The final weekend of the season was a busy one for all three subvarsity teams. The Reserves and Freshmen fought hard at Cardigan on Saturday, while contributing generously to their food drive. The Junior Varsity had a great day at the Nashua State Championship Tournament, winning their group and winning in the quarterfinals before dropping a tough semifinal game to Exeter on Penalty kicks. The Freshmen rounded out the week with a well-played game against the Girls' Varsity, breaking a 2-2 tie with a successful PK shootout.
The Reserves were missing their go-to scorer Kaz Matsuoka on Saturday at Cardigan, and fought bravely against a fired-up JV team that was playing in front of their adoring parents, eager to get their tuitions' worth. Reports Coach McEewn: "As we stepped onto the field we could feel the temperature begin to drop. The game started off well. Cardigan was fast, skilled and passed well. Our players seemed up to the challenge in the first half. After a couple goals from one of their best players, the defense organized itself and we began to press forward and down the wings. Mason Mallett especially had a breakthrough game. He was not only stopping players well, but beginning to anticipate where the ball might come and get there first. Also, once he attained possession of the ball he made good passes.
The second half was a bit different story, but it had one of the highlights of the season. The floodgates seemed to open and the goals streamed in for Cardigan. Hanover fought on though, and didn't hang their head. It was to culminate in a goal from two of the most of likely to candidates to work together on something. The ball was cleared off the back line and passed up to right side and Liam Abbate managed to get there and make a pass to Ian Surat- Mosher and got the ball on the run and beat the last defender and started to bolt toward the goal where he coolly put the ball past the keeper in the lower far corner of the net. The history of these two characters is that I have had to tell them to stop arguing with each other on a number of occasions throughout the season. The fact those two created our only goal of the game was an entertaining irony or "learning moment" noticed by the entire team.
The team played one the best halves as a whole I had seen for the season. A couple of players of note also shown as well, namely Aidan Connolly who had to work hard as a center half-back, who showed some good moves and hustle as well as Mal Flynn, who discovered the joy of "figuring out" how to play defense on a really good forward, as well as make some surprising moves himself. All in all it was a good way to finish the season, even though it was not a win, it also wasn't a shut out. I think the score was 8 to 1, but the scoreboard stopped at 5 to 1, thanks to coach Edson."
Here's Coach Willie's report of the Freshmen at Cardigan, followed by their rematch with the Varsity Girls on the HHS turf: "The Marauder Freshmen ended their season with a heart pounding game and scrimmage. The first was a rematch against one of their toughest opponents, The Cardigan Mountain School's Varsity team. The second a rematch against Hanover's own Girls varsity. Both games were full of excitement with plenty of give and take between sides.
When Hanover arrived to Cardigan Mountain School for the match, they were met with the familiar sight of the middle school rec teams playing (a position many of them were in last year). Under sunny skies, some players watched intently while having hot cider and donuts, while others warmed up with long passes on the neighboring open grass field. It wasn't long before the middle school games ended and the freshman took the pitch.
Hanover would start very strong with good possession play. They earned a free kick just above the eighteen in the eighth minute. Both Elias Zinman and Bauti Gallino lined up over the ball for the free kick. Gallino stepped over the ball while Zinman struck it hard at the bottom of the jumping wall. The ball trickled through where Dillon Bradly was there to net it to score the first goal. Hanover kept its pressure in the first half largely keeping the ball in the front two thirds of the field. Hanover would generate another goal by pressuring up in front of the net. Aidan Rowley was able to win possession to the right of net and took a shot for the short side, but had it deflected. Gallino was there to clean up the rebound and knocked home a second goal in the 21st minute. Sam Gallimore handled the ball flawlessly in the first half, stepping to balls high in the 18, catching a couple high boot balls, and giving a few of his patented slides to disposes the wildcats. The Mauraders held the 2-0 lead into the second half.
Cardigan started to exert more pressure in the second half. They started having a strong transition game working from defending third quickly to wings spread wide. In the 52nd minute, Hanover conceded a free kick in the same place in which they scored from in the first half. The Cardigan player placed a perfect kick over the wall and into the upper left corner of the net to cut the lead in half. Cardigan continued their hard nosed play, pressuring Hanover's back four. Cardigan would score again by working the ball from the outside to the middle finding a player to place a low hard shot to the outside to knot the game at 2-2. Hanover woke up a bit and mounted a couple scoring chances in the second half. In the last two minutes, Hanover would have a chance inside the 18, but lost it out of bounds after questionable tackle by a Cougar. Cardigan took their goal kick and then sent their right wing on a run to the corner. Once blow the 18 the player cut back and scored short side. Immediately following the goal the final whistle blew.
Monday afternoon, the boys were eager to have one last match on the pitch together as freshman. There seemed to be a lot of buildup to the rematch of the scrimmage between the Freshman boys and Girls' Varsity. Some players even stated that this game was the most important of the season. The energy was palpable as both teams kicked off.
The boys would control much of the early possession of the ball. An early cross from Liam Collins nearly found Zinman for a header, but it sailed just over head as Zinman fell to the turf. The girls made best use of their transition offense and were good at making open runs into the attacking third. After taking a corner kick, the girls jammed home the first goal of the scrimmage. They took the lead into half, but the boys were not going to to go quietly.
