Team Award

HANOVER HIGH SOCCER WINS SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

For the third year on a row, the Hanover High School boys soccer team has been voted as the winner of the Class I Sportsmanship Award.

The balloting by Class I coaches is based on the following criteria: On-field behavior; playing by the true intent of the rules; being courteous - greeting visitors as guests; and spectator behavior.

"Of all the honors and accolades our team has received this season, this is by far the most significant," commented Coach Rob Grabill. "This has been a specific goal of ours every season, and I think it is well deserved. We try to honor the game every time we set foot on the field, and the players deserve a great deal of credit for making sportsmanship a top priority."

"Even better, this is an honor that can be shared by our entire soccer community. The criteria reflect the hospitality extended by the parents and the high school staff, and the emphasis by the administration on appropriate behavior on the part of spectators."

Grabill continued: "I feel that this award also acknowledges the commitment to community service which is now second nature for the players. They are together as a team because of their unselfishness as individuals."

Team Recognition

Team celebratory pile after Hanover's golden-goal in the championship game

The New Hampshire Soccer Coaches Association has selected the 2008 All-State Soccer Teams, which will be announced shortly through the local media.

Four members of the Hanover High School Class I Champions were honored, including an impressive three members of the First Team, seniors Yosef Osheyack, Ben Rimmer and Trevor Barlowe. In addition, senior Kevin Dade was an Honorable Mention selection.

Osheyack, Rimmer and Barlowe have been invited to try out for the Lions Twin State Soccer Cup team this coming Saturday in Concord.

Ben Rimmer led the Marauders in scoring with 10 goals and a team-leading 12 assists. His three-year scoring total of 17 goals and 25 assists places him in a tie for ninth (with Elmer Maxfield 63-63 and Chris Clark 90-92) on the all-time Hanover list. Rimmer's spectacular goal in sudden death overtime gave Hanover a 1-0 win over Monadnock in the first round of the NHIAA Playoffs.

Yosef Osheyack will long be remembered for scoring the wining goals in both the Semifinals and Finals in this year's NHIAA Championship. His deciding goal in a shootout gave Hanover a win over Oyster River, and his dazzling run with two minutes remaining in the second overtime lifted the Marauders to the victory over St. Thomas in the title game. His scoring totals of 2 goals and 8 assists reflected an increased defensive responsibility, and few midfielders worked harder at both ends of the field. His career totals of 18 goals and 17 assists tie him for 17th overall in Hanover history. A member of the U.S. National Deaf Soccer team, Yosef competed in the Deaf World Cup in Greece last summer, and is hoping to rejoin the team this summer for the Deaf Olympics in Taiwan.

Trevor Barlowe was a standout member of the strongest Hanover defensive unit in school history last fall, and was asked to assume new duties this season as a defensive midfielder, filling the shoes of All-New England star Angus Kennedy. He succeeded far beyond those high expectations, dominating every game both in the air and as the best shutdown defender in the state. His ball handling skills allowed him to not only win balls but also initiate the attack in many instances, and facilitate the switching of the point of attack for a Hanover offense that was the most prolific in Class I. Like his co-Captain Ben Rimmer, Barlowe provided superlative leadership on and off the field.

Kevin Dade evolved from defender to little-used reserve in his sophomore and junior years to the team's leading scorer with 12 goals, part of a deadly tandem with fellow senior Henry Caldwell. Scoring six goals on headers from crosses and free kicks taken by classmate Lou Gemunden, Dade saved his best performances for big games, scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Lebanon, the winning goal in the 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Merrimack Valley, and tallying two spectacular goals and the game winning assist in the State Championship game (after the all-state voting deadline).

"All of these honors are richly deserved," commented Coach Rob Grabill. "These seniors and their classmates have worked hard to improve every aspect of their game, and it is appropriate for them to receive this recognition from the Class I coaches. At the same time it is important to recognize that what we stressed all season was not individual accomplishment, but cohesive team play. We were a championship team because every player contributed, even those who had limited playing time or none at all. It was our unselfishness and good chemistry that characterized our success, and it is in that spirit that we celebrate these individual honors."

It was also announced at the NHSCA meeting that Coach Rob Grabill was the recipient of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Large School Coach of the Year award for New Hampshire. He is now eligible for the NSCAA Region 1 Coach of the Year award, an honor he received in 2007.

All Together Now

2008 Soccer team after Hanover’s fourth consecutive championship

Game Write-ups

A couple of more write-ups on the championship game from Foster’s Daily Democrat here and the Seacoastonline here.

Class I Champs

Hanover soccer hoists the trophy after Saturday’s championship win

Coach Grabill

Coach Rob Grabill receives the team trophy
Thanks Coach, well done!

Hanover Wins State Title

HANOVER WINS CLASS I TITLE 3-2 WITH A GOLDEN GOAL

The Hanover High boys soccer team earned its fourth consecutive Class I title with a 3-2 victory in sudden death overtime against undefeated St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Yosef Osheyack’s spectacular goal with less than two minutes remaining before a looming shootout gave the Marauders the win in dramatic fashion, completing their second consecutive undefeated season with a record of 19-0-1. Hanover has now gone undefeated in 47 games.

Hanover led 1-0 at halftime on a goal by senior Kevin Dade and took a 2-1 lead on Dade’s second of the day and 12th of the year at the 50-minute mark after St. Thomas tied the match five minutes into the second half. The hard-working Saints drew level with 20 minutes remaining, and from that point the two sides battled back and forth in spectacular fashion through almost 60 minutes of pulsating soccer before Osheyack electrified the crowd at Stellos Stadium with a dazzling run through the St. Thomas defense that culminated in his point-blank golden goal.

The win puts this edition of the Marauders in rare company among the many storied teams in Hanover history. The Class I championship is the school’s 15th since 1968, adding to their lead (15-13 over Gilford) in total titles. This mark also ties the Maruaders with three other schools for fifth all-time in state titles nationally. It is the first time that any school in Class I or Class L has won four consecutive championships.

The Marauders also distinguished themselves as one of the best teams both offensively and defensively in Hanover history. They allowed only seven goals in 20 games, tying them for the fifth-fewest ever. Their total of 14 shutouts is the third best of all time. On the offensive end, their total of 65 goals ties them for eighth all time.

The championship match with St. Thomas promised to be something special, pitting two unbeaten teams with identical 18-0-1 records. It was understandable that the first few minutes would be tentative, but as the time elapsed approached ten and then fifteen minutes, the quality of soccer on both sides was dreadful. Neither team could connect on more than two passes, and the ball was in the air constantly. This was hardly a showcase for NH high school soccer at its best. It looked more like a rec league game, and it wouldn’t have been surprising for a soccer mom to come rushing out at halftime with a tray full of orange slices.

It wasn’t even until twenty minutes had elapsed before either team launched a shot towards the goal, but Hanover made the first move to establish some possession and then some coherence. Shortly after they had linked five or six passes and the smarter soccer fans in the stands stopped wincing, Kevin Dade struck with the speed and accuracy of a king cobra, receiving a ball at the top of the penalty box, spinning to his left and lashing a shot past sprawling St. Thomas goalie Ken Grade. The 1-0 lead gave the Marauders even more confidence, and they began to assert their customary control as the first half came to a close, although neither team had a serious scoring threat.

Any illusions that Hanover harbored about managing the match and winning by the customary score of 1-0 were rudely dismissed at the five minute mark of the second half when shifty Saint midfielder Doug Crow broke loose on the left and served a ball into the box that was headed home expertly by Taylor MacDonald to tie the match. If Hanover was momentarily shocked they were hardly undone, and having already committed to going after their second goal they now pressed forward with purpose. No more than five minutes had gone by before the Marauders re-took the lead when Lou Gemunden, playing the game of his life, served a long free kick into the box and Dade redirected it with his head into the corner of the net. The goal was Dade’s 12th of the season, giving him the team scoring title and culminating a truly remarkable career rise.

The Marauders didn’t relax at this point, but St. Thomas showed incredible heart, and refused to go away. Although they never managed to successfully penetrate the Hanover defense, they didn’t need to do so 10 minutes after Dade’s goal when a long free kick from the right side by Crow found ginger-headed stopper Zac Joostens free on the doorstep of Rhys Cyrus in the Hanover goal. In the ensuing scramble the ball found the back of the net, and the match was again a draw at 2-2.

St. Thomas had a right to be brimming with confidence, and Hanover had every reason to be back on their heels. Nevertheless, it was the Marauders who responded over the remaining ten minutes of regulation and throughout the two 20 minute golden goal overtimes. The pace of the game continued to accelerate, but despite the urgency, the rain, and the fatigue, both teams produced nothing less than great soccer. Gemunden had the best bid in regulation, hitting a free kick that was barely tipped over the bar by Grade.

