but mistakes are correctable. No September loss has ever been fatal in futbol, and the bus to Salem loads in less than 24 hours. Bring it on.
The loss dropped Hanover out of first place in the NHIAA Division One standings, and broke an unbeaten streak that stretched back to November, 2012. Ah, but it could have been much worse. The Marauders kept their cool in the face of systematic unsporting play by their opponents, who earned two yellow cards, and should have been shown several more. Nashua South got the win they wanted, but their inability to honor the game in the process will cost them far more in the long run. Hanover stayed composed and classy to the bitter end, and if they are able to learn the lessons offered, perhaps the soccer gods will reward them in the postseason.
The game started pretty well for Hanover, which outshot Nashua South by a 10-1 margin, and had several gilt-edged chances to score in the first 40 minutes. They would long to have any one of them back before the day was over. After a perfunctory 10 opening minutes, Jonah Levine cranked a shot form distance that was at the very least a fair warning. Minutes later, Jamie Dinulos walked the tightrope on the left endline and hit a great shot from point blank range that goalkeeper Christpher Jiminez, a busy man all day, managed to save. Asa Berolzheimer tried to bundle in the rebound, but it was not to be. Midway through the half, Avery Kravitz, on for Tim Alibozek on the right wing, and was spring for a clean breakaway, and got a good, hard shot on goal that forced Jiminez to make a spectacular diving save. Seth Stadheim was sniffing for the rebound, but it didn't fall his way.
Nashua South had several free kick opportunities given to them, but were unable to sustain any sort of coherent attack, although by now it was clear that this team was a long way from its doormat status in recent years. They were big, confident and cocky, and coming off of a 4-0 win in their last game.
Still, Hanover was getting the lion's share of possession and territory.
Jonah Levine was the next Marauder to come close to scoring, stealing a flaccid flat pass and breaking in on Jiminez. His hard, low shot was saved, and the ensuing corner was ineffective. Jonah then almost converted a cross from Andrew Kazal, and then Ian Caldwell stole a ball and ran through the box, missing his short side shot into the side netting with Dinulos begging at the far post. The half ended scoreless, but Hanover came off the pitch confident, knowing that the next goal would surely be theirs.
Unfortunately, the roof fell in, and quickly at that, as the opportunistic Panthers made their own chances and finished with ruthless efficiency in the opening minutes of the half. Less than two minutes in, Ryan Guidaboni, who was a torn in Hanover's side all day, tracked down Luke Strohbehn when he was slow to clear the ball, stripped him, and fed it to a streaking Mauricio Acevedo, who raced into the box and deposited a hard shot to the corner that gave Konrad Mitchell no chance.
Six minutes later, South doubled their lead, counterattacking after a Hanover free kick went right into the hands of Jiminez, who quickly set up Kevin Batista Dos Santos on the right flank. Dos Santos lofted a cross to the left that settled over the top of defenders Max Greenwald and Adam Pikelny, and was collected on the run by Srishall Thopa, who cut back to his right, beat both backs, and hit the corner with a professional finish.
Hanover stayed composed, even as Nashua South's time-wasting tactics began early. It was like seeing the Christmas stuff in CVS before Halloween. With 20 minutes to play, Hanover began playing their best soccer of the day, and a comeback seemed still believable. Jonah Levine saw his low shot roll just past the left post after a good sequence, and then Ian Caldwell's shot after a corner kick was blocked. After a good Konrad Mitchell save on a counterattack, Caldwell's brilliant cross set up Alibozek for a hard left footed shot on not. Even with only 12 minutes left, all Hanover needed was their first break.
Then, disaster. Hanover gave away an unnecessary foul in the right corner, and the ensuing free kick found Daniel Dukeshire in the box, and his header gave Nashua South seemingly insurmountable 3-0 lead. Still Hanover kept playing well, and working to get a goal. Several Marauder free kicks and corners were disappointingly ineffective. Caldwell made a great run into the box and was fouled 1/16th on an inch outside the penalty area, but the resulting free kick was airmailed by Asa Berolzheimer. Avery Kravitz topped that with a drive from the top of the box that landed one exit up the busy highway. Then Kravitz finally connected to pull a goal back, sinishing a nice sequence from Dinulos to Stadheim to Levine and to Avery for his first varsity goal.
