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.
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