The overtimes could not have been more exciting. Play surged back and forth, and produced a large number of agonizingly close chances. Hanover had two glittering chances in the first overtime, once when Ben Rimmer headed a Gemunden corner kick back across the face of the goal, and once when Dade raced underneath a sky-high shot by Osheyack and got there just after Grade handled the dive-bombing ball cleanly on his goal line. St. Thomas had only one real chance, but it should have ended the match. Byron Greenwood broke into the box on the end of some nice combination play and had only Cyrus to beat to win the match. Somehow, the agile Hanover keeper got a foot on Greenwood’s bid for glory, the Marauders dodged a bullet.

The second overtime produced more of the same frantic football. Cyrus made a great save when a long free kick by Crow threatened to tuck under the bar before he flicked it over the top, earning the Saints their only corner kick of the match, which was well-defended by the hard-working Dan Remillard and Mike Tecca. Hanover came excruciatingly close three times, including once when a long cross by Nate Hanna kept sailing and turned into a shot that clanged off the crossbar long after Grade had given up it. Dade just missed on a close-in shot, and Gemunden nearly won the match with a powerful run into the box and a hard shot that deflected off of a defender and out of bounds.

With the two-minute mark approaching, it seemed almost certain that the match would be decided by a shootout. While Hanover had every reason to be optimistic about this prospect, given their semifinal success, there is also no question that ending a championship match with any sort of tiebreaker is unappealing, and this would have been particularly true after such an epic battle. Many athletic teams have been known to watch the movie “300” to prepare for a hard-fought match. From now on, they should show the Hanover-St. Thomas game film. Into this cauldron of ultimate athletic pressure strode Yosef Osheyack, fresh off his game-winning shootout performance on Wednesday. Truth be told, the senior midfielder had played better games this year. Hampered by a bad bruise behind his knee, Yo-Yo had been out of sorts for much of the evening. Yet like he had done all season and all of his career, he kept plugging. Determined to make a difference, he took the ball on the left flank and cut inside first one and then a second flagging St. Thomas midfielder. He laid the ball to Dade, the day’s other scoring hero and raced ahead for a return pass from Dade that put him into the box at top speed. Osheyack needed to slow to dodge a final defender, but he kept him composure and calmly buried the ball to give Hanover a richly-deserved championship. Hanover’s bravest player was now the team’s hero for all time.

Further match analysis, perspective and kudos will need to wait. Hanover has had a great deal of hard work invested into this season by players, parents and coaches, and the list of credits is not only long but important to enumerate sometime soon. It’s hard to imagine a better championship scenario, given the earlier success of the Hanover girls’ team, the gallantry of the opposition, and the courage and composure shown by the Marauders. Thirteen wonderful seniors can clutch their championship medals and walk into the rainy night, knowing that they more than fulfilled their responsibility to lead this team on and off the field. Speculation about the future has no place here. This is and ought to be all about the here and now, and a team which embodied so much of what is good in high school sports. Their school and larger community will be proud of them as players, teammates and human beings. They have humbled the fortunate coaches who have done their best to shape them, and their investment of themselves gives them full ownership of their achievement.

Writeups in the Valley News here and the Manchester Union leader here.

Double Wins!

Both HHS Boys and Girls Soccer teams won their championship matches in the final moments.

Hanover Boys 3 - St. Thomas 2 (2OT)
Hanover Girls 1 - Hollis-Brokline 0 (79')

More details in the morning....

Double Header Saturday

Senior goal-keeper Rhys Cyrus wraps a shot up against Lebanon

HHS Boys and Girls Soccer teams head to Stellos Stadium on Saturday November 8, for final matches of the season.

Girls game vs Hollis-Brookline scheduled to start at 1:00 pm

Boys game vs St. Thomas scheduled to start at 3:00 pm

OR Semifinal Summary

HANOVER NIPS OYSTER RIVER IN SHOOTOUT; ON TO FINALS

The Hanover High boys’ soccer team beat Oyster River in a shootout after 120 minutes of scoreless soccer to advance to the NHIAA Class I finals on Saturday. The Marauders, seeking their fourth straight title, will face off against St. Thomas Aquinas at 3:00 at Stellos Stadium in Nashua, immediately after the girls’ Class I Final featuring Hanover and Hollis-Brookline.

After recording his third straight playoff shutout, Rhys Cyrus dominated the shootout for Hanover, stopping all three shots he faced. Hanover took an early lead on goals by Ben Rimmer and Henry Caldwell, and after Eric Jayne’s shot was saved and Cyrus made his third straight save, Yosef Osheyack lined up for an attempt that could ice the game and coolly connected on his shot before being buried by a wave of celebrating teammates.
Now 18-0-1 on the season, the Marauders have established a new school record by stretching their unbeaten streak to 46 games, the third-longest in New Hampshire history, and longer than any other Class I or Class L school.

The shootout win was well-deserved for Hanover, which outshot Oyster River in regulation and 40 minutes of overtime, but couldn’t connect on a number of scoring bids. The Marauder defense, which recorded its 14th shutout of the season and 29th in two years, limited Oyster River to six shots on goal.

The Bobcats created their best scoring chances of the match in the opening moments, as Jake Gross blasted a long shot from the left that was tipped over the bar by Cyrus. After the ensuing corner kick, Owen Gehling got a great look from the top of the box that sailed over the bar, and Oyster River spent the rest of the half playing defense. Eric Jayne retaliated almost immediately with a good-looking shot that just missed the far post, and Kevin Dade and Henry Caldwell both came close twice. Dade just missed connecting on a header that would have beaten Benuck after he ghosted past the Oyster River defense. Ben Rimmer came up just short after his anticipatory run left him just short of beating Benuck to the ball after another Dade header.

Hanover continued to have an edge in play in the second half, with several more near misses. Ben Rimmer had two hard shots on goal that were saved by Oyster River goalkeeper Zack Benuck, who also made a great stop on Henry Caldwell after a pirouetting move on the left baseline that saw him elude two defenders before Benuck snuck out the goal and made a daring dive at Caldwell’s feet to corral the ball. Although Oyster River was never able to penetrate the Marauder defense, they regularly mustered the skill and tactical ability to possess the ball and probe the outer fringes. Hanover defenders Mike Tecca, Dan Remillard, Nate Hanna and Lou Gemunden continued their spectacular postseason run of spotless postseason soccer, aided by the ferocious midfield defense of Trevor Barlowe. Bobcat scoring threat Ben Rollins had one hard shot on goal late in the half, but it was right at Cyrus, who never flinched.

The Marauders ramped up the attack in the first overtime, coming perilously close to scoring on several occasions. Lou Gemunden lofted a ball into the Oyster River penalty area that Dade headed across the face of the goal to Osheyack at the far post, where he narrowly missed tucking in the wining goal. Hanover was getting good bench minutes from several sources, and both Gunnar Shaw and Oscar Eriksson came close to scoring. Shaw just missed a header at the goal line, and Eriksson was open at the far post for Henry Caldwell’s cross, but his header was a few feet wide of the upright on the other side.

Both teams sagged in the second overtime, although it was clear that neither savored the idea of the looming 35-yard shootout. Neither side had the legs to accomplish much as the clock ran down, and they gathered at midfield to watch five shooters from each side take their allotted seven seconds to dribble in alone for a scoring attempt. Oyster River had advanced to the semifinals by beating Bow in the contrived tiebreaker, but Hanover hadn’t needed to endure a shootout since beating Lebanon in the quarterfinals of their 2005 championship run.

Rimmer confidently stepped up as the first shooter and capped a great game with a well-executed dribble and deke. Cyrus then initiated his heroics by snuffing Nate Drogseth, and already a ripple went through the Hanover hearts. Even that early, a cocky Coach Grabill circulated through his troops and predicted victory. Caldwell showed senior smarts with a short run and a blast that went through Benuck for a 2-0 lead. Cyrus calmly corralled defender David Wilson, and already the lead was almost unassailable. After Eric Jayne’s offering was saved by Benuck, Cyrus made a remarkable third save in a row on Jesse Brown, and it was sudden death. Osheyack, had been the most demonstrative on the team in declaring his desire to be a shooter, and he backed it up with a twisting run and a rip into the back of the net to give Hanover sudden victory and a ticket to the finals.

