Junior Varsity Topples Timberlane, 6-0

On a fall afternoon that refused to cede the summer warmth, the giant sized Timberline JV team came to Hanover for a lead up to the varsity’s later Homecoming game.  The visitors fell behind early and further behind as the half and the game progressed.  Hanover is clearly on a roll, playing the way Coach Callanan predicted over a month ago, when he mystically predicted that this team's highest moments were in front of them and he felt good about the final half of the schedule and a strong tournament showing.  This win was the 7^th straight for Hanover, and this was the best game from both a defensive blanketing and consistent offensive tsunami.

Early on Robbie Murdza deftly crossed the ball to a very open Jack Hazard, who stepped up into the open space and calmly sent the ball to rest in the back of the net for a 1- 0 lead.  With Coach Callanan substituting freely, at the 20 minute mark a high bouncing ball was headed to the far post off the able foot of Hazard, where defenseman Lucas Adams-Blackmore put his head on it for the second Hanover goal.  2 – 0  Hanover.

The Marauders continued to send good shots toward the adept Timberline goalie that were either just off the mark or knocked down by the visiting keeper.  Harry Olszewski in our goal was well protected, and no attempts were close enough to warrant Harry’s attention.

Murdza used his speed to bring himself into position to present a strong shot into the beckoning white nets for goal number three, and the game was starting to have that runaway feeling.  The half ended with an asserting miss, off a beautiful exchange, with a combination started by Ingio Panos, only a small part of Ingio’s solid overall game.

Callanan dialed in his “blitz” plan to orchestrate the early first half score, and the boys from Hanover, in snazzy home whites, scored again to make it 4 – 0 at the second half’s outset.  An all out offensive barrage is part of the blitz, with the vastly improved defense holding back enough to protect, even without the midfield protection.  This fourth goal was indeed sweet, with Ingio sending the ball to George Geraghty, who quickly sent the ball to Hazard, with Jack sending a through ball to DanMan Healy, who fed a blazing Robbie Murdza for a well executed net ripper. 

Then Healy scored, after a lovely, unselfish series of passes that fan and soccer aficionado Brett Wanner complimented by reference to  “Brazilian beach soccer”. The whole defense looked like a brick wall, led by Panos.  The keepers, in this case, Owen Brooks, had little to do other than try to look intimidating.  Adam Mendelsohn was back on the pitch after a two game absence from illness, with his first touch being brilliant, a through pass that Yedne Atkins buried for the goal.   The home team led by 5 – 0, but the show was not over.

For the sophomores, the plucky striker Luke Messersmith ripped one that hit the cross bar about as hard as Luke landed on the sod, getting up a bit slowly from him near miss.  Griffin Johnson looked dangerous, and Sander Macaulay covered space deep into midfield while choosing simple quick passes to move the ball forward.  Griffin Johnson scored the sixth and final goal on a play that was a carbon copy of the narrow angle goal in the previous game.  Coach Callanan, and the usual suspects of fans in the stands, called this one the best game yet, as Hanover plays know they can compete come tournament time, regardless of the opponent.

Another clean match, and the boys exited after the congratualtions across the field, with the feeling of a good team that doesn’t shy away for physical play, but with great sportsmanship across the board.  Coach leads by example, with 40-something years of coaching without ever drawing a card of any color.  Good stuff!

The Marauders have two more regular season games.  Hanover faces Alvirine on the road Tuesday at 4:00, then hosts the final home regular season game against Dover Friday, at 4:00.  

On Sunday, the team will travel to Nashua for the annual JV Tournament.  Departure is early 7:45 Sunday morning.  Stay tuned for details.

Reserves Tie Souhegan 1-1

After losing 5-0 to Souhegan earlier in the season, The Marauder Reserves stepped up on Saturday and battled the Sabers to a 1-1 tie.  After a long delay and warming up in the rain, Souhegan arrived 30 minutes after kick off time. The rain stopped just in time for a 2:15 kick off.

Hanover started with great pressure in the first half with shots on goal from Benny Gantrish, Francesco Navarro, and Tenzin Tashi. The Souhegan keeper was able to close out on the Marauder shooters and ran down many of the Hanover through balls.  The Marauder defense was able keep Souhegan off the score sheet in the first half,  and the teams went into the break with the score knotted at 0-0.