Hanover was well into injury time, appropriately awarded to compensate for Nashua South's unsporting time wasting. Jamie Dinulos hit a great shot that was saved for a corner, and then Alibozek was wide past the post with his best shot of the day after a patient buildup. Acker skied a right footer over the bar, bravely taken, and the three tweets sounded to end the match.
The value of the lessons learned on this disappointing day will be manifest next time out on Tuesday's road trip to Salem, so it won't take long to see if Saturday's result was a portent or an aberration.
Hanover made all the right moves after the final whistle, allowing Nashua South to savor their win without a single bitter word, never pointing fingers or finding fault or suggesting a new formation or a better brand of GU. There were mistakes aplenty on the day but mistakes are correctable. No September loss has ever been fatal in futbol, and the bus to Salem loads in less than 24 hours. Bring it on.
JV Takes Over at Nashua South With a 4-0 Win
Luke Messersmith started the scoring with a solid header off
of an amazing cross from Peter Huizenga 25 minutes into the contest, followed
soon thereafter by an nice lead pass from Dan Healy to Yedne Atkins, who
dribbled through the crowded box to send one home for the second goal. It was 2 – 0 Hanover at the half.
Then, well into the second half, Messersmith registered his second goal of the
game off a Brendan Amos assist for our third goal, and five minutes later Robbie
Murdza received an assist from Atkins and nailed the fourth and final
goal from the middle of the box.
Owen Brooks and Henry Olszewski kept the slate clean, but
didn’t need to do too much work to achieve that, as Nashua South was concentrating
(unsuccessfully) on holding court on defense while compromising any offensive
flow.
Good to get a lopsided wind after 2 nail biting, one goal losses
recently, and to now be owners of a winning record through the first five games
of the still-young season.
Next up is Tuesday at Salem.
Snacks and beverages still needed, check on our needs at https://hanoverhsboysjvsoccer.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Game and Practice Schedule Sept. 15 - 20
Monday, Sept. 15
3:30 p.m. Varsity Film Study – Room 250
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practice for JV, Freshmen and Reserves at Dresden
5:00- 6:30 Varsity Practice – Dresden Field
Tuesday, Sept. 16
1:30 p.m. Varsity and JV Bus Departs for Salem
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practices for Freshmen and Reserves at Dresden
4:30 p.m. Varsity and JV Games at Salem
Wednesday, Sept. 17
2:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
3:00 – 4:30 Regular practices for JV and Reserves at Dresden
4:30 p.m. Freshman Game vs. Cardigan at Dresden Fields
4:30 – 6:00 Varsity practice at Dresden Fields
Thursday, Sept. 18
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practices for JV, Freshmen and Reserves at Dresden
6:00 – 7:30 Varsity Practice – HHS turf field
Friday, Sept. 19
3:40 p.m. Practice Bus
Departs for Dresden Fields
4:00 – 5:30 Regular practice for Reserves and JV at Dresden
4:30 p.m. Freshman Game vs. Memorial – HHS turf
6:30 – 8:00 Varsity Practice at HHS turf
Saturday, Sept. 20
2:30 p.m. Freshman Game vs. Dover at HHS Turf
Looking ahead:
Tue. Sept. 23 Varsity
and JV Game vs. Bedford – 4:00
Wed. Sept. 24 Reserve Game vs. KUA – 3:30
Friday, September 12, 2014
Reserves Beat Newport 3-2 For Their First Win
The Marauder Reserves broke open a 2-2 tie with Newport on a second half goal by Benny Gantrish to earn a satisfying 3-2 win over Newport. It was Hanover's first won of the season, tying their record at 1-1 on the young season.