The Marauders will face their toughest challenge of the year Saturday in 18-0-1 St. Thomas, a senior-laden team of destiny that has been fixated on the finals since the season’s start. St. Thomas is the only team to score more than a goal on Hanover in the last two seasons, taking a 2-1 lead on them in last year’s game in Dover before the Marauders rallied late in the game to take a 3-2 victory. Having seen them expertly dispatch Con-Val 1-0 in the first semifinal game at Stellos, the Marauders have a good idea of what to expect. They have also seen the quote in Foster’s Daily Democrat from St. Thomas Coach Steve Suleski, who opined that his club would rather face Hanover than Oyster River in the finals.

“We still have a great game left in us,” commented Grabill. “I hope that this opportunity brings it out of us. We have worked very hard to get to this stage of the season, and we’ll do our best to leave everything on the field.”

Also game writeups in the Valley News here and the Seacoastonline here

Semifinal vs Oyster River

Senior back Lou Gemunden serves one into the box against Merrimack Valley

Semifinal game vs Oyster River on Wednesday, November 5, at 6 pm.
Carpooling to Stellos encouraged, meet at the HHS flagpole at 4 pm.

DIRECTIONS TO STELLOS STADIUM (5 Riverside St. Nashua, NH): I-89 South to I-93 South. Take Everett Turnpike/I-293 towards Manchester and Nashua. Everett Turnpike becomes US-3 South. Take Exit 5W (first ramp for exit 5); go right off the exit for about 0.25 miles. Turn right at the lights and Police Station. Stadium is first driveway on the left. Approx. drive time 1.75 hours. Mapquest directions to Stellos here.

Merrimack Playoff Summary

HANOVER BEATS MERRIMACK VALLEY 1-0 TO REACH SEMIS

The Hanover High boys soccer team used timely scoring and spectacular goalkeeping to beat Merrimack Valley 1-0 in an NHIAA quarterfinal match Saturday at Merriman-Branch Field. The Marauders now move to Stellos Stadium in Nashua on Wednesday to play Oyster River in the Class I semifinals at 6:00 p.m.. The win gave top-seeded Hanover a 17-0-1 record and extended their unbeaten streak to 45 games, tying the all-time Hanover record, which is also the third-longest in New Hampshire history.

Kevin Dade’s textbook header on a Lou Gemunden cross early in the second half was the only goal the Marauders needed, but it took several standout saves by senior goalkeeper Rhys Cyrus, including a world-class stop at the death of the match, to ensure the victory. Hanover has now won three straight matches by a 1-0 score, and recorded 13 shutouts on the season, establishing them as the top defensive squad in the state in any class.

Playing a confident Merrimack Valley team that had beaten Lebanon 4-2 on the same site three days earlier, the Marauders nevertheless took control of the tempo early, outshooting the Pride 8-2 and hitting the woodwork twice. Early in the match a cross from the corner by Nate Hanna kissed the crossbar on its way through the box, and later in the half Lou Gemunden hit a rocket from outside the penalty area that deflected hard off the Kwik Goal decal (ooh, product placement!) and into the ravine. Each one of Hanover’s top strikers (Dade, Caldwell Rimmer, Jayne, Osheyack and Eriksson) had a good look before the half ended, but none found paydirt.

Merrimack Valley was not able to muster much offense in the first half, recording two shots in the directions of the Hanover net. Each of these, however, was a challenging long-range free kick by Pride leading scorer Aaron Smith, whose on-target attempts coming straight out of the blazing sun were handled with aplomb by Rhys Cyrus. Smith, who is also the placekicker for the Merrimack Valley football team, found himself continuing a funk that carried over from the night before, when he missed an extra point and had a field goal attempt blocked in Hanover’s 28-27 overtime win over the Pride.

Halftime was enlivened by a brief ceremony honoring 10 members of the 1968 Hanover High team that beat New London 3-0 for the first of 14 state titles for the Marauders. The team presented Athletic Director Mike Jackson with a new version of their missing NHIAA title plaque, which will be installed on the Wall of Champions. Highlights of the season included fond memories of Coach David Ford, the team trip to Europe prior to the season, and the team’s semifinal victory over Oyster River. (Hmmmm….)

Discarding their recent tendency to delay the scoring of the deciding goal until fan discomfort levels were too high (though never worrisome for their cold-blooded coach), the Marauders got right to work in the second half and tallied the game-winner at 49:04 when Dade redirected Gemunden’s centering pass for his 10th goal of the season. The assist was Lou’s second game winner in two games and eighth in the past ten. It may not be his last of the season. Hanover kept up the pressure, with the Ben Rimmer Passion Play orchestrating several melodramatic near misses, and Ben Harris, subbing ably for a dinged-up Yosef Osheyack, getting a nice shot on target. Miles Peterson had a great run at the end and hit a centering pass that was ably collected by MVHS keeper Codi Labreque.

The Pride had one last shot at evening the match, and it produced a moment of high drama. The clock had stopped at 2:00 for a good while when the snakebit Smith sought to set straight his several shanks, launching a laser from well outside the penalty box that was headed for the upper right corner. Cyrus was equal to the task, launching leftward horizontally and lunging to flick the ball wide of the upright as time expired. It was a fitting end to a playoff match that lived up to the advance billing of high-level high school soccer as it ought to be.

The Marauders now turn their attention to longtime rival Oyster River, and the resumption of a clash between the two best programs in the history of NH high school soccer. Each has won three straight Class I titles in this decade alone. The last time they met in postseason was two years ago at Stellos, when the Marauders beat the Bobcats 2-1 in a scintillating semifinal on Casey Maue’s golden goal. Since then, the two teams have encountered each other twice, and both games have ended in goalless draws. This Wednesday the unfinished business will be concluded, and one team will walk away a winner.

Week of Nov 3

With a 1-0 win over Merrimack Valley on Saturday, Hanover advances in the Class I Tournament. A well-played match on both sides, Kevin Dade headed in the game winner on a cross provided by Lou Gemunden in the 49th minute. A brief write up in the Concord Monitor here.

Varsity practice will be from 6:15 - 7:45 p.m. on Monday and 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Merriman-Branch Field.

Hanover will play their semi-final match against Oyster River at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday November 5, at Stellos Stadium in Nashua. The team will leave immediately after school, no early dismissal is necessary.

Senior Night

During halftime of the Monadnock game, coach Rob Grabill served as MC for 2008 Senior Night, in recognition of the team’s seniors and the support provided by their parents. Photos courtesy of Tiger Shaw.

Henry Caldwell

Kevin Dade

Lou Gemunden

Jake Harris

Andrew Holzberger

Chris Jayne

Yosef Osheyack

Miles Peterson

Mike Tecca

Trevor Barlowe

Ben Rimmer

Rhys Cyrus

Andrew Holzberger (Kim back from concession stand!)

Oscar Eriksson

Playoff Game Saturday

Senior striker Kevin Dade sends one goalward against Lebanon

On Saturday November 1, the NHIAA boys' soccer playoff game between Hanover and Merrimack Valley will be at Merriman-Branch Field. The scheduled start time is 2:00 p.m.

At halftime, we will be honoring members of the 1968 Hanover High School team that won our first State Championship. There will be a sign-up sheet at the top of the stairs so please sign in to let us know how many players we have on hand.

Monadnock Playoff Summary

HANOVER BEATS MONADNOCK 1-0 IN OVERTIME THRILLER

The Hanover High boys soccer team opened their Class I title defense with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Monadnack in the second sudden death overtime. Ben Rimmer’s spectacular goal moved the Marauders into the quarterfinals on Saturday and a rematch with Merrimack Valley, surprise 4-2 winners over Lebanon earlier in the day.

Hanover outshot the Huskies by an astonishing 44-5 margin, but spectacular goalkeeping by Monadnock’s Nicco Demarco and equally solid sweeper play by Ryan Hart helped to frustrate the Marauders until Rimmer’s 10th goal of the season in the 104th minute of a well-played NHIAA first-round contest

Monadnock conceded a territorial advantage right from the outset, but most of Hanover’s first-half shots were from long-range, and fairly easy pickings for the tall, aggressive Demarco in goal. He was equally adept at picking off a series of Marauder crosses. In the meantime, Hart, who bedeviled the Hanover basketball team last winter as the point guard for the Huskies’ Cinderella Class I hoop heroes, was the court of last resort in the center of the Monadnock defense, getting the final touch a number of times in one on one situations.