Souhegan netted the first goal of the match on a header off a cross to the six yard box five minutes into the half. Hanover responded eight minutes later on the foot of Tenzin Tashi. After Francesco Navarro played a long ball wide to the left, Joseph Glock passed it to the open Tenzin,  waiting at the penalty dot. Tenzin beat the goalie to the left as he lost his footing. The game would finish many scoring chances from both sides. Gabe Loud nearly finished on a free kick from Benny Gantrish. Arturo Johnson saved a shot on a free kick from just outside the 18 yard line to keep the game tied with six minutes left. The game would end in a 1-1 tie. 


Hanover hosts Kimball Union Academy on Wednesday at 3:30, and will then close the season with the rescheduled home game against Newport on Thursday at 3:30.

Happy Homecoming! Mauarders Dump Timberlane in Overtime

The Marauders took full advantage of a large and boisterous Homecoming crowd to play their best soccer of the season, taking down undefeated and top-ranked Timberlane 1-0 in sudden death overtime.  Ian Caldwell celebrated his birthday in fine style, volleying home a corner kick from Avery Kravitz eight minutes into sudden death overtime.  The win was the fifth in a row for Hanover, which solidified its playoff position and served notice to the rest of Division One that they intend to defend their state title with vigor.

Timberlane rode into town on the strength of  12-game unbeaten streak, and was coming off of a dramatic 1-0 win last Tuesday over second-seeded Alvirne.  They challenged the Marauders in a back-and-forth scoreless first half.  The second half was a different story.  Hanover started playing downhill, outshooting the Owls 8-1 and lunching seven corner kicks, many of the creating dangerous scoring opportunities.  Combining superb defense and goalkeeping with a precise passing game, the Marauders carried the momentum into their fourth overtime game of the season and second in eight days, and cashed in their eleventh corner mick of the match, delighting the huge, black-clad crowd.

Hanover opened the game with a slightly different lineup, with center back Max Greenwald absent due to a barbershop commitment.  No, not for a shave and a haircut. The musical kind of barbershop. Key of H at some sort of national competition. Caldwell slid back into the back four and contributed to a seamless defensive performance.  Goalkeeper Konrad Mitchell finally got to strut his stuff, making a crucial first-half save on a close-range shot from Timberlane striker Cam Donnolly, eliciting cheers from the German Big Band, perched in front row seats and teaching their American hosts a thing or two about how to support the home team.

Hanover had several good looks in the first half, the closest of which was a header from Caldwell off of a corner kick that was headed inside the far post before it was headed off the line by Owl midfielder Christina Dallaire.  Andrew Kazal, who has been playing superb soccer in recent games, sent several crosses into dangerous areas, but was unable to connect with Jake Acker on a particularly tantalizing one.

Most of the dialogue at halftime was how to take care of matters in the defensive end.  Although the Marauders may have appeared to be controlling the match, they took the Timberlane threat seriously, and made some important adjustments to limit the Owl counterattacks.  It didn't take long for Hanover to impose themselves offensively, however.  Jamie Dinulos was a constant threat on the left flank, constantly beating defenders and making dangerous runs to the goal.  He beat goalie Matt Rose on one of these runs, but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by defender Galen Morrill.

Asa Berolzheimer hit a long range free kick that was tipped over the bar by Rose, who also made several acrobatic plays to punch the ball clear on threatening Marauder corner kicks.  Hanover had been working all season on corners, and they were particularly potent as afternoon turned into evening and the lights began to blaze over Merriman-Branch field.  Berolzheimer and Dinulos came close on several short corners, and both Jake Acker and Josh Wallace authored dangerous inswingers from the right corner.  Noah Kahan, playing the best soccer of his career, hit a turnaround shot from outside the penalty area that sailed just over the top.

Timberlane only had one shot in the second half, but it was a dandy.  On a rare foray into the Hanover end, Owl striker Matt Salais found room to hit a shot that was headed to the upper left corner of the Marauder goal.  Konrad Mitchell mustered all of his athleticism to make a spectacular dive to corral the ball and keep the match scoreless.