Playing on the road again against a Newport varsity-age team playing a JV program (their second year), Hanover jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half on goals by Aidan Connolly and Tenzin Tashi. Conolly jumped on a shot by Benny Gantrish that bounced off the near goal post, and scooted across the goal mouth to him at the far post. Tenzin did a great job beating the goalkeeper one on one for his first goal of the season.
Newport bounced back on two goals in the final six minutes of the first half, both coming off of hard crosses into the box.
Hanover got the game winner in the 65th minute on a well-placed corner kick by Francesco Navarro that found Gantrish perfectly positioned to volley it into the net.
Coach Willie Johnson cited goalkeeper Joseph Glock for his improved play, and also Tashi and Gwynn Grazino-Mackenzie for their solid midfield work. He also praised Gabe Loud for his steady play at center back, and tabbed Gantrish as the Man of The Match for his all-round play.
Hanover is right back into action on Saturday with a match at Souhegan at 11:30. The bus leaves HHS at 8:30.
Playing on the road again against a Newport varsity-age team playing a JV program (their second year), Hanover jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half on goals by Aidan Connolly and Tenzin Tashi. Conolly jumped on a shot by Benny Gantrish that bounced off the near goal post, and scooted across the goal mouth to him at the far post. Tenzin did a great job beating the goalkeeper one on one for his first goal of the season.
Newport bounced back on two goals in the final six minutes of the first half, both coming off of hard crosses into the box.
Hanover got the game winner in the 65th minute on a well-placed corner kick by Francesco Navarro that found Gantrish perfectly positioned to volley it into the net.
Coach Willie Johnson cited goalkeeper Joseph Glock for his improved play, and also Tashi and Gwynn Grazino-Mackenzie for their solid midfield work. He also praised Gabe Loud for his steady play at center back, and tabbed Gantrish as the Man of The Match for his all-round play.
Hanover is right back into action on Saturday with a match at Souhegan at 11:30. The bus leaves HHS at 8:30.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Marauders Prep For Weekend Games
Here are a number of updates pertaining to the upcoming games this Friday and Saturday, and our preparations for them. This applies to all four teams.
On Thursday, the Varsity players who were not tested last year should report to the Training Room after school and meet with Trainer Jeni Frechette and go to the computer lab for baseline concussion testing. This will be mostly juniors, sophs and Seth. If you have had it done recently, check in with Jeni to confirm that.
The weather forecast tomorrow suggests that there will be a front moving through, with rain in the afternoon. Check the blog (and also the soccer bulletin board, for those at school with no blog access) for updates. The bulletin board is also updated daily. It appears as though the rain may be over in time to get practices in. The Varsity is scheduled to go at 5:00, and we will definitely plan on training after the rain passes. Check in for other team updates.
The Reserves dressing for Friday's game at Newport know who they are. In addition to the group that dressed for the Monday game (and because some of them will be absent), we will also dress Tenzin, Angus, Liam and Sam. This group will also dress for that Saturday game, along with Jonathan. Please contact your 7th period teachers in advance to tell them you will be leaving class Friday at 2:30 sharp. We will be contacting parents by e-mail to ask for help with snacks for the bus trips on Friday and Saturday. Ann Kynor has graciously volunteered to be the Team Parent for the Reserves. If you are willing to help with snacks and drinks, feel free to contact her at: kynorfamily@me.com.
Friday's bus will leave at 2:30 and return no later than 7:30. Just in time for football! The bus will leave at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for the 11:00 game at Souhegan.
The freshman team will host Exeter at 11:00 Saturday at the Dresden Fields in Norwich (The Pasture). They should be at the field no later than 10:15. (We are tentatively adding a Freshman home game against Cardigan next Wednesday).
The Varsity and JV will leave for the games at Nashua South at 11:30. Game time for both teams is 2:30. Players driving to the game after ACTS should have notes to the athletic office no later than Friday.
Thanks to all players and parents (and friends!) for your generous help with our "Go Orange" food drive for the Haven. We delivered 300 pounds of food and had $400 in donations, which will automatically be doubled by a challenge grant. That's a wonderful boost for their good work!