Although Monadnack had very few forays into the Hanover end, there were two telling ones in the first half. Striker Tyler Merchant hit a bad angle shot from the left side that momentarily handcuffed Rhys Cyrus in the Marauder goal, but there were no Huskies in position for a rebound. Later in the half, Cyrus saved the season when speedy Josh Guion broke away cleanly and came in alone on Crusher. Cyrus, who had looked solid in practicing for the shootout on Monday, held his ground and made a point blank save, snuffing the rebound and effectively ending any Monadnock hopes of scoring in regulation. Cyrus also hauled in a difficult high shot by Kyle Simpson in the second half. Hanover goalies have it tough, having to wait for long stretches before they are called upon, and at times needing to make big saves. Cyrus more than proved his worth, and in many ways was one of the heroes of the game.

Hanover stayed composed in the second half, and a number of their shots were from closer range, requiring Demarco to make a number of hard saves. The Marauders actually put the ball behind Demarco with only a few minutes left in regulation when Yosef Osheyack pounced on a rebound and rammed it home. The play was inexplicably ruled offside, and once again Hanover’s composure came to the fore. The Marauders moved on without a peep, and stayed focused on the task at head, and this is what eventually won them the game. As the half wound down, a number of Hanover players began to tire, and the Marauders got valuable bench minutes from Ben Harris, Oscar Eriksson, Miles Peterson and Gunnar Shaw. This, too, may have set Hanover up for their overtime triumph.

Hanover completely dominated the extra sessions, and stayed patient as the shot totals piled up. Cautioned by Coach Grabill before the second overtime to be careful not to harm any teammates in the celebratory pigpile, the Marauders created a beautiful goal when tireless Henry Caldwell colleted a ball in the right corner and centered it to Lou Gemunden, who deftly rolled a back-heel to Rimmer, cutting behind him into the middle. Hanover’s leading scorer took a touch and then blasted a left footed laser into the upper left corner, and the matched ended on an appropriately high moment.

Hanover is now 16-0-1 on the season, and stretched their undefeated streak to 44 games. They will host Merrimack Valley on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.. The Pride will be making their third trip to Merriman-Branch Field in 10 days, having lost a tight 1-0 contest a week ago and beaten 8th seed Lebanon in a game preceding the Hanover-Monadnock tilt. “This will be an extremely challenging game,” commented Grabill. “They will be playing with no fear and indeed they have no reason to fear us. We will have to be playing our best to continue the season.” The game will be highlighted by a halftime ceremony honoring members of the 1968 Hanover High team that won the first NH title in school history, exactly 40 years ago.

Playoff Game Wednesday

Senior captain Ben Rimmer in action against Oyster River

The Hanover boys will host Monadnock in a NHIAA Class I first round playoff game on Wednesday Oct 29 at 6:00 p.m. at Hanover High's Merriman-Branch Field.

At halftime, we will honor the 13 senior players and their parents.

Prior to that game, Lebanon High will host Merrimack Valley in their NHIAA game, kicking off at 3:00 p.m.

If Hanover and Lebanon both win, the Quarterfinal NHIAA game will be in Hanover on Saturday Nov 1 at 2:00 p.m.

If Hanover wins, we will honor the 1968 Hanover High Championship team at halftime of the Nov 1 game, marking the 40th anniversary of Hanover's 1st State Championship.

Monday Oct 27

Monday's varsity boys' practice has been changed from 7:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (4:00 - 5:30) on the HHS Turf due to the cancellation of the JV Football game. Please spread the word.

Merrimack Valley Summary

HANOVER BOYS BEAT MV 1-0 TO FINISH UNBEATEN SEASON

The Hanover High boys closed their regular season with a 1-0 victory over Merrimack Valley, ending with a record of 15-0-1 for their second consecutive undefeated season. The Marauders have clinched the top seed in the NHIAA Class I Tournament, which will open next Wednesday with a home game. The win extended Hanover’s unbeaten streak to 43 games, two away from the third-longest streak in NH history, currently held by the Hanover 1992-1994 teams.

Merrimack Valley came into the match with a record of 10-4-1 and was eager to prove themselves playoff-ready. It because clear quickly that they were making a strong commitment to defense, clogging the midfield with five players and sacrificing any sort of territorial edge. This was certainly reflected in the 22-1 shot margin enjoyed by the Marauders, who had to work long and hard before a dazzling goal by Henry Caldwell in the 73rd minute decided the match. It was an exercise in patience for Hanover, and a credit to their maturity that they passed a test which will make them stronger in the playoff hunt to come.

The Marauders started the game at less than full strength, with Lou Gemunden on the bench resting a pulled groin and Kevin Dade sitting for an important exam in his Dartmouth math course. Apparently the Dartmouth professors aren’t impressed by the world-shattering significance of the Class I soccer world. Gunnar Shaw and Oscar Eriksson did a fine job filling in, and Hanover created a number of good chances in the first half, with near misses off the feet of Yosef Osheyack and Ben Rimmer.

Looking for more offense in the second half, Coach Grabill moved Osheyack to striker and inserted Ben Harris in Osheyack’s slot as a flank midfielder. Hanover pressed forward with increasing urgency, aided by Trevor Barlowe’s energy at midfield. Barlowe, Rimmer and Henry Caldwell all saw good chances miss by a whisker, and as the clock wound below the ten-minute mark, the frigid fans wondered if overtime would be in store.

These are the moments made for big-time players who are at their best in the dying moments of important games. Henry Caldwell has been training for years for times like this, and when his team needed him the most, he didn’t disappoint. Taking the ball inside the midfield mark on his favored left side of the field, Caldwell juked past two defenders and found room before a third closed on him, ripping a shot that found the side netting inside the far post for his 11th goal of a truly stellar senior season and a 1-0 lead.

Faced with killing the clock for the final seven minutes, the Marauders played some of their most attractive soccer of the season, continuing to push forward for a second score and pinning Merrimack Valley deep in their end with a dazzling display of intelligent short passing. The clinching goal almost came in the form of a header by Yosef Osheyack that just cleared the crossbar, but it was clear that the 1-0 lead was safer than a pedestrian crossing Lebanon street in front of Hanover High School after dismissal.

It was another great game for the Marauder defense, which recorded its 11th shutout of the season, finishing the 16-game regular season schedule with only five goals allowed. Not one of the five regular defenders (Shaw, Tecca, Remillard, Hanna and Gemunden) was a starter at back until this season, but they have molded into a unit which can claim to be as effective as any in Hanover history.

Parts of the Class I playoff picture will be murky until the playoff pairings are announced by the NHIAA on Monday, but it appears very likely that Hanover, tied with St. Thomas at the top of the table with a 15-0-1 mark, will take the top seed by virtue of having a better record over playoff-bound teams. This will earn them a first-round game on Wednesday against 16th seed Monadnock. The default time for all first round games is 3:00, but it’s possible that the kickoff will occur at 6:00. Stay tuned for details.

“It’s been a grand season so far,” commented Grabill, “not for the records but for how well the team has played and for the progress they have made. They are eager to see how much better they can be, and the days ahead will provide that opportunity. These are the times that every Hanover player dreams of, and they will be ready.”

Laconia Summary

HANOVER HAMMERS LACONIA 4-0 IN PLAYOFF PREVIEW

In a match billed as a preview of a possible late-stage playoff game, the Hanover boys beat a good Laconia side 4-0 on a rainy Tuesday night at Merriman-Branch Field. Henry Caldwell and Kevin Dade each scored twice in a well-played contest that was much closer than the final score suggests, courtesy of three goals in the final nine minutes. Until then, only Caldwell’s first half strike separated the two teams on the scoreboard, despite a significant disparity in offensive opportunities.

Laconia entered the match with a record of 12-1-1, having suffered that lone 3-1 defeat at Hanover’s hands more than a month ago. The Sachems were well-coached and very competitive, and they pressed the Marauders to be at the top of their game. Hanover responded with a withering offensive attack and a stifling defensive display that created a 32-2 disparity in shots and a 9-0 margin in corner kicks. Laconia goalkeeper Justin Wirth was brilliant in defeat with 16 saves, and Rhys Cyrus was not called upon to make a save in chalking up the tenth shutout of the season for the Marauders, now 14-0-1 and unbeaten in 42 consecutive matches.

Statistics can be deceiving. The match was much closer than the numbers indicate. After the normal settling-in period when most of the game was contested at midfield, the Marauders began knocking at Laconia’s door. Henry Caldwell clanged a shot off the crossbar, and then Kevin Dade’s close-range rip was denied by a good save form Wirth. Thirteen minutes into the match, Hanover struck paydirt when Nate Hanna hit a hard serve into the box that was misplayed by a Laconia defender. The ball fell to the feet of Caldwell, who lashed his ninth goal of the year into the net for a 1-0 lead. The Marauders continued to press throughout the first half, but were unable to increase their advantage. Nate Hanna saw a hit long shot tipped over the crossbar and out by Wirth, who also saved another header by Caldwell.

