Junior Varsity Boys Finish A Superb Season at 12-3-1

The last home game for the successful Hanover JVs began on a day that felt much colder than the 50 degrees on the home thermostat.  With fans shivering and bundled,  (except for photographer and guy about town Lars Blackmore, in shorts) the boys faced a Dover team determined to be the spoiler, with an unbeaten October on the line for the lads in white. 

The spoiler role suited Dover just fine.  Hanover’s tough midfielders of Hazard, Cooper, Starr, and more, along with very solid defense, was matched by the visitors, with sharp play contained in the middle third of the field without any penetration from either side.  This trend continued for much of the half.  The home team launched a few shots from afar that the Dover keeper casually stepped up to thwart, and he used a similar technique of knowing when to leave the line to intercept any long passes before the offensive powerhouses of Yedne Atkins, Robbie Murdza, Dan Healy, Griffin Johnson, or Luke Messersmith could catch up to the ball.

Then, late in the half, with our keeper off the line to meet an offensive run of many Dover fellows, the goal was left open when the ball was crossed well to a streaking visitor who pounded in the only goal of the first half held up to leave us behind at the intermission, 1 – 0 Dover.

But the second half was a different story, with the homeboys determined to keep their unblemished October intact.  The offense was alive, with more leaks through the Dover defense opening up some chances, which led to, at the half way mark of the half, to a smash from David Seigne off of a precise throw in and assist from Griffin Johnson to tie the game at 1 – 1.

There it stayed, with the teams matched up well, but with Hanover moving the ball more freely off and an increasingly confident defense led by Lucas Adams-Blackmore, Addison Wanner, Brendan Amos, Ben Sobel, and Jack Pattison.  The game had become more physical, without many whistles, and many home players tasted the cold turf, but pulled themselves up without malice to play on, sportsmanship intact.

Then, with the game winding down, from the foot of the technically strong defenseman Wanner, came the highlight.  He crossed midfield with the ball, and launched a long range cross or shot (he’s not telling!), that headed high and towards the far post, where a host of Hanover boys were ready at the line to head it in, but it needed no header to find the deep corner of the goal.  Addison’s first goal of the season came at the best of times, and as the nets fluttered to embrace his long shot, the crowd erupted in appreciation. 

With only a few minutes left, Coach Callanan parked the bus with 5 players back, and the final whistle blew to end a great game and a great win to keep the streak alive.  This was exciting game on the Hanover grass, and it was great to watch this team rise to the occasion on this day, and throughout the month, running their record to 12 – 3 – 1.

The brief postseason for the Marauders started and finished on Sunday morning at the Nashua JV Tournament.  Hanover lost a 1-0 game to Pinkerton on a penalty kick during stoppage time, and then lost an equally frustrating 1-0 match to Londonderry.  Demonstrating their class and composure, the Marauders bounced back with a solid performance in their third and final game against Nashua North.  Dan Healy scored 22 seconds into the match, and added a second goal midway through the half.    North pulled a goal back early in the second half, but then Ben Sobel iced the game with his first goal of the season, assisted by Roger Danilek.

The JVs will celebrate the season on Monday with the annual NH - Vermont game on the HHS grass field after school.  It has been a superb one!