The second half play was much like the first where the boys had most of the possession but the girls managed to disposes in the middle third to transition into attack mode. The Freshman back line did a perfect job of steering them away from keeper Hans Williams. The frosh would would get their first tally in the 57th minute. Collins played a ball down to the corner for streaking wingback Andy Rightmire. Rightmire struck a hard ground cross in front of the goal mouth, where Colm Seigne had a sliding finish to even the score. This made the Freshman bench erupt with cheers. In the 65th minute the boys would take the lead. Zinman launched a cross in from the right side, where Nico Mayo-Pushee timed a perfect run head home the cross with authority. Alas the girls would show their strength and square it in the 75th. After receiving back to back corner kicks, the girls jammed home another one amidst a scrum.
Neither team seemed satisfied with the result of a draw, and rather then playing OT, the two teams engaged in a penalty kick shootout. Zinman was the first to shoot, but had his shot turned aside by an astounding diving save. Hans Williams followed suit and saved the first Girls' kick in a similar fashion. Next Dillon Bradley would crank one hard on the left side to give the Freshmen the advantage. Hans would hold that advantage with another save that appeared he had successfully anticipated to his right. Caleb Benjamin was next for the Freshmen, and he would not disappoint. Benjamin placed it hard into the side netting for another goal. Hans continued his roll and stopped yet another. Finally Nico would perfectly place a shot to the corner to seal the decision for the freshman. The whole team was elated, and rushed from half and stormed both Hans and Nico. It was a fitting end with the feel of a playoff atmosphere.
Finally, a report on the JV's successful Saturday at the Roger Desmarais Tournament in Nashua, the unofficial state championship. The Marauders shoved off at the crack of dawn, much to the consternation of David Seigne, who had expressed the sentiment that a proper warmup was hardly worth losing 30 more minutes of sleep. Hanover first faced off against Goffstown, a decent Division Two team. Sander Macaulay opened the scoring, with an assist to Alvaro Cooper. Macaulay then sent a through ball to Seigne, who tallied his 13th goal of the season. Sawyer Hanlon continued his hot streak with his sixth goal in the last nine games, with Harry Olszewski earning the helper. Harris LaRock had a relatively easy time in goal, collecting the shutout.
Hanover then faced a strong Exeter team which would eventually earn a trip to the finals. In group play, however, the Marauders were clearly in charge. Sam Ives headed in a Lincoln Sdam corner kick for the first goal, and Sander Macaulay tallied his 13th goal with a shot to the bottom left corner from the top of the penalty area. Owen Brooks earned the shutout.
Already assured of a trip to the quarterfinals, Hanover nevertheless produced one of their best games of the year against Pinkerton, which may or may not have added a few varsity players, not an uncommon practice in the tournament. The Marauders avenged their regular season loss to the Astros with a goal from Ben Sobel, assisted by Alvaro Cooper. Harris LaRock was flawless in goal, as Hanover rolled to its third straight shutout.
After a brief scare when the bus wouldn't start, the Marauders made their way to Nashua South for the quarterfinals, facing a Nashua North squad that had most definitely beefed up with a few varsity players. To be fair, most of these lads were freshmen, and had spent a long season on a varsity squad that had won only two games and not qualified for the tournament. Hanover was equal to the challenge. They conceded the first goal, but tied the match in the second half on a goal by Benny Gantrish, assisted by Seigne. It was Gantrish's 16th tally of the season. Alvaro Cooper won the game in overtime, dribbling around the keeper and tucking the winning goal into the empty net.
The Marauders faced Exeter again in the semifinals, and the Hawks decided to pack things in, putting eight players behind the ball and playing for the draw which would result in a penalty kick shootout. With several of the Marauders unable to play because of injuries, Exeter got their wish, and advanced to the finals with a 5-3 decision in the shootout.
Even that last loss could not dim the exceptional season for the JVs, and their outstanding Coach Yosef Osheyack. Taking on the nearly impossible task of filling the shoes of Coach Callanan, YoYo was more than equal to the task, molding the team into a seamless unit that got better as the season progressed and demonstrating that they could play with the very best squads in the state. Many of the players on the team showed marked improvement both technically and tactically, and just as importantly they played with flair, and honored the game. Their final record was an outstanding 15-4-2.
All three Marauder teams will join the Varsity this Friday at the annual Soccer Celebration in the HHS gym. The time has been moved slightly and will kick off at 6:30 with the infamous Dessert Buffet. Each player is encouraged to bring some sort of easily-shared dessert. After the carb-fest, each coach will distribute team certificates and honor players with several team awards. Yosef will be succinct. Willie will compose and read haikus. Erik will be his usual abrasive self. After the dust clears, there will be a short music recital, featuring an eclectic mix of musical genres, and possibly a few extinguished guest artists. See you there!
If you are coming to the Varsity playoff game on Wednesday night, don't be afraid of a little (warm) rain, and please remember to bring some non-perishable food items for our Haven Food Drive. See you there!
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