On Thursday, the Varsity players who were not tested last year should report to the Training Room after school and meet with Trainer Jeni Frechette and go to the computer lab for baseline concussion testing. This will be mostly juniors, sophs and Seth. If you have had it done recently, check in with Jeni to confirm that.
The weather forecast tomorrow suggests that there will be a front moving through, with rain in the afternoon. Check the blog (and also the soccer bulletin board, for those at school with no blog access) for updates. The bulletin board is also updated daily. It appears as though the rain may be over in time to get practices in. The Varsity is scheduled to go at 5:00, and we will definitely plan on training after the rain passes. Check in for other team updates.
The Reserves dressing for Friday's game at Newport know who they are. In addition to the group that dressed for the Monday game (and because some of them will be absent), we will also dress Tenzin, Angus, Liam and Sam. This group will also dress for that Saturday game, along with Jonathan. Please contact your 7th period teachers in advance to tell them you will be leaving class Friday at 2:30 sharp. We will be contacting parents by e-mail to ask for help with snacks for the bus trips on Friday and Saturday. Ann Kynor has graciously volunteered to be the Team Parent for the Reserves. If you are willing to help with snacks and drinks, feel free to contact her at: kynorfamily@me.com.
Friday's bus will leave at 2:30 and return no later than 7:30. Just in time for football! The bus will leave at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for the 11:00 game at Souhegan.
The freshman team will host Exeter at 11:00 Saturday at the Dresden Fields in Norwich (The Pasture). They should be at the field no later than 10:15. (We are tentatively adding a Freshman home game against Cardigan next Wednesday).
The Varsity and JV will leave for the games at Nashua South at 11:30. Game time for both teams is 2:30. Players driving to the game after ACTS should have notes to the athletic office no later than Friday.
Thanks to all players and parents (and friends!) for your generous help with our "Go Orange" food drive for the Haven. We delivered 300 pounds of food and had $400 in donations, which will automatically be doubled by a challenge grant. That's a wonderful boost for their good work!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
JV Comes Up Short Against Londonderry, Loses 2-1
Fall was nipping at our heels, but the boys in home whites didn’t seem invigorated by the cooler weather. We came out flat against a good Londenderry team that returned most of their 2013 squad, and their experience carried them to a 2-1 win. In what has become a bit of a pattern, the opposition had their way early on, and moved the ball freely throughout the first 20 minutes of the game. They kept the ball moving through and past our back line, and only a nifty sliding save from Owen Brooks kept the game scoreless. Harry Olszewski kept the slate clean. Late in the half, Casey Starr ran the ball downfield and just missed on a hard shot off the right post, which seemed as if it would get us going. Instead, it was followed shortly thereafter by the Londonderry striker converting from the right side at 28 feet for a score that put us down one at 1 – 0 at the intermission.
Then, as the second half moved along, Griffin Johnson fought his way around and through two defenders, and gave himself just enough space to launch the tying goal towards the right side of the net. Later, Owen Brooks went high for his second strong save, pushing the net bound ball over the high post to keep things tied. Our combination of defenders, led by Jack Pattison, Jack Hazard, and a host of others, while not playing their best collective game, still kept the visitors from getting good chances.
The game seemed like it was Hanover's to win, until a high floating shot that froze the defenders near the goal as well as the keeper, was called a score after dribbling off the crossbar to the right post and away. With what appeared to be 7 minutes to play, the game was called, as the official timekeeping referee had apparently let the clock run down during an explanation to the visiting coach, leaving very little time to re-tie the game. Sour grapes? Maybe, but it was an odd ending. Regardless, Londonderry deserved the win more than our boys in home whites did, as they consistently beat us to the ball and showed higher intensity than our fellows on this day. If the drive back in this writer’s car with one disappointed player was any indication, we will see a more focused group when we take on Nashua South at their place this Saturday at 2:30 p.m.. See you then!
