Hanover stretched their win streak to six games on Tuesday with a methodical 8-2 win over a young Winnacunnet team. Asa Berolzheimer scored his first career hat trick and Jamie Dinulos added two goals for the Marauders, who are now 10-2-1 and heading for a Friday showdown with third-place Timberlane.
Hanover stepped off the bus and were immersed in foggy seacoast weather, redolent with salt air. The Winnacunnet pitch was lush green and wide, and the Marauders made themselves right at home.
Asa Berolzheimer started the scoring at 7:27, taking a cheeky backheel from Jonah Levine for an easy putaway and a 1-0 lead. Hanover enjoyed a one-sided edge in play and doubled the lead at 28:14 when Berolzheimer sent Luke Messersmith down the left flank. Luke drove a cross into the box and a defender cleared the ball directly back to Berolzheimer at the top of the penalty area, where he volleyed it into the net.
Three minutes later a nice piece of combination play got the ball to Jake Acker, deep in the penalty area. Acker's scuffed shot made its way to Jamie Dinulos, who was making a nice anticipatory run to goal, and found the ball at his feet for a 3-0 lead. Sam Strohbehn closed out the scoring four minutes from the end of the half when Tim Alibozek carried the ball to the baseline on the right flank, whipping a cross into the box. The ball just missed connecting with Jamie Dinulos, but Strohbehn was there at the far post to tap in his sixth goal of the year.
The Marauders made wholesale lineup changes at halftime, and unfortunately Winnacunnet took advantage of the opportunity to score twice and made it a game again at 4-2. The first goal came less than two minutes into the half. Winnacunnet won a ball in the Hanover half, and when a Marauder defender stepped up and didn't win the ball, it was played into space for attacker Griffin Burnett, who had no trouble finishing. Eight minutes later, Griffin Johnson made a nice play to send a ball down the flank for a streaking Robbie Murdza, who was knocked off the ball and clearly fouled. PLay continued, however and the ball was played into the Marauder end. Two defenders were caught up, and when keeper Patrick Logan came off his line and couldn't get to the ball, it was squared to Zach Waterhouse, who knocked it into the vacated net despite the desperate dive of Lucas Blackmore.
Hanover's starters came back into the match and quickly restored equalibrium. It took the Marauders ten more minutes to score, but the play as all in Winnacunnett's end. With 20 minutes left to play, Sam Strohbehn sent Tim Alibozek loose on the left flank, and the senior striker sent a centering pass
back to Strohbehn, who volleyed the ball off the post with his pectoralis major, having just learned from Assistant Coach Jared Walker that he indeed had a pectoralis major. The ball rebounded to Jamie Dinulos, who converted the rebound for his ninth goal of the year.
Two minutes later Storhbehn was tripped in the box by Winnacunnet goalie Dominic Styles. Hanover was awarded a penalty kick. By the time Strohbehn had scrambled to his feet, Asa Berolzheimer had the ball in his hand, a Cheshire cat smile on his face. Berolzheimer converted the spot kick for his first career hat trick, and 13th goal of the season.
Hanover's' reserve players made the most of their second opportunity to play, dominating possession and creating a number of scoring opportunities. With darkness closing in and five minutes to play, Griffin Johnson carried the ball deep into the box and was met by the Winnacunnet keeper. The ball squirted to Marcus Helble, who slotted the rebound for his first career goal. Four minutes later, Addison Wanner boomed a cross into the box, and a Winnacunnet defender played the ball directly to Casey Starr at the top of the box. Starr made no mistake with his shot inside the left post, and also claimed his first career goal at the very death of the match.
Hanover's next road trip on Friday will be much more challenging, as they travel to faraway Plaistow for their first game ever Timberlane High School. The Owls are 10-3 and half a game behind the Marauders in third place. A young, hardworking team that has yet to play one of the top-ranked team, they will nevertheless provide a significant challenge for Hanover.
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