For 46 minutes, the match between Hanover and Alvirne bore a remarkable resemblance to last year's NHIAA Division One Championship game. Just like last November, the Marauders scored a well-made goal in the first half and then doubled the lead early in the second half. That's when Hanover suddenly dissolved in the rain, looking for all the world like the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz: "I'm melting! I'm melting! What a world!" Alvirne scored twice in 67 seconds to tie the match, and eventually won the game 3-2 in the first overtime. It was a bitter loss the the Marauders, their second sudden death defeat of the season.
The loss drops Hanover's record to 11-4-1 with only Friday's regular season finale with Dover remaining. They sit in a fifth-place tie with Exeter (4-2 losers to Salem on Tuesday), and will need Concord to lose one of their two remaining matches if they hope to slide into fourth place in the Division One standings, and secure the possibility of a second-round home game in the NHIAA playoffs.
The match started with sunny skies and equally bright play from the Marauders, who dominated the match in the early going. Hanover's standard kickoff play worked like clockwork, and resulted in a shot on goal by Tim Alibozek after only 17 seconds. Hanover continued to apply the pressure, and only a spectacular save by Alvirne goalkeeper Jake Schofield foiled a pont-blank shot by Alibozek.
Hanover created three corner kicks, and would eventually outshoot the Broncos 9-4.
Sixteen minutes into the half, the Marauders jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Jonah Levine hit a through ball to Jamie Dinulos, who sprinted onto a gap in the Alvirne defense and beat Schofield cleanly with a shot to the corner for his third goal of the season. Alvirne dug in and countered a few minutes later, with Bronco Captain Matt Lubinski breaking in alone on Konrad Mitchell, who was as quick as a big pink bunny to make a nice diving save.
Hanover had a great chance to take a 2-0 lead near the end of the half when Asa Berolzheimer was pulled down in the Bronco penalty area. This is the exact quote from the official when he placed the ball for the free kick outside the penalty area: "It wasn't that bad a foul, so I'm moving it outside." Berolzheimer's ensuing free kick, strong but not quite as dangerous as a penalty shot, was saved by Schofield. Minutes later at the other end, Mitchell came hopping off his line to sprawl at Lubinski's feet for another big save, and the half ended with Hanover on top.
The rains came during halftime, but the precipitation didn't seem to bother the Marauders, who doubled their lead in the seventh minute of the second half. Jonah Levine worked free on the edge of the area after some nice work by Tim Alibozek, now playing in back for the injured Andrew Kazal. Levine's centering pass found Berolzheimer, who worked free for a shot that beat Schofield to the left corner for his seventh goal of the season.
They say that a 2-0 lead is the most difficult one in soccer. They're right. There was no specific breakdown by the Marauders, but less than eight minutes after Alvirne lined up to kick off with a 2-0 deficit, the match was tied. The first Bronco goal was the result of some nice passing between center forward Brett Richardson and Postgraduate Fellow Raul Stedile. Richardson penetrated the Hanover penalty area, drew a defender, and dished to Stedile, who found the right corner of the net. 67 seconds later the Marauders gave up a soft goal, when Lubinski raced past his marker on the right flank and hit a bad angle shot that Mitchell boxed into the net.
To Hanover's great credit, they didn't wilt when they had every right to. They tightened their defense, and resolutely regained their momentum on the attack. Asa Berolzheimer just missed connecting with a chance for a clean header, and Noah Kahan made a dangerous run into the box for a shot that was saved by Schofield. Anthony Olivera countered with a long, low shot that Mitchell scooped up in the dangerous slippery conditions.
With time winding down in regulation, each team had a golden opportunity to score. Noah Kahan made another great run into the box and had Schofield dead to rights, but he hit the right upright with his well-timed shot. Minutes later, Alvirne was gifted a free kick at the edge of the box, and Stedile, perhaps the best free kick taker in the state, set up for his chance at glory. He hit a bending shot over the wall and headed for the upper right corner, but Mitchell used all of his athleticism to make a spectacular dive to his right to punch the ball away.
For the fifth time this season, the Marauders headed into overtime. Having won their last two sudden death matches against strong opposition, they had reason to be confident, and it showed. They held an edge in play, and once again almost say Berolzheimer get open for a header in front of the goal.
Alvirne was also eager to go for the win, and with less than a minute to play in the first overtime, Anthony Holzhauser, one of nine seniors in the Bronco starting lineup, got loose on the right flank and hit a driven, perfectly-placed cross into the Hanover area, too far out for Mitchell to reach but right in the path of an onrushing Anthony Olivera, who volleyed the ball into the Hanover goal.
This was a heartbreaker for Hanover, but not a gamebreaker. The last time the Marauders tasted overtime defeat, three weeks ago at Keene, it launched them on a five game winning streak. The first step for a similar rebound will be Friday's Senior Night match against Dover. Kickoff is at 4:00.
No comments:
Post a Comment