Freshmen Open The Season With a 6-0 Win at Portsmouth

The freshman Marauders had a big day between the first day of school and their first soccer match. After a rousing 2 hour and 15 minute bus ride, the Marauder boys found themselves in hot 85 degree weather, and on a turf pitch nearly identical to the one at HHS. Hanover played great possession soccer from the get-go. It wasn't long before they created the first scoring chance of the game. Liam Collins took a corner from the right side which grazed the post and popped up into six yard box, where a Portsmouth Clipper had the ball hit him in the chest and instinctively wrapped his arms around it. Hanover was awarded a penalty. It was taken by Andy Rightmire right into the keeper's chest but called back since a Portsmouth player had crossed over the 18. Elias Zinman would convert on the re-take of the penalty in the 7th minute. Hanover would continue the pressure with Bauti Gallino rocking the right post with a blast in the 10th minute. The Marauders would add another goal by continuing to apply pressure. After a short goal kick to a defender by the Portsmouth keeper, Christo Dragnev sent the ball toward the middle with a hard challenge, where Nico Mayo-Pushee buried it on the right side. Through the rest of the first half Hanover continued to play its possession game. The Hanover wing and full backs caught Portsmouth offsides by keeping flat and not getting sucked back with Portsmouth players making vertical runs. Portsmouth would have one scoring chance before the half, and that was broken up by a Gary Li sliding tackle just above the 18, and keeping a man from making a solid strike with his right.

After having put together an excellent first half, Hanover continued its excellent play in the second half. The Marauders kept pressure in the attacking third and continued to cross balls right in front of the goal mouth. This earned them a corner which Liam Collins again took from the right side. The ball would sail just over the keeper to the far post where Dillon Bradley would put his head on it to the back of the net in the 55th minute. After the restart for the fourth quarter (yes, we played four 20 minute quarters due to the heat), Portsmouth played the ball back, where Christo Dragnev won the ball right above the 18. Christo proceeded to make shot fakes and cut backs and dangled the ball in front of three defensive players. Around six yards above the touch line, he  flipped it right over the keeper to the far post where Collins would net it with a header in the 61st minute. The freshman continued to play hard all the way down the bench. After Caleb Benjamin had a shot blocked, Matt Alibozek and Will Laycock applied pressure on the defense. This led to a defensive player putting a small touch on the ball to the keeper, who picked it up, giving us an indirect about level with the six on the right side. Adam Blackburn gave clean pass up to Bauti on the 18 who one timed straight to the back netting in the 75th minute. Portsmouth would try to really push up at the end of the game, and gave some real pressure. After receiving a free kick just above the 18, Hans Williams gave a booming kick that split the Portsmouth center backs and found Matt Alibozek waiting. Matt sprinted with the ball on his foot, taking three touches before being confronted by the keeper around the 18. Matt calm slid it past the goalie, getting a roller across the touch line to finish the scoring in the 78th minute.

Overall it was a total team effort. Success like this does not come from the individuals without having the support of all teammates. Center backs stabilized our back line and distributed the ball well. Wing backs gave tremendous support on outside play in the attacking third. Outside midfielders stayed wide, and played the ball perfectly to the corners. Center midfielders spaced well and swung the ball laterally. Strikers applied pressure and made the defense make mistakes that cost them.  Hans Williams was appropriately the loudest person on the pitch yelling away, step, or drop as needed. A great first game, and something to truly build on.

After a day of practice Thursday, the Freshmen return to the road on Friday with a game at Bedford.
Dismissal is AFTER sixth period, not in the middle of it.