Freshmen Drop a 3-1 Decision to Pinkerton

The freshman took to the pitch at Dresden Tuesday for the second game in as many days. They found themselves under partly cloudy skies in cool low 60's. The game was a little late to kick off as Pinkerton had gone to Hanover. The game finally kicked off at 4:45.

Hanover controlled the initial play, catching Pinkerton on their heels. Pinkerton was quick to collapse and protect the 18, while Hanover would try to swing the ball around. Unfortunately it was to no avail. Pinkerton showed a good counter attack that seemed turned aside by Hanover's backs. Pinkerton would open the scoring on one of these counters in the 15th minute. Pinkerton tried their luck from the 18 without many numbers, and it squeaked under Gallimore, who did his best to dive back and get it before it rolled over the line. Hanover would keep pressure, but would have a couple offsides calls keeping them off the sheet to start. Hanover got on the scoreboard when Elias Zinman would play it wide to Liam Collins, who took a touch and placed it right over the keeper and under the bar in the 26th minute. The rest of the half was mostly back and forth through the midfield. Pinkerton would knock one more chance home in the 39th minute with another desperate shot from the corner of the 18. Gallimore read it well, and got a hand on it to punch it, but it found the side netting.
 
The second half was mostly played in the middle third of the field. Each team was making tackles and trying to play the ball through only to be taking turns sending their opponents' offside At one point  Gallimore had made a big save that produced a juicy rebound where a Pinkerton player was ready to net it. Fortunately Gary Li was there to make a lunging save, on what would have been a goal, sending the ball out for a corner. Pinkerton would seal the match with one final goal in the 75th minute. They crossed the ball from right to left and found a foot on the far post and the back of the net. Hanover would continue to play their hearts out, but couldn't muster another.

The Marauders play next on Saturday, hosting Keene at 12:00 on the HHS grass field.  They are invited to come a bit early at 10:00 to watch the varsity game against Pinkerton.

Marauders Beat Nashua North 7-1; Fourth in a Row

Hanover took care of business against a young Nashua North team Wednesday, beating the Titans 7-1 for their fourth win in a row.  Sam Strohbehn scored a hat trick and Seth Stadheim tallied a pair, as the Marauders improved their record to 8-2-1.  Several starters took the opportunity to sit out and rest up for Saturday's showdown with Pinkerton.  There was playing time aplenty for Team Yellow, and the reserves acquitted themselves superbly.

It didn't take Hanover long to get started.  With less than two minutes elapsed in the game, Sam Strohbehn latched onto a ball that had deflected off of a defender, and lashed a shot off the upright and into the back of the net.  Nashua North tied the contest five minutes later when a ball glanced off
a Marauder defender's hand in the box, and the Titans were rewarded with a penalty kick.  North goalkeeper Brett LeBlanc converted the kick to tie the match at 1-1.  It was their only shot on goal for the entire match.

The Marauders were unfazed, and went back ahead two minutes later.  Tim Alibozek played a deft through ball to Strohbehn, who finished bravely in the face of an onrushing LeBlanc, and order was restored.  Midway through the half, the Marauders executed a perfect corner kick.  Asa Berolzheimer hit a far-post that was headed home at the far post by Seth Stadheim.  Fifteen minutes later, Stadheim scored his second of the day and fifth of the year, tapping in a nice cross by Griffin Johnson, who earned his first assist of his career.

The Marauders did well on defense throughout the half with a help of Lucas Blackmore, who made his first career start in place of Ian Caldwell.  Jack Hazard made his third straight start at holding center midfield, and was calm and efficient.  Jack Pattison got a lot of quality time at left back, and played well both offensively and defensively.

Strohbehn got the second half started with a bang, notching his third goal of the afternoon and seventh of the season, converting a pass from Jamie Dinulos, who made a dynamic run through several defenders before unselfishly dishing to Sam.  Dinulos got on the scoreboard ten minutes later, taking a great pass from Asa Berolzheimer and hitting a superb shot that hit the side netting.  The goal was the seventh of the season by Dinulos, and the 12th assist of the campaign by Berolzheimer.

Tim Alibozek, seeking is elusive second goal of the season, hit a wonderful shot that was headed to the corner, only to be denied by LeBlanc, a very competent goalkeeper.  Marcus Helble buzzed a shot over the crossbar from the top of the penalty area, but then got on the board with a nice assist on Hanover's final goal of the game, scored by Robbie Murdza.  Helble put him through, and after his initial shot was saved by the hard-working LeBlanc, Murdza chased the rebound to the goal line and pushed it over for his third goal of the season.

Making an expected win look routine is harder that it looks,  and Hanover played well all afternoon. Now a bigger challenge looms on Saturday.  Defending champion Pinkerton Academy comes to town for a 10:00 a..m match.  The Astros got off to a tough start, but have righted the ship with two one-sided wins in their last two games.  They scored two goal late in the game to tie Bedford, and lost by a goal to both Londonderry and Central. They will be highly motivated to proved that they are starting to round into form, and are ready for tournament play.  They will be hungry for a signature win.

"These are the games that we want to be playing," commented Coach Grabill. "Pinkerton is hard-working, athletic and well-coached.  We will have to play our best to won, and that's the sort of challenge that we need at this time of year."

Junior Varsity Beats Nashua North; Now 7-2-2

The Junior Varsity beat Nashua North 5-0 on a sunny Wednesday, improving their record to 7-2-2.  The Marauders have now won three on a row, all by shutouts.  Sam Ives opened the scoring with his second goal of the season, and David Seigne made it 2-0 with his eighth of the campaign, assisted by Benny Gantrish.

 Gantrish returned the favor, scoring his team-leading 9th goal to lead off the second half scoring, and Seigne had the helper.  Ben Sobel scored his second goal of the year, assisted by Lincoln Adam, to make the score 4-0.  Sander Macaulay finished off the scoring with his sixth goal of the season, assisted by Dimitri Somoff, who gained his first point.

Owen Brooks recorded his third straight shutout in goal.  The Marauders return to action on Saturday morning, hosting Pinkerton Academy at 10:00 a.m.

Reserves Rally to Tie Kimabll Union 2-2

The Reserves played one of their best matches of the season on a sparkling fall afternoon at The Pasture, scoring in the final five minutes of each half and rallying to tie Kimball Union Academy 2-2.
The visitors drew first blood early in the first half on a good shot from the right flank that gave Arturo Johnson little chance to make the save.  Arturo was flawless the rest of the way, and the Marauders controlled the match and scored near the end of the first half on a beautiful free kick by Francesco Trentinaglia.

The scoring pass repeated itself in the second half.  Jasper Zeng took over in goal and was beaten on a long, high cross/shot that got lost in the sun.  From then on, however, Jasper  secured the net for the remainder of the game. Hanover was undaunted, and continued their pressing attack, getting good play from everyone.  Mal Flynn and Mason Mallett were strong on the flanks, and George Geraghty and Tenzing Rumrill were dangerous up front.  With time running down in the match, Geraghty controlled a loose ball and hit a hard shot that deflected off a KUA defender and found the back of the net, tying the match at 2-2.

The Reserves return to action on Friday, hosting Mount Royal Academy at The Pasture in a 4:30 match.

Varsity Soccer Update - Nashua North Game Location

The Varsity game against Nashua North High School on Wednesday will be played at the high school, and not at Stellos Stadium, as previously announced.  Both Varsity and JV games will be at the high school, and both will take place at 4:30.

JV Practice on HHS Grass Field Tuesday

Thanks to the generosity of the JV Girls' program, the JV Boys will be using half of the HHS grass field for practice today form 3:30 - 5:00.  Please spread the word.

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.