Marauder Try Orange Crush; Beat Londonderry 3-0
The early-season battle at the top of the Division One table lived up to expectations for Hanover, which raised its game to beat a good Londonderry team 3-0. Asa Berolzheimer continued his early-season scoring binge with a pair of goals, and Jonah Levine opened his account with a superb strike.
To top things off, the Marauders got to celebrate "Go Orange With The Haven" by collecting half a ton of food and $500 in donations for the Haven's food shelf. We may see those orange socks again.
Although the game began typically as a midfield affair, it was clear that Hanover had come to play. They were pressuring the ball all over the field, and soon some of the Lancer players began showing some frustration with each other. Nevertheless, it was Londonderry that almost drew first blood. Given a free kick 30 yards out on the right side, Lancer striker Cody Woods launched a shot that clanged off the crossbar. Maybe Konrad Mitchell had it covered, Maybe he didn't. But it was a scary moment, given how easily momentum can turn in a game such as this. That's all speculation, because just past the 16-minute mark Hanover broke on top. Jonah Levine controlled the ball on the right side of the attacking zone, and slid a ball to Berolzheimer, who had enough time and space to hit a perfect first-time shot at curled under the bar from 24 yards out. It was his third highlight-reel goal of the young season. Fine. Keep 'em coming. Ten minutes later, Asa had a chance to double the lead, but clanged a short shot of the near upright. On the bench, Grabill tersely growled, "He owes us one."
Londonderry had some other good looks, and kept the back four busy. Ace Londonderry striker Nate Gaw shook loose for a turnround shot from six yards out that was right at Mitchell, who easily gobbled it up. The Marauders also kept the pressure on Londonderry by using their depth, and got good relief from Jake Acker and Josh Wallace in the center of the park.
The Marauders like to think of themselves as a second half team, and after the interval they demonstrated why they have earned that distinction, pressing Londonderry from the start. Six minutes in, Berolzheimer made a slick lead pass to Jamie Dinulos, breaking in from the right wing, and it took a diving save by Lancer goalkeeper Jeff Baroody to keep the Marauders off the board.
Ten minutes later, though, Jonah Levine hit a shot that no one could save, and Hanover took a 2-0 lead. Berolzheimer set the goal up, fighting with a Londonderry defender for a 50-50 ball that popped out to Levine at the top of the box, 25 years out. Jonah scorched a shot to the upper right corner that was, like, you know, OMG.
This was Hanover's third 2-0 lead in a row. Two games ago, against Concord, they coughed up a goal at the end of the match and were forced to battle to hang on. Last Friday against Exeter they held the lead, a significant improvement. This time around, they put the game out of reach by bringing on waves of subs and maintaining the quality of their defense, and then struck for a decisive goal with ten minutes remaining. Avery Kravitz, Tim Alibozek and Henry Allison gave the Mauarders a lot of juice on the flanks. Then, a Londonderry goal kick went straight to Berolzheimer in his favorite part of the field, and he punished the mistake with another decisive strike, his fifth of the young season.
Hanover then flaunted its depth, with Chris Powell, Will Smith and Reilly Decker reprising their good work against Exeter, and Adam Pikelny and Marcus Helble making their varsity debuts. More from them sooner rather than later. Adam showed his defensive grit with an excellent one-on-one duel against a Londonderry striker only yards from his goal. Konrad Mitchell kept his focus in goal, managing the match and making a sparkling play on a loose ball, diving headlong to punch it out of trouble.
The NHIAA Division One season is one-quarter over. Only one team is unbeaten and untied. The Marauders are alone at the top of the table with a 4-0 record, having played increasingly well against three perennial powers. Now they return to their secret lab at the Pasture to tinker on every aspect of their game. 'We've played well enough to earn some good results," commented Grabill, "but we know we can play better. We have to eliminate simple mistakes, communicate better, be more patient with our buildup, and just learn how to play better together. We are so much better than we were three weeks ago, but we have a long way to go".