As the clock wound down and the tension increased, Caldwell had two sparkling opportunities miss the mark.  He had a shot ticketed for the goal that was deflected over the top by a Timberlane defender, and pushed yet another corner kick conversion just wide.  Despite playing further back all evening long, Caldwell was Hanover's most consistent offensive threat, and he would be heard from one more time.

Huddling before the start of overtime, the Marauders doubled down on offense.  Confident in their ability to deal with any Timberlane counterattacks, they committed to going for the win, and set up shop in the Owl end of the field.  With two minutes to go in the first overtime, they earned their season-high eleventh corner kick, and it fell to Avery Kravitz to take it.  It was a moment for which he had practiced assiduously, and as his German houseguests raised the roof at the other end of the field, Kravitz quickly hit a driven ball that met Caldwell at the near post. Bucket drove the ball into the net, setting off a wild celebration that turned into a rolling celebration when Caldwell broke free of his mates and led a victory lap past the cheering throngs.

Hanover won't have much time to celebrate their victory.  Next Tuesday, they head to Hudson for a showdown with an excellent Alvirne team that is still stinging from their loss to the Marauders in the NHIAA finals last November.  The Broncos have had another great season, and sit a notch higher than Hanover in the Division One standings.  They lost to Timberlane last Tuesday, but bounced back with an important 2-1 win over Bedford on Friday.  "This is a great time of year," commented Coach Grabill.  "All of the top teams are playing each other in the last two weeks, and no one has any idea what the final standings will look like.  We have our fate in our own hands, however.  If we play well in our final two games, we have a chance for a few more home games in the tournament."  Given their success in this most recent home match, that should work well for the Marauders.  It took them four years to get a Homecoming game, but it was worth the wait.

Game Times For Homecoming Weekend

Just so that we can all be on the same page, here are the game times for all of the Homecoming Weekend games:

Friday

4:45 -  Junior Varsity vs. Timberlane

5:00 -  Varsity vs. Timberlane  (Please bring food items for the Haven)

Saturday

1:30 -  Reserves vs. Souhegan

3:00 -  Freshmen at Cardigan Mountain School  (Bus at 1:45)

(Cardigan is also having a food drive, so if you can bring a few food items to the game, it would be greatly appreciated!)

Thursday Reserve Game Postponed

The Reserve soccer game with Newport scheduled with Newport has been postponed.  Stay tuned for updates.  There will be no Reserve , JV or Freshman practice today.

Undermanned Reserves Fall to Kimball Union, 7-3

The Hanover reserve team put forth a valiant effort against KUA's undefeated JV 2 team. Traveling with just eleven players, Hanover was put to its greatest test thus far in the season. Not being daunted by facing a squad of 22, the reserve team elected to field a full squad the entire match, with no substitutions.

Hanover was able to strike first in the 15th minute. After a corner in from Sam Lutz, Joseph Glock wound up and struck the ball. The ball would glance off Gwynn's head and Kaz's arm before trickling in though the five hole of the keeper. The goal was allowed despite the errant arm of Matsuoka, given its unintentional manner. KUA would capitalize just three minutes later on a shot outside the 18 that just ricocheted off the bottom off the cross bar. KUA kept pressure on Hanover's tiring players by substituting full groups of ten on and off regularly, and led 4-1 come half time.

Never shying away from the challenge Hanover continued to play without substation for the second half. KUA scored another two goals before Kaz Matsuoka would net the first of his two second half goals. The first was created by Joseph playing a ball back to Liam Abbate, who cranked a ball up to Sam Lutz. Lutz played the perfect through ball to Kaz who beat the keeper with a low hard ball to the right. Kaz would score again four minutes later with Sam and Benny playing the ball up. Kaz dribbled hard at a defender only to win the tackle himself and was once again alone in on goal. KUA would wrap up the scoring with a final shot from the 18 into the side netting in the last five minutes.

Despite the lopsided result of 7-3, Hanover truly out preformed expectations given the circumstances. Arturo Johnson had more saves than goals allowed, including a spectacular diving save to his right in the second half. All eleven deserve mention given there dedication to playing. So Liam Abbate, Benjamin Gantrish, Joseph Glock, Gwynn Granizo-Mackenzie, Kaz Matsuoka, Hayden Hatfield, Arturo Johnson, Ryan Kynor, Gabe Loud, Sam Lutz, and Daniel Wilson, you gave it your all and put forth an effort that I could only hope for. You not only impressed my but the opposing coach, and the officials as well.