Hanover was doing a good job keeping the Laconia attack at bay, and as the half wore on it was increasingly hard for the Sachems to get the numbers forward needed to support striker Arso Kuridza and Will Salta, who were significant offensive threats. Salta sailed a long shot goalward in the early going, but was otherwise kept at bay by the midfield defense of Trevor Barlowe in particular. Mike Tecca and Dan Remillard keyed an equally strong backline effort that kept Kuridza bottled up.

Heading into the second half, the Hanover lead of 1-0 looked fairly frail. The wet weather conditions not only held attendance well below certain optimistic pregame estimates, but it also raised the specter of a single bobble in the box that could knot the score. The Marauders were implored to attack even more energetically, and they responded. Both Caldwell and Dade had good bids denied in the early going, and Hanover pounded away. Dade launched an amazing total of eight legitimate shots in the half, and Caldwell wasn’t far behind with five. Nevertheless, it took another thirty minutes of steady pressure before they broke through. Just when the coach was questioning the wisdom of going without a single sub for the entire match, the Marauders broke the game open with three goals in the final nine minutes.

Dade got it started, finishing a sweet sequence that began with a throw-in from Ben Rimmer which was volleyed by Lou Gemunden to Dade, whose header was almost as nice as the one he authored eight hours earlier in activity period. Hungry for more, he hammered home a rebound after Hanna’s long shot from the left flank was blocked but not cleared. After a hard foul on Rimmer at the edge of the box, the Marauder Captain responded appropriately, lofting the ensuing free kick to Yosef Osheyack, whose header was saved to the feet of Caldwell, who lashed it into the back of the net for his tenth goal of the season. The assist was Rimmer’s 12th of the campaign.

The win moved the Marauders into a first-place tie at the top of the Class I standings with St. Thomas Aquinas, also owners of a 14-0-1 mark. Each team has a match remaining in the regular season, and if both sides do the expected on Thursday, it’s likely that the top seed in the Class I Tournament will fall to the Marauders, who have a better record against tournament teams. First things first. Merrimack Valley comes calling Thursday for a 5:30 match, and the Pride, winners in five of their last six contests and holders of a 10-4-1 record, are fighting for a first-round match at home. The resulting match should be another playoff-quality affair, hopefully with fewer raindrops and more fans.

Schedule Oct 20-Nov 1

GAME AND PRACTICE SCHEDULE – Oct. 20-Nov. 1

Mon. Oct. 20
Reserve Game at Lebanon 4:30 p.m. (Depart 3:45)
JV Practice – Huntley 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Varsity Practice – HHS Turf 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Tue. Oct. 21
Reserve Practice – Richmond 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
JV Game vs. Laconia – HHS Turf 4:30 p.m.
Varsity Game vs. Laconia - HHS Turf 6:30 p.m.

Wed. Oct. 22
Reserve Game at Stevens 4:30 p.m. (Depart 2:30)
JV Practice – Huntley 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Varsity Practice – HHS Turf 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Thu. Oct. 23
Reserve Practice – HHS 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
JV Game vs. MVHS – HHS Grass 4:00 p.m.
Varsity Game vs. MVHS – HHS Turf 5:30 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 24
Reserve Game at Cardigan 4:00 p.m. (Depart 2:15)
JV TBA
Varsity Practice – HHS Turf 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 25 – Sun Oct. 26 All Teams Off

Mon. Oct. 27
Varsity Practice – HHS Turf 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Tue. Oct. 28
Varsity Practice – HHS Turf 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Wed. Oct. 29
JV Intrasquad Game – Huntley 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Varsity NHIAA Playoff Game 6:00 p.m.

Thu. Oct. 30
Varsity Practice – HHS Turf 5:15 – 6:30 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 31
Varsity Practice – HHS Turf 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 1
Varsity NHIAA Playoff Game 2:00 p.m. (Tent.)

Lebanon Summary

HANOVER BEATS LEBANON 3-1 TO SWEEP SEASON SERIES

The Hanover High boys soccer team finished a five-game road trip Saturday with a well-played 3-1 victory over Lebanon, running their record to 13-0-1 and extending their two-year unbeaten streak to 41. Eric Jayne celebrated his return to the lineup with two first-half goals, and the Marauders manifested superb team defense to sweep the season series with the Raiders. Kevin Dade added a goal and an assist, and Ben Rimmer added two assists to increase his team-high total to ten.

The match lived up to the advance billing as a playoff preview in every respect. It was hard-fought and passionate without being chippy, played before a full house at Lebanon’s Homecoming that continued the gratifying new neighborhood tradition of collecting hundreds of pounds for local charities, in this instance the LISTEN Center.

As is typical for a derby between two resolute defenses, it took a while for the battle to be fully joined, although Hanover’s first-half shot margin of 14-3 accurately reflected the edge in play. Kevin Dade threatened twice with hard shots on goal that were well handled by Lebanon goalie Matt Hutchins, and Eric Jayne presaged his later heroics with a long-range rip that tested Hutchins. Yosef Osheyack was buzzing around the goal and came close on several occasions, and then the Marauders broke through when Ben Rimmer broke around Raider defender Alex Lang on the baseline and hit a hard cross to Jayne, breaking into the box. Sandwiched by two defenders, the sophomore sharpshooter nevertheless managed to deflect the ball past Hutchins for his fifth goal of the season and first since a cracked rib had sidelined him for six games.

Sensing a chance for a decisive second goal, the Marauders pressed harder in the final five minutes of the half and nearly came up with their second score when Lou Gemunden hit a scorching shot from well outside the penalty area that zeroed in on Hutchins, who blocked it with his body but could not control the rebound. Oscar Eriksson was first to the loose ball and stabbed it toward the goal, but his slow roller was scooped off the line by Lebanon defender Dillon McCarthy. Eriksson lofted two good chances over the bar, and it appeared that Lebanon would escape the half down only a goal. With less than a minute left, however, Kevin Dade wiggled free on the right side of the goal and lofted a cross that carried over a leaping Hutchins and found Jayne at the far post, where his unerring close-range header found pay dirt for a 2-0 lead. There was a lot of soccer yet to play, but Lebanon had been pushed to the brink of the precipice.

Hanover took the field in the second half staring into a searing setting sun, but they were equal to the task of handling Lebanon’s best offerings and began probing for more goals. Trevor Barlowe, playing his first full match since returning from his knee injury, was a dominating force at midfield, and his running mates Osheyack and Rimmer were equally impressive on the flanks. Jimmy Kane replaced Hutchins in the Lebanon net, and made two nice saves off his line on Rimmer and Jayne. With 17 minutes to play, he was unable to get a handle on an offensive thrust that originated on the right flank with Gemunden and then Rimmer getting the ball on goal before Dade poked the ball home for his seventh goal of the season.

Rhys Cyrus wasn’t completely untested in the Hanover end, and he flashed his superlative shot-stopping skills on a drive from Nick Morse that was correctly judged to be offsides. Nearing the ten-minute mark he was unable to stop a similarly offside offering from Stephen Brockway, camped on the goal line, and Lebanon had pulled a goal back. The Raiders had one more great opportunity, denied by Cyrus with Hanover’s best save of the season, and then the Marauders removed all doubt about the outcome with a near-clinic in the final five minutes, highlighted by a Maradona-like rush into the Lebanon end by Osheyack. Hanover calmly played their opponents off the park in the dying minutes, and savored the 3-1 result at the final whistle.

The Marauders will eagerly return home this week for a pair of playoff previews, the first Tuesday night against a 12-1-1 Laconia team full of hope, and the second Thursday against Merrimack Valley, eager to atone for an 8-0 defeat a year ago when they visited for an NHIAA quarterfinal match. The Laconia match kicks off Tuesday at 6:30. Admission is an item of non-perishable food. Be sure to get there early for a good vantage point. The terraces could be packed for this one.

Weekend Results

Saturday October 18

Hanover Varsity 3 – Lebanon 1
Hanover JV 1 – Lebanon 2

Great photos of the varsity game on Tiger Shaw's site here

Hanover-Lebanon Game On!

Catch more exciting Hanover-Lebanon soccer this Saturday October 18 at 3:30pm. Both Varsity and JV games played at Lebanon High School.

And please join Lebanon High School in a food drive for The Haven through donation of your non-perishable food items.

Kennett Summary

HANOVER BOYS BEAT KENNETT 4-0 TO STRETCH STREAK

The Hanover High boys tuned up for their stretch run to the Class I playoffs with a 4-0 victory over Kennett which featured a dazzling display of offense and flawless midfield defense which prevented the hosts from attempting a single shot at goal. Seniors Henry Caldwell and Ben Rimmer led the charge offensively, with Caldwell collecting two goals and an assist, and Rimmer adding to his team lead with his ninth goal and eighth assist. Now 12-0-1 on the season, the Marauders stretched their unbeaten streak to 40 games.