Next up on the schedule is a road trip to Nashua to play an improved Nashua South squad at 2:30. Their road trip will continue the following Tuesday with a match at Salem. "One game at a time," cautioned the rapidly-aging Marauder mentor. "One game at a time."
To top things off, the Marauders got to celebrate "Go Orange With The Haven" by collecting half a ton of food and $500 in donations for the Haven's food shelf. We may see those orange socks again.
Although the game began typically as a midfield affair, it was clear that Hanover had come to play. They were pressuring the ball all over the field, and soon some of the Lancer players began showing some frustration with each other. Nevertheless, it was Londonderry that almost drew first blood. Given a free kick 30 yards out on the right side, Lancer striker Cody Woods launched a shot that clanged off the crossbar. Maybe Konrad Mitchell had it covered, Maybe he didn't. But it was a scary moment, given how easily momentum can turn in a game such as this. That's all speculation, because just past the 16-minute mark Hanover broke on top. Jonah Levine controlled the ball on the right side of the attacking zone, and slid a ball to Berolzheimer, who had enough time and space to hit a perfect first-time shot at curled under the bar from 24 yards out. It was his third highlight-reel goal of the young season. Fine. Keep 'em coming. Ten minutes later, Asa had a chance to double the lead, but clanged a short shot of the near upright. On the bench, Grabill tersely growled, "He owes us one."
Londonderry had some other good looks, and kept the back four busy. Ace Londonderry striker Nate Gaw shook loose for a turnround shot from six yards out that was right at Mitchell, who easily gobbled it up. The Marauders also kept the pressure on Londonderry by using their depth, and got good relief from Jake Acker and Josh Wallace in the center of the park.
The Marauders like to think of themselves as a second half team, and after the interval they demonstrated why they have earned that distinction, pressing Londonderry from the start. Six minutes in, Berolzheimer made a slick lead pass to Jamie Dinulos, breaking in from the right wing, and it took a diving save by Lancer goalkeeper Jeff Baroody to keep the Marauders off the board.
Ten minutes later, though, Jonah Levine hit a shot that no one could save, and Hanover took a 2-0 lead. Berolzheimer set the goal up, fighting with a Londonderry defender for a 50-50 ball that popped out to Levine at the top of the box, 25 years out. Jonah scorched a shot to the upper right corner that was, like, you know, OMG.
This was Hanover's third 2-0 lead in a row. Two games ago, against Concord, they coughed up a goal at the end of the match and were forced to battle to hang on. Last Friday against Exeter they held the lead, a significant improvement. This time around, they put the game out of reach by bringing on waves of subs and maintaining the quality of their defense, and then struck for a decisive goal with ten minutes remaining. Avery Kravitz, Tim Alibozek and Henry Allison gave the Mauarders a lot of juice on the flanks. Then, a Londonderry goal kick went straight to Berolzheimer in his favorite part of the field, and he punished the mistake with another decisive strike, his fifth of the young season.
Hanover then flaunted its depth, with Chris Powell, Will Smith and Reilly Decker reprising their good work against Exeter, and Adam Pikelny and Marcus Helble making their varsity debuts. More from them sooner rather than later. Adam showed his defensive grit with an excellent one-on-one duel against a Londonderry striker only yards from his goal. Konrad Mitchell kept his focus in goal, managing the match and making a sparkling play on a loose ball, diving headlong to punch it out of trouble.
The NHIAA Division One season is one-quarter over. Only one team is unbeaten and untied. The Marauders are alone at the top of the table with a 4-0 record, having played increasingly well against three perennial powers. Now they return to their secret lab at the Pasture to tinker on every aspect of their game. 'We've played well enough to earn some good results," commented Grabill, "but we know we can play better. We have to eliminate simple mistakes, communicate better, be more patient with our buildup, and just learn how to play better together. We are so much better than we were three weeks ago, but we have a long way to go".
Next up on the schedule is a road trip to Nashua to play an improved Nashua South squad at 2:30. Their road trip will continue the following Tuesday with a match at Salem. "One game at a time," cautioned the rapidly-aging Marauder mentor. "One game at a time."
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