Let's see what we can do tomorrow!  (And since rain is in the forecast, stay tuned for updates!)

Marauders Beat Winnacunnet 3-1; Face Homecoming Showdown

The Marauders took care of business on a warm Tuesday afternoon , beating visiting Winnacunnet for 2-1 for their fourth win in a row.  Hanover is now 9-3-1 and slides into a fourth-place tie with Exeter and Concord in the NHIAA Division One standings.  With games upcoming against the top two teams in the standings, their fate in firmly in their hands.

It didn't take long for Hanover to jump on top of Winnacunnet, which rolled into town as winners of three of their last four games.  Jamie Dinulos set up the goal, racing past Warrior defender Thomas Vincent on the left flank and hitting a sweet centering pass to Seth Stadheim, who one-timed it into the next for his second goal of the season.  The Marauders nearly doubled the lead a few minutes later when Andrew Kazal drove a sweet cross across the face of the goal, but Tim Slibozek couldn't convert the sitter. 

Hanover's pressure continued throughout the half, and shortly after the first wave of subs took the pitch, the Marauders doubled the lead.  Kazal hit another cross from the left side, and when Winnacunnet goalie Nick Seta was unable to handle it cleanly, Noah Kahan pounced on the ball and rolled it past the right post for his third goal in four games. 

Up until this point, Hanover had completely bottled up their visitors from the Seacoast, winning balls at midfield courtesy of the trio of Berolzheimer, Levine and Caldwell,  and getting excellent back line passing from Strohbehn, Greenwald, Kelly and Kazal.  Pressing for a third goal, the Marauders fell victim to some excellent counterattacking play, and surrendered a well-made goal on Winnacunnet's one offensive thrust of the game.  Senior striker Andrew Soderberg took a ball at midfield and hit a lead pass to Ben Cranford, who found some space outside the Hanover penalty area and hit a once-in-a-lifetime chip over Konrad Mitchell with then minutes to play in the half.

Hanover continued to attack with urgency, and had three great looks before the half ended.  Seth Stadheim hit a deflected shot from in close that grazed the goalpost, Asa Berolzheimer struck a good-looking free kick just over the crossbar, and Cian Kelly crushed a bad-angle shot from the right side that forced Seta to make a quality save.

The Marauders were all business at the start of the second half, and quickly re-established their two-goal lead, scoring before two minutes had elapsed.  Some good combination play gave Stadheim some room in the corner, and he hit a soft centering pass that hugged the endline.  Tim Alibozek got to the ball before two Winnacunnet defenders and quickly redirected it in front to Dinulos, who cashed in at short range for his second goal of the season. 

There were 38 minutes to play, but the Marauders took any suspense out of the match, completely dominating possession and territory.  Hanover outshot Winnacunnet 10-1, took four more corner kicks while not conceding a single one, and saw five or six good scoring chances just miss the mark.  More importantly, the Marauders accomplished this using every healthy field player.  Having decided at the start to play a high pressure game and flaunt their depth, Hanover made the tactic work with players shuttling in and out of the game.  In all honesty, the quality of play increased as the half wore on, a testament to the quality of play by Jake Acker, Marcus Helble, Will Smith, Avery Kravitz, Henry Allison, Adam Pikelny, Noah Kahan and Keeper Patrick Logan.

Now, Hanover turns its attention to a Homecoming matchup on Friday at 5:00 against undefeated Timberlane.  The Owls are the top team in Division One with a 10-0-2 record, and are coming off  of a 1-0 overtime road win against a strong Alvirne team.  The Owls will be in the midst of their toughest stretch of games, but have developed a great deal of chemistry and confidence, and present the biggest challenge of the season thus far for the Marauders.  The last time Timberlane lost a game was last October, at Merriman-Branch Field, when Hanover dumped them 4-1 in the NHIAA quarterfinals.  In all likelihood, a quarterfinal home game is at stake for the Marauders in Friday's game.  These are the games that high school athletes dream about:  top teams, high stakes, and a huge Homecoming crowd on a warm fall evening.  If both teams are able to rise to the occasion, it will be a night to remember.