The expansive new field at Kennett suited Hanover’s attacking frame of mind perfectly, and the Marauders wasted little time getting started. With less than two minutes elapsed, Ben Rimmer made a nice run to the baseline and centered the ball to Caldwell for an easy tap-in and a 1-0 lead. Caldwell and Yosef Osheyack led a withering attack on the Kennett net, abetted by Rimmer, Kevin Dade and Oscar Eriksson. All ten field players participated in a display of ball control which kept the ball completely out of their end for long stretches. After several near misses and more than a few good saves by embattled Eagle goalkeeper Sam Burroughs, Caldwell took a pass from Dade and worked free for his fifth shot of the day, collecting his second goal. He and the other attacking players retired to the bench and watched the reserves continue the onslaught.

Ben Harris took over for Trevor Barlowe, who had returned successfully to the lineup after a few games off with a sore knee, and hit several exploratory long-range shots. He was flanked by midfielders Lou Gemunden and Andrew Holzberger, and subsequently Roland Stanzel-Hermann, who collected his first career assist when he won a ball and fed it to Isaiah Fariel, whose hard shot from the edge of the box eluded Burroughs. It was the fifth goal of the season for the freshman striker.

If Hanover’s offense in the first half was smooth and efficient, it was nothing less than dazzling in the second half. The Marauders moved the ball with lightning speed, used the whole field, and demonstrated an impressive knowledge of their teammates’ whereabouts. Kennett goalkeeper Burroughs was spectacular, recording 12 saves and handling the ball on crosses and through balls at least that many times. Ben Rimmer collected the only goal of the half after a scintillating run by Henry Caldwell to set up his point-blank blast, and then the reserves took over at every position. Rhys Cyrus continued his quest for his first career goal, but never did so at the expense of the integrity of the game or the flow of the play. He and Holzberger had a good thing going on the right flank, and Hayden Pressey-Murray and Chris Jayne were equally strong on the left. Matt Barth had his best game of the campaign at right back, and center backs Joe Carey and Jake Harris (yes, Jake Harris) continued to control the play at midfield. Stefan Dyroff only touched the ball twice, and was not required to make a single save in collecting his third shutout of the season, and Hanover’s ninth.

Having played nine of thirteen games on the road, the Marauders now return to the Upper Valley for their final three regular season games, beginning with Saturday’s match at Lebanon. The Raiders are in the hunt for a first-round home game, and are eager to reverse their 1-0 loss to Hanover 10 days ago. Both boys and girls teams from both school will be collecting food donations once again, this time for the LISTEN center, and hope that everyone attending Saturday’s games will contribute as much as possible. Next week the Marauders will return to Merriman-Branch Field for a showdown against third-place Laconia on Tuesday the 21st, and the season finale against playoff-bond Merrimack Valley on the 23rd.

“We’re pleased that we are playing some of our best soccer at just the right time,” commented Coach Rob Grabill. “It’s also exciting that we will have every player back from injury for the first time since the opening game. With Gunnar Shaw and Eric Jayne available, we have a great deal of flexibility, and we will employ all of our resources to good advantage. We are delighted to finish the season with three challenging matches, and expect that this will bring out the best we have, and take us to an even higher level of play. It’s the best time of the year for Hanover soccer.”

Kennett Directions

KENNETT (409 Eagles Way North Conway, NH): Rt.10 north to Orford. Right on Rt. 25A for 14.5 miles. Turn left on Rt. 25/118N to Warren (about 5 miles). Turn right on Rt. 118. Stay on Rt. 118 over Mt. Moosilauke to North Woodstock (about 14 miles). At the lights turn onto Rt. 112/Kancamagus Highway and continue until it intersects Rt.16. Turn left onto Rt. 16 for 0.8 miles and turn left following Rt.16 north towards North Conway. About 4 miles at the next set of lights, turn right onto Rt. 302E. At second set of lights, turn right onto Eagles Way (just past Shaws and across from Walmart). One mile to the school. Drive time approx 2 hrs. For a local map click here.

Varsity game scheduled to start at 4:30 pm

Carpooling will depart HHS at 2:15

Oyster River Summary

HANOVER BOYS BATTLE OYSTER RIVER TO A SCORELESS TIE

The Hanover High boys faced their toughest test of the season Saturday, battling longtime rival Oyster River to a scoreless tie in two overtimes. With seconds left in the final extra session, Bobcat goalkeeper Zack Benuck made a spectacular save on a Ben Rimmer penalty kick to keep the Marauders off the board and end Hanover’s winning streak at eleven. The match was contested with playoff intensity, featuring resolute defense which denied several good scoring chances at each end. Hanover outshot Oyster River in every period, and was particularly dominant in the final ten-minute overtime. Despite outshooting the Bobcats 6-0, the Marauders were whitewashed for the first time this season, and for the first time in 26 games, dating back to last season’s strikingly similar 0-0 draw with the very same side.

The Marauders survived a rocky start when Nate Hanna cleared a ball off the goal line in the third minute after a bad angle shot got by Sam Gest. Although most of the first half was contested at midfield, Hanover slowly began to establish a territorial edge, although none of the shots that they generated could be classified as challenging.
Despite some good work by Bobcat midfielder Owen Gehling, the same could be said for the home side, and both squads dug on for a defensive chess match. Given the outstanding work of the back line of Mike Tecca, Dan Remillard, Nate Hanna and Lou Gemunden, Hanover was more than equal to the task.

With Hanover Captain Trevor Barlowe languishing on the bench with a bum knee, Gunnar Shaw started his first match since the season opener, and acquitted himself well in the holding midfield spot. Yosef Osheyack was the Marauders’ best middie on the day, contesting fifty-fifty balls with ferocity and making superb recovery runs to shore up the defense.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first, with even fewer shots on goal by each team. Oyster River had a legitimate threat midway through the period when they were awarded a free kick just outside the Hanover penalty area. Ramzi Bensaid whistled a hard shot that was headed just under the crossbar, bur Gest made a surehanded save that inspired his teammates. It was Oyster River’s last real challenge, although Hanover was just getting started. Several Marauders made key contributions off the bench in the second half and subsequent overtimes. Ben Harris spelled Shaw a center midfield, and showed that he was definitely ready for prime time. Miles Peterson did some excellent work subbing at striker, and Joe Carey and Chris Jayne gave some good minutes when Nate Hanna had to recover twice after hard tackles that were a tad on the late side. Although the match featured a number of physical plays, it never lost the opportunity for classy moments, such as the sportsmanlike exchange typical of top-notch teams after an Oyster River player went down. Gest tossed the ball out of bounds near the Hanover goal to stop the clock, and there was no question that the ensuing throw-in would be served right back to him, as it was.

It was with a sense of resignation that the two sides entered into the two extra periods of sudden death soccer. It was also at this point that Hanover clearly established themselves as the team that wanted to win. Peterson had two good cracks in the first ten minutes, the second of these coming after a nice feed from Oscar Eriksson at midfield. Yosef Osheyack created a great chance for Kevin Dade in the second, but the lanky target man was unable to work free from close range. As time wound down in the final overtime, Lou Gemunden launched one of his well-placed free kicks into the Oyster River box, and a Bobcat defender committed an obvious push, earning a penalty kick with literally no time remaining. Rimmer, successful on several penalty kicks early in the season, stepped toe the spot and hit a hard right-footer that would have required a great save to stop it. Benuck was equal to the task, diving to his right and making a sprawling save. The rebound popped free, and it appeared that Nate Hanna would get to the ball first. He was bundled off the play and his shot was snuffed, and it would have been asking too much to appeal for a second penalty. The match ended in a draw.

Having victory snatched away in the final minute made the tie a bit tougher to take, but the Marauders took a lot away from the match, knowing that there were many lessons to be learned from facing adversity on a number of levels, as had been the case all day. Although the draw snapped their winning streak, their unbeaten skein remained intact, now numbering 39 games. Next up on the schedule is the long trek to Kennett on Tuesday, and an opportunity to see if the Marauders are ready to apply their new-found knowledge.

Oyster River Directions

OYSTER RIVER (55 Coe Drive, Durham, NH): I-89 South to I-93 North to I-393 East. I-393 turns into Route 4 East in less than 5 miles. Follow Route 4 East past two traffic circles. After first exit for UNH, take a right at traffic lights onto Madbury Road. Take first left onto Emerson Street. Go about 1 mile on Emerson and, just after a bridge, take a right onto Coe Drive. School is on the right and field is around the back of the school. Drive time approx 1 hr 45 min.

