The final regular-season home game for Hanover was a success in every respect. It was Senior Day, and every one of the 20 seniors present got a great send-off, with an amazing 19 of them seeing game action, including three members of the Reserve team. The Marauders entertained a large Saturday crowd with some excellent soccer, defeating a capable and hard-working Alvirne team 3-0. Hanover is now 13-2 on the season, and are inches from clinching third place and a first round bye in the upcoming NHIAA tournament.
Eleven seniors started for the Marauders, and did an excellent job establishing a territorial edge on Alvirne, a well-coached and athletic squad fighting for playoff position. Seven minutes into the match, Hanover's excellence at midfield manifested itself with a seven-pass buildup that created a goal-line chance for Sam Strohbehn that just missed connecting. Strohbehn later made a penetrating run from midfield that came oh so close to getting him right to the goalmouth.
Fifteen minutes into the match a quartet of underclassmen checked into the match, and five minutes later the Marauders had the only goal they would need. Jake Acker started the play, collecting a ball in traffic on the right side of midfield, and hitting a superb crossing pass to Liam Collins on the left side. Collins calmly collected it, took some space, and threaded a great lead pass to a streaking Charlie Adams, who took the ball in stride, measured his shot, and blasted his team-leading ninth goal of the season past Bronco goalkeeper Zach Reddig. One the bench, Assistant Coach Eric Jayne celebrated as Adams tied his record for goals scored by a freshman.
The Marauders were hungry for more. Four minutes later, Collins sent a ball to Henry Kahl right in front of the Alvirne goal. Both Kahl and defender Mike Earl stumbled and then regained their footing, and Kahl was unable to get off a shot. Casey Starr hit a nice running shot from the top of the 18, and Reddig was forced to make an excellent diving fingertip save. With two minutes left in the half, David Seigne made a great run from the left side and was perfectly positioned to receive a pass that gave him a point blank shot, only to see it blocked over the bar by a defender.
Leading by only a goal at halftime, Hanover wasted no time in putting the game away in the first nine minutes of the second half. Less than three minutes after the interval, Charlie Adams disappeared into the left corner, and out of sight of the Hanover bench. Seconds later, the precocious freshman emerged with the ball and streaked toward the goal on the endline, sending a seeing-eye pass to Henry Kahl, closing from the right flank. Kahl rammed the ball home from close range, and the Marauders doubled their lead to 2-0
Alvirne, which had managed only one shot in the first half, was also much more effective on offense in the second half, and five minutes later massive midfielder TJ Lamothe found himself alone in front of the Hanover goal. He hit a quick turnaround shot toward the corner, only to see Patrick Logan make a diving save to his left and push the ball aside. Less than a minute later Sam Strohbehn sent a lead pass to Casey Starr, who was robbed by Redding. The pressure continued, and Kahl made certain seconds later, heading home a sweet centering pass from Adam Pikielny, who was an important offensive presence for Hanover at the most crucial part of the game.
Hanover wanted more. Five minutes after Kahl's goal, Marcus Helble had a shot blocked from close range. Liam Collins and Bauti Gallino had good shots, as the sophomore class continued to make its presence felt. Marauder seniors Roger Danilek, Alvaro Cooper, Sander Macaulay, and Ben Sobel all saw significant playing time, and kept up the high level of play for Hanover. Logan continued his superb play in goal, coming out to the edge of the box to punch away a dangerous corner kick, and then making another diving save, this time on a challenging shot by Nate Gosselin, to preserve his well-earned sixth shutout of the season.
With five minutes to play, there was one more piece of business. Four-year Reserve seniors Liam Abate, Dan Wilson and Avery Wallis had dressed for the game, although their expectations of getting in the match were modest. All three got their shot, and acquitted themselves with composed expertise. Wilson and Wallis combined to help thwart a late-game Alvirne thrust, and then got forward as Hanover earner a final corner kick. Goalkeeper Redding snagged the well-placed kick, with Wallis waiting in perfect position, and Wilson right behind him.
Hanover has one more hurdle before the regular season ends, with a road trip to Salem on Tuesday.
The Blue Devils are jockeying for playoff position, and have one of the top forwards in the state.
Top-ranked Bedford had only allowed two goals all season before last Friday, until Salem scored three on them, eventually losing 5-3. "We'll have to continue our recent run of strong play to get out of there with a win," commented Coach Grabill. "This is exactly the sort of challenge that will help us get ready for the upcoming playoffs. We can't afford to let down, and I'm confident that we can rise to the occasion."
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