Varsity Beats Memorial 1-0; Vaults to Third

The Marauders won their third game in a row on Monday, beating Manchester Memorial 1-0 on a highlight goal by Jake Acker.  With the win, Hanover climbed into a third-place tie with Timberlane in the NHIAA Division One standings.

Hanover dominated the match, outshooting the Crusaders by a 22-6 margin and creating a number of great offensive chances.  Even more significantly, the Marauders played one of their more complete defensive games of the season, earning their second straight shutout.  In their past six matches, they have allowed only four goals.

Hanover began the match brightly, creating some instant pressure on Memorial.  Sam Strohbehn, who was dangerous for the entire half,  hit a great shot in the fifth minute that was saved by Memorial goalkeeper Shawn Cawley.  Moments later, Luke Messersmith just missed heading home a cross at the far post.  Hanover had five corners in the half, and all of them were dangerous.

The Marauders got the only goal they needed in the 16th minute on a gorgeous goal by Jake that culminated a superb buildup.  The play started when right back Adam Pikelny stepped up and played the ball to Sam Strohbehn, who carried the ball into a pocket of open space and laid a pass to Asa Berolzheimer on his left.  Berolzheimer his a one-touch pass to Acker on the right side of the penalty area, and the junior midfielder rolled to his left and hit a shot that flew inside the far post and found side netting.  It was a Goal of The Year candidate.

The Marauders kept patiently pushing, with Berolzheimer launching several long-range bids, and Tim Alibozek continuing his superb work up top.  Will Smith (early) and Seth Stadheim (late) also had good looks.

Memorial didn't have many offensive chances, but nearly scored midway through the half when supremely skilled striker Mbambi Mbungu worked his way through the entire Hanover defense, hitting a shot that slid past the right post.  With that one exception,  the Marauders kept the Crusaders bottled up.  Props to the back four of Caldwell, Pych, Pikelny and Smith, and also to senior jack Hazard, who made his second straight start at holding center midfield in place of a healing Jonah Levine.

Hanover's second half was a model of how to manage a match with a slim lead.  They kept pushing offensively, but were intelligent and effective on defense, limiting Memorial to a single shot.  Early in the half, Luke Messersmith worked free on the left size of the box and barely missed a drive past the right post.  Alibozek continued his superb work, hitting shots of every shape and size. 

Connor Edson picked up his third shutout of the season, continuing his solid work in net that has helped the Marauders climb steadily in the standings.  Hanover now sits in a third-place tie with Timberlane, making the match between those two teams in two weeks a compelling one.  The Marauders have business to take care of between now and then, however.  On Wednesday, they travel to Stellos Stadium in Nashua, site of the D1 semifinals in November, and take on Nashua North.  For now, that ought to be the sole soccer game on their minds.