JV and Varsity games scheduled to start at 12 noon.

Carpooling encouraged, depart from HHS front parking lot at 10 am.

Plymouth Directions

PLYMOUTH (43 Old Ward Bridge Rd, Plymouth, NH): I-89 South to Exit 17. Route 4 East to Canaan. In Canaan take Route 118 North through Dorchester. At the junction of Route 25, turn right and go 8.0 miles to the rotary. Continue on Route 25 East (Tenney Mountain Highway). Take the right marked “to Plymouth” – this is Highland Street. Go 1.1 miles and turn left at the second blinking light at Old Ward Bridge Road. This road leads directly to the school; all playing facilities are around back. Drive time approx 1 hr.

JV/Varsity Plymouth games on Fri Oct 10 start at 4:30 p.m.

If carpooling, leave from the high school at 3:15 p.m.

Kingswood Summary

HANOVER BOYS BEAT KINGSWOOD 15-1 TO REACH 10-0

The Hanover High boys defeated a depleted Kingswood High team 15-1 on Tuesday, improving their record to 10-0 and stretching their undefeated streak to 37 games. The Marauders scored seven goals in the first 21 minutes of the match, signaling the departure of all ten starting field players for the remainder of the match. The reserves did well to maintain the integrity of the match, and both teams handled a difficult situation with respect for the game.

It didn’t take long for the disparity between 9-0 Hanover and 2-9 Kingswood to manifest itself. Kevin Dade tapped in a centering pass from Yosef Osheyack at the three-minute mark, and six minutes later replicated the deed with a similar pass from the right side authored by Ben Rimmer. Not all of Hanover’s succeeding goals were as mundane. A minute after Dade’s second goal, senior Oscar Eriksson hit a lovely lead pass from deep in midfield to send Henry Caldwell in alone for a clinical finish. Three minutes after that, Lou Gemunden hit a long cross to Dade at the far post. Continuing his mastery of the air, Dade rose and met the ball, heading it back to the opposite post for a Caldwell tap-in. Ben Rimmer lashed in two goals a minute apart before twenty minutes had elapsed, with Eriksson and Osheyack claiming the helpers. At this point, all of the attacking starters had a seat. Dan Remillard knocked in his first career goal for a 7-0 lead at the 21-minute mark, assisted by Ben Harris, and the remaining starters departed.

After ten minutes to find their rhythm, the reserves began to make their mark. Hayden Pressey-Murray blasted in a short side shot for his first goal, and then strikers Miles Peterson and Isaiah Fariel took turns setting up a goal for each other. It was nice symmetry for the two training partners.

Kingswood wasn’t able to muster much in the way of a counterattack, but an individual effort by C.J. Rousseau early in the second half resulted in a bad angle shot past Stefan Dyroff in the Marauder goal and the Knights were on the scoreboard. Not all of the Kingswood players were taking the match as seriously, and when their fill-in goalkeeper tried to dribble the ball beyond his penalty area, he was dispossessed by Roland Stanzel-Hermann, who then tucked the ball into the vacated net. A few minutes later, senior Andrew Holzberger collected his first career goal with an outstanding shot, assisted by Trey Rebman. Holzy then turned playmaker on the left flank and set up classmate Jake Harris for his first two career markers, one of them a highlight-reel volley, converting a superb cross.

There was still some suspense left in the match. Rhys Cyrus, who played the last 20 minutes at center midfield, was thwarted time and again in his mission to score his first goal for Hanover. He had one shot ring off the post, and two others saved off the line by Kingswood defenders. In all, Ryhs had four shots on net that could or should have been goals, but he will have to wait for another day to get on the scoreboard. Ben Harris then rubbed it in by hitting a long shot from a bad angle to account for the final goal of the day.

Although the ambiance of the match was a far cry for the tension-packed Lebanon game which preceded it, both teams nevertheless acquitted their responsibilities as well as could have been expected, and the post-game handshakes largely reflected Kingswood’s appreciation for Hanover’s efforts to keep the score in check. Their coach in particular was complimentary, both in applauding Hanover’s skills and their sportsmanship. Kingswood will have better days.

The next few games will provide some significant challenges. Hanover returns to the road on Friday and Saturday, first traveling to Plymouth for a rematch with a Bobcat squad that fought hard before losing 3-1, and then trekking to Durham for a resumption of the oldest and best rivalry in the state, the long-distance derby with Oyster River. The two teams battled to a scoreless draw last year, and this season’s encounter could be just as tight. Having already played successful successive matches earlier in the season against two tough teams, the Marauders have been well-prepared, and are eager for the opportunities which lie ahead.

Kingswood Directions

Kingswood: 396 South Main Street, Wolfeboro, NH. There are a couple of ways to go, the first is shorter distance; the second, more interstate.

I-89 to Exit 17. Rt. 4 East (Enfield) to Danbury. Turn left on Rt. 104E and continue to the junction of Rts. 3/25. Turn left and go into Meredith. Stay in the right hand lane and turn right onto Rt. 25E. Continue on Rt. 25E to Moultonborough. Turn right on Rt.109. Follow Rt. 109 to the center of town. Go straight at the intersection with Rt. 28 onto Rt. 28 (South Main Street). School is 1.5 miles on the left.

I-89 to Concord, merge onto I-93N. Take exit 15E onto US-202E toward Loudon. Go 10 miles, at roundabout take second exit onto NH-28N. Go 20 miles and turn onto NH-28E. After 9 miles, turn left onto S. Main Street. Go 1.2 miles to 396 S. Main. For Mapquest directions go here.

Drive time approx 2hr. If carpooling, meet at HHS at 2:15pm

JV and Varsity games on Tues Oct. 7 start at 4:30pm

HHS Soccer & CROP Walk

Schedule Oct 6-Oct 18

GAME AND PRACTICE SCHEDULE – Oct. 6 - 18

Mon. Oct. 6
Reserve Game at Hartford 4:30 p.m.
JV/Varsity Practice – Huntley 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Tue. Oct. 7
Reserve Game vs. Bedford – Rt. 5 4:30 p.m.
JV/Varsity Games at Kingswood 4:30 p.m.

Wed. Oct. 8
Reserve Practice – Richmond 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
JV/Varsity Practice – Huntley 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Thu. Oct. 9
Reserve Game at Lebanon 4:30 p.m.
Varsity/JV Practice – Huntley 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 10
Reserve Practice – Richmond 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
JV/Varsity Games at Plymouth 4:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 11
JV/Varsity Games at Oyster River 12:00 Noon

Sun. Oct. 12 - All Teams Off

Mon. Oct. 13
Reserve Practice – Richmond 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
JV/Varsity Practice – Huntley 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Tue. Oct. 14
Reserve Practice – Richmond 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
J.V. Game Home vs. Kennett 4:30 p.m.
Varsity Game at Kennett 4:30 p.m.

Wed. Oct. 15
Reserve Game at Bedford 4:00 p.m.
JV/Varsity Practice 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Thu. Oct. 16
Reserve Practice – Richmond 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
JV/Varsity Practice – Huntley 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Fri. Oct. 17
Reserve Practice – Richmond 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
JV/Varsity Practice – Huntley 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 18
Reserve Game at Keene 10:30 a.m.
JV/Varsity Games at Lebanon 3:30 p.m.

Sun. Oct. 19 - All Teams Off

Lebanon Summary

HANOVER BOYS BEAT LEBANON 1-0 IN A DERBY CLASSIC

Hanover and Lebanon shrugged off the weight of high expectations in the resumption of their derby Saturday and produced a scintillating match that Hanover won with a first-half header by Kevin Dade and stifling defense that resulted in a 1-0 victory. Played before a large and vocal crowd at Merriman-Branch Field, the match was a glittering display of outstanding high school soccer. There was passion and physical play, but none of the chippiness that could sour the intensity of this unique rivalry. Adding a significant chapter to this storied history is a tall order requiring both teams to raise their game, and the fact that they did just this meant that the audience was treated to a full measure of the beautiful game.

Both teams entered the match on a roll. Hanover had won eight on the trot, outscoring the opposition 26-3 and running their unbeaten streak to 35 matches dating back to October, 2006. Lebanon boasted a 6-2-1 mark and was coming off a quality win against a strong Pembroke, side. Given the recent record of close matches such as last year’s 1-1 draw in the same venue, it reasonable to expect nothing less than a playoff-quality match, no one was disappointed.

