Freshmen Draw With Londonderry, Defeat Bedford

The tale of two games:

When the freshman Marauders took the pitch on Friday October 2, it was cold and grey. Both Hanover and Londonderry took ample time to make sure they were warm to start the match. Londonderry would come out ready to play and would net the first goal of the match in the sixth minute just past Sam Gallimore's punch. Londonderry would kept pressure, and would take only another six to score again. Gallimore would come out to meet the striker, but couldn't knock the ball off the player's feet. Hanover would start to wake up and play the possession style that has given them so much success. Liam Collins would cut the lead in half with a hard low shot in the 27th minute on an assist from Elias Zinman. The two teams would come off the pitch trying to stay warm at half with the score still at 2-1.

After bouncing on their toes during half time Hanover seemed to come out with more pep in their step in the second half. Having recognized that Londonderry's number 15 was their playmaker, Hanover would keep a center back marking him. Alex Purcell, Gary Li, Charlie Plottner, and Adam Blackburn would keep this talented player off the score sheet for the rest of the match. The match would have some back in forth to it. Collins would open the scoring in the second half in the 47th minute, on a ball from Bauti Gallino, knotting the score at 2-2. Londonderry would answer back in three minutes later with a goal of their own. Christo Dragnev would net one just a minute later on the left side to once again tie it up. Londonderry would continue pressure Hanover's defense and scored another in the 65th minute. Hanover's Zinman would net a third equalizer just five minutes later at the 70 minute mark right around the penalty marker. The two teams would have a couple more chances each, with Gallimore making some game saving slides to dispossess Londonderry. The two teams would play two five-minute OT periods with golden goal rule in effect, but would stay locked after a full and cold 90.

Following the game Sam was lauded by teammates for his gutsy play, to which he thanked the backs in front of him. It was an exciting game in which Hanover showed their resolve by battling back three times to tie this game.

The Freshman were hungry for a win following their tie with Londonderry and would get a chance right away with match against Bedford on Monday October 5. The freshman had already beaten the ulldogs, to the tune of 3-2, on the road at the small Joppa Hill field in Bedford. This game would be played under sunny skies alongside the Reserves playing Lebanon at the Dresden fields.

Hanover came out sharp and quick. Elias Zinman would open up the scoring in the seventh minute with a ripper into the side netting from a ball from Bauti Gallino. The Marauder would continue their strong pressure with another goal just four minutes later. In the 11th minute, Liam Collins would knock home a goal, hitting a one timer from Eli Silovich, putting it across from the center. Hanover was not through, and got another with their sheer pressure. Christo Dragnev found himself pressuring with his other teammates in the attacking third and into the 18. After winning the ball, Christo fired quickly and beat the keeper in the thirteenth minute. That would be all the scoring for the first half, but Hanover seemed to maintain most of the possession for the remainder of the half.

Urged to keep intensity in a game that could have been easy to get lulled into slower play, Hanover came out of the half hot. Collins would score again in the 43rd minute on a ball from Zinman. Not more than two minutes later, Dragnev would net his second as well cleaning up a rebound with his head on a cross put in by Gallino. Hanover's pressure would be optimized by their next goal in the 50th minute.  Bedford felt the pressure and tried to play the ball back to their keeper, where Gallino pressured, won a tackle, and passed the ball into the net. Hanover would net their final goal in the 60th minute. Caleb Benjamin played a ball into the mixer, where Adam Blackburn was able to put a soft volley on it inside the six.

Upon the end of the game the freshman were elated not only with their win, but also the fact that coach Willie's mother had once again baked cookies for the team. Thanks, Claire Lyon!!!!

It was so much fun lets play again tomorrow!  The Freshman host Pinkerton at Dresden at 4:30.