Hanover closed out their regular season as home with a well-played 4-0 victory over Alvirne, earning their 8th win in a row. The Marauders are now 12-2-1 heading into their final regular season game Friday at Dover. Senior Asa Berolzheimer led the attack with a goal and two assists, and a stingy Hanover defense earned the season's sixth shutout.
The Marauders dominated the young but capable Alvirne squad in the first half, outshooting them 19-1 and earning six corner kicks. They were only able to score once, thanks to the stellar efforts of Bronco goalkeeper Alex Quadros, who made a season-high eight saves in the first half. Hanover collected the only goal they would need at the 14-minute mark, when Jake Acker penetrated the Alvirne penalty area on the right side and dished to Berolzheimer, who converted from close range for his team-leading 14th goal of the season.
There was no shortage of quality chances for the rest of the half. Tim Alibozek hit a header that was tipped off the bar by Quadros, and Jonah Levine just missed connecting on a header off of a corner kick. Acker, Levine and Berolzheimer each launched three good shots, and Seth Stadheim and Luke Messersmith each collected a pair off the bench.
Marauder Identity Guru Brett Wanner made some sage adjustments at halftime, urging the Marauders to be more patient, and his advice resulted in a second-half explosion of three goals in the first 13 minutes after the interval. Sam Strohbehn got things going in the seventh minute, racing out of the right corner, and effecting a slick give and go with Berolzheimer. After receiving his return pass, Strohbehn ripped a left-footer that hit the back of the net so hard it set off two car alarms in the P-lot and loosened one of Lars Blackmore's fillings. The goal was Strohbehn's seventh of the season. His brother Ian had eight in his senior year. No competition there, however.
Five minutes later Tim Alibozek collected a ball on the left flank and hit a centering pass to Jake Acker, who hit a first-time shot bar down. Referee Brandon Feid, utilizing the goal-line technology chip which had been implanted three weeks back, correctly gave the goal. It was Acker's third goal in six games, and continued a five-game assist streak for Alibozek, second on the team with eight helpers.
The fans had barely settled back into the terraces two minutes later when a ticki-taka attack went from Seth Stadheim to Berolzheimer to Luke Messersmith on the left side, and he smoked a shot past Quadros for his second goal of the season, and first non-Keene goal. There were several more notable scoring attempts, the most notable being Ian Caldwell's coast-to-coast effort, which was motivated by the news that his beloved Gunners had topped Bayern. Taking a ball deep in his end, he rumbled the length of the field into the Alvirne box, did a give and go with (who else?) Berolzheimer, and was denied by Quadros. Jack Hazard found some Woza magic and hit a sweet shot from the top of the penalty area that drifted wide of the right post.
Hanover's defense was outstanding, and they got particularly good play from wing defenders Adam Pikelny and Will Smith. The duo have steadily grown into their starting roles, and were superb at both ends of the field. Both are very comfortable quarterbacking the offense with the ball at their feet, and their judgment at when to step and pressure the opposition was a pleasure to watch. And what a day for lefties! Both Sam Pych and Jack Pattison showed sublime ambidexterity. Pat Logan made one save to earn his first full shutout, and even better earned his first DK designation for making a dope play on a long free kick hit into the box. His kicking game was also flawless.
A few statistical notes on Berolzheimer, who now has 14 goals and 16 assists on the season. That point total is the third-highest in Hanover history. The legendary Bobby Dow had 48 in 1965, and Mark Turco had 31 in 1993. Berolzheimer is now sixth overall in career points, and second in career assists. The single season record for assists is 17, by Ben "Bones" Mackinnon. There is a danger, of course, of listing all of these records, because Berolzheimer might now be motivated to run all over the field trying for goals and assists.
Next up for the Marauders is a road trip to Dover, an improved team fighting for playoff position.
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