As befits a three-time Class I champion, Hanover held an edge in the early going, with Henry Caldwell, Kevin Dade and Oscar Eriksson announcing themselves with shots not far off target. Lebanon was content to contain the Marauders and look for counterattacks, and one in the early going almost bore fruit, with Brandon Guidotti shaking loose for a left-footer that required Rhys Cyrus to make a diving stop to his right. Hanover then drew first blood on a restart that was far enough out to seem innocuous. Right back Lou Gemunden produced a great serve into the Raider penalty area. Kevin Dade rose to meet it with his head, and Lebanon goalie Matt Hutchins raced off his line to try and clear. Dade’s timing was just a hair better than Hutchins’ , however, and he cleanly won the ball, knocking it into the vacated net for a 1-0 lead. No less than two years of planning had gone into the moment, and it came at the perfect time.

Neither team played as though had been the deciding goal. Hanover kept hunting for a second score, and Lebanon maintained their composure and had at least one more good opportunity, but Cyrus swallowed up Guidotti’s long-range free kick. Hanover’s defense was outstanding, with Mike Tecca spearheading the quartet of backs who maintained their shape superbly, and Trevor Barlowe once again owning the air at midfield. Eriksson, Ben Rimmer and Yosef Osheyack once again proved that wining a match can be as simple as playing resolute two-way soccer.

The intensity of the match was even more evident in the second half, and Hanover’s edge in play was slightly more significant. Neither team had earned a corner kick in the first 40 minutes, but Hanover had four such opportunities after the interval, and made all of the dangerous. Lebanon was limited to two optimistic long-range shots by Taylor Fittro that never came close to Cyrus, who didn’t record a single save in the half, although he did have to hustle off his line once to control a dangerous through ball. At the other end, Henry Caldwell narrowly missed cashing in a near breakaway, and Miles Peterson ripped a hard cross through the box that failed to find a taker on the other end.

Hanover’s defense faced an additional challenge in the waning minutes when mainstay Trevor Barlowe limped off for repairs, but Joe Carey proved once again that he was more than equal to the task of plugging the dike. Freshman Roland Stanzel-Hermann also hopped off the bench into the breach, and demonstrated that he could play outstanding midfield defense in a tense situation. The superb Marauder game management continued right to the final whistle, and both teams, classy to the end, exchanged congratulations which suggested that they might have more than the one rematch allowed by the regular season schedule. A postseason meeting between these two high-level teams for the third time in four years would hardly be surprising.

Although the match was indeed an instant classic, there were a few other elements that made the day a special one. The four-team food drive for The Haven easily surpassed last year’s laudable effort, and produced a van-load of contributions for charity. The capacity crowd was positive and enthusiastic, the weather was Norman Rockwellesque, and there was a moment in the second half that honored the game beyond the high level of sportsmanship already on display. After one of his players showed a momentary lack of judgment that was missed by the officials, Lebanon Coach Rob Johnstone promptly removed him. Perhaps this didn’t directly affect the outcome, but the longtime Raider mentor demonstrated once again his strong commitment to fair play, even at the potential expense of the outcome. Is it any wonder that this ongoing series is truly one of a kind? Best of all, there is lots more to come. Stay tuned!

Weekend Results

Saturday provided a unique soccer extravaganza at Hanover high, as five of the six HHS teams played home matches. Not only did all five win (at least I think the JV girls won), but all five contributed to a wonderfully successful food drive on behalf of the Haven that produced hundreds of pounds of donations.

The boys Reserve team led things off with an exciting 3-1 win over Coe-Brown. Daniel Hernandez assisted on great goals by Kevin Dwyer and Eli Connolly, and Dwyer assisted on a highlight-reel strike by Chris Stephens. Kyle Castillo was outstanding in goal for the Reserves, who return to action Monday at Hartford.

After a sweep by the girls teams that included an exciting 1-0 victory for the Varsity over a higher-ranked Lebanon squad, the JV boys met an undefeated Lebanon team and defeated the 7-0. Details will be forthcoming.

Finally, the Varsity boys defeated Lebanon 1-0 in an outstanding match chronicled in more detail above.

Updates Oct 1

We are planning to go forward with practice today at Huntley for varsity and JV at 3:00, and the Reserve game at Fall Mountain. Please check e-mail and the bulletin board later in the day for updates. We have no control over the decision to play the Reserve game. I have my fingers crossed.

Time Change: The Varsity and JV games at Lebanon on Saturday October 18 will now be played at 3:30 p.m. The original time was 12:30. This avoids a conflict with SATs.

We will be collecting food for the Haven Food drive prior to the Reserve game vs. Coe-Brown on Saturday at 11:00. The game will be on the grass field, and the collecting point for food will be right by the bleachers at the grass field. Thanks for helping!

Plymouth Summary

HANOVER BOYS DISMISS PLYMOUTH 3-1; WIN STREAK NOW 8

The Hanover High boys continued their successful home stand on Wednesday, scoring three high-quality goals early in the first half to earn their eighth straight win by a 3-1 margin. The Marauders left little doubt of the outcome from the outset, outshooting outmanned Plymouth 13-2 in the first half, and pinning them in their half with strong defensive play from their back four plus one, Trevor Barlowe, Lord of the Air.

After settling into their rhythm in the first ten minutes, Hanover went on top 1-0 in the 14th minute when Nate Hanna drove a cross from his left back spot that found Ben Rimmer perfectly positioned in front of the Plymouth goal and beyond the range of Bobcat goalkeeper Alex Ellsworth. Rimmer rammed home his header for his fifth goal of the campaign and an insurmountable lead. Ten minutes later the Marauders struck for two goals in 29 seconds, both involving sophomore sniper Eric Jayne. Scheming from deep in midfield, Jayne launched a lead pass for senior Henry Caldwell, who took the ball in full flight and got his shoulder in front of his defender, holding him at bay until he delivered a cold-hearted finish under the advancing Ellsworth for his third goal. Less than half a minute later Jayne turned finisher, controlling a sublime pass from Yosef Osheyack and ripping a searing shot into the corner for his fourth marker of the year. In less than 12 minutes, Hanover had decisively turned Plymouth’s faint hopes into rubble.

Appropriately, the Marauders kept attacking. Osheyack launched a deceptive shot from well beyond the corner of the box that floated over a stranded Ellsworth and kissed the corner of the crossbar and the upright. Four inches closer, and it would have been the goal of the decade. Not to be outdone, Lou “Lord of Long Distance” Gemunden uncorked a Scud missile from 40 yards out on the right side that never got more than eight feet off the ground before it slid past the left upright, peeling the paint off on the way by.

The cast of characters changed in the second half, but Hanover’s territorial ownership did not. Joe Carey and Matt Barth slid into their spots on the back line, and shortly thereafter Miles Peterson and Isaiah Fariel took over up top. All four starting midfielders each hit one more parting salvo before giving way, with Oscar Eriksson’s drive from the top of the box earning two “oohs” and an “aah!” Ginger Barlowe had two decent rips, and both Rimmer and Osheyack got good looks before the foursome gave way to the lawless firm of Pressey-Murray, Bonecrusher, Not So l’il Jayne and Ben Harris. Roland “Ready for Prime Time” Stanzel-Hermann gulped hard and took over at left back, resigned to ending his scoring streak at one.

Plymouth kept plugging, and mustered a few shots on Sam Gest in the Hanover goal, including a reasonably good bid from Taylor Fletcher that required an equally good save from Gest, though not quite as showy as his first-half denial of a shot from Fletcher that needed to be tipper over the bar. As the clock wound down inside the final minute a moment of uncharacteristic sloppiness gifted Plymouth a goal that made the final margin a deceptive 3-1 but do nothing to reduce the quality of the victory.

The Marauders can now turn full attention to the derby this Saturday with Lebanon, kicking off at 3:30 as the second half of a doubleheader with the girls. Hopes are high that the four teams and their fans will collect a truckload of food for The Haven, and then let it loose for a match which won’t require any hype or motivational ploys. Four of the last seven games between these foes have gone to overtime. No mater how one-sided the series may look on paper, inside the lines it will be tooth and nail. It’s a must-watch. See you there.

Updates Sept 29

There have been several schedule changes for all three teams:

The Varsity and JV games with Plymouth schedule for 10/1 have been moved to Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 4:30. The Varsity game will be on the HHS turf, and the JV game on the HHS grass.

Varsity practice today will be on the turf from 3:30 - 5:00. JV practice will be at Huntley from 4:00 - 5:30

The Reserve Boys will play at Fall Mountain on Wednesday. Departure is tentatively set at 4:00 p.m. They will be traveling with the Reserve Girls.