Hanover scored early and often in their opening game of the season at Bishop Guertin, racing to a 6-0 halftime lead and beating the Cardinals 9-1. The result was in sharp contrast to last year's opener with BG, when the Marauders escaped with a 1-0 win over a BG team that would go 0-16. Sam Strohbehn was the savior last year, and it took Strohbehn less than two minutes this time around to record his second straight game-winning goal. Hanover's first tally of the season came off a set play, with Will Smith launching a long throw-in from the left touchline towards Tim Alibozek, perched on the end line to the side of the goal. Aliboizek headed the ball across the face of the goal, and Strohbehn was there at the far post to bundle the ball home.
The goals kept coming for Hanover, who used the spacious turf at Stellos Stadium, winning every ball at midfield and spreading the field with pinpoint passes. Nine minutes into the match, Jamie Dinulos beat his defender on the baseline and raced toward the goal, sending the ball in front to Jake Acker, who rammed it home for a 2-0 lead. Things got much worse for BG a minute later, when Asa Berolzheimer's corner kick was knocked into the net by a BG defender for an own goal.
After an eight-minute respite, the Hanover lead would balloon to 5-0 on a pair of Jamie Dinulos goals. The first came when Sam Strohbehn penetrated on the baseline and shot from a bad angle. The ball bounded in front and Dinulos was there to net the rebound. Two minutes Tim Alibozek used his feet to create a goal, sending Dinulos in alone on goal for a cold-hearted finish.
Dan Healy who scored consistently during the preseason, demonstrated that he was ready to continue his artistry on the flanks with his first career Varsity goal. Adam Pikelny ripped a long, hard shot from the right side, and Healy was there at the left post to slot the rebound for a 6-0 lead.
Many of the Marauder starters got a rest during the first half, and some of them returned for a brief curtain call in the second half. Asa Berolzheimer took advantage of the opportunity, scoring one goal and setting up another. He converted a centering pass from Pikelny five minutes after the interval, and then performing some baseline magic of his own from the left side, slipping a pass to a charging Acker for his second goal of the game.
Bishop Guertin had very little to offer offensively, but the Cardinals took advantage of one of their few trips in to the Hanover end, and were gifted a goal scoring chance on a foul just outside the penalty area. The ensuing free kick slammed off the crossbar, and three hungry BG players pushed past a stunned Hanover defense, with Matt Nigro converting the rebound to narrow the score to 8-1.
It was a frustrating interlude on an otherwise positive afternoon, but it demonstrated that the Marauder reserve defenders have some growing to do.
The Marauuders responded with some excellent team play. Even though he didn't make an appearance on the score sheet, Seth Stadheim worked hard on behalf of his teammates. Hanover's final goal demonstrated this unselfishness. Griffin Johnson sent Sam Pych in on goal with a nice lead pass, and Pych passed up a chance to score, sliding a square pass across the face of the goal to an uncovered Robbie Murdza for his first career goal.
Hanover's fun in the sun was a nice way to start the season, but the bar will be set much higher for the Marauders next Tuesday, when they take to the road again to face a very strong Concord team. The Crimson Tide opened their season by hammering Winacunnet 5-0, and they are very eager to prove that they belong in the top echelon of Division One soccer. "These next two games will let us know where we stand," commented Coach Grabill, referring to both the Concord match and the home opener with Exeter two days later. "We've worked hard to be ready for these early tests. Now it's time for us to show up."
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