Bishop Brady Summary

HANOVER BOYS HIT HIGH GEAR IN 4-0 WIN AT BISHOP BRADY

The Hanover High boys ran their winning streak to six on Thursday, playing some of their best offensive soccer of the season in a 4-0 win over Bishop Brady at NH Voc-Tech in Concord. Oscar Eriksson scored twice and Lou Gemunden and Ben Harris tallied their first career goals to pace the offense, with Ben Rimmer notching two assists and Trevor Barlowe adding one. The Marauders dominated the game statistically, outshooting Bishop Brady 24-2 and taking nine corner kicks to the Green Giants’ one. Stefan Dyroff did not need to make a save to record his second shutout of the season.

The match started auspiciously for Hanover. With less than a minute gone, Ben Rimmer carried the ball deep into Brady’s end and hit a long, high centering pass that eluded Green Giant goalie Scott Hambleton. Eriksson was waiting for the rebound and lofted the ball into the net for his third goal of the season and a 1-0 lead. The Marauders continued their pressure and doubled the margin in the 17th minute when Rimmer got free on the right side of the Brady box and found Gemunden, who had overlapped from his right back position. Lou directed the ball into the net for his first goal, and Hanover led 2-0. Despite a continuing offensive edge that saw them take six corner kicks to Brady’s one, the score remained the same for the remainder of the half.

Charged in the interval with increasing their intensity, the Marauders responded with their best attacking soccer of the year. Kevin Dade took a lead pass from Henry Caldwell and hit a first-time shot that was headed for the near corner before Hambleton made a sprawling save. Caldwell created three more excellent chances, just missing with a torrid left footer from the top of the box. Rimmer broke in and hit a screamer headed for the far upper corner that was spectacularly saved and held by Hambelton. Twenty minutes into the half came a goal that no goalie could handle, as Eriksson took a feed from midfield ruining mate Trevor Barlowe and drove the ball high onto the net for his fourth goal of the season. Four minutes later sophomore Ben Harris hit an 18-yarder for his first career goal, and the Marauders had their highest goal output of the season, and a 4-0 lead.

As Coach Grabill cleared the bench, Hanover continued to dominate. Eric Jayne and Roland Stanzel-Herrmann dominated the play at center midfield, and Matt Barth and Chris Jayne held similar sway as center backs. Jake Harris and Andrew Holzberger showed high energy and madd skillz on the right flank. Hayden Pressey-Murray hit several tantalizing crosses in his first in-season varsity action. The game ended with no further scoring, but Hanover firmly in control.

“This was an impressive result for us,” commented Coach Grabill. “Brady had some good results going into the match, including 1-0 losses to both Lebanon and Pembroke. It’s an excellent sign that we were able to impose ourselves offensively on a squad that had such a good defensive record.”

Next up for the Marauders is a three-game home stretch after four on the road, commencing with a Saturday match at 12:00 against winless Kennett. Rain is in the forecast, but nothing short of a monsoon will threaten the match, given the ability of the turf at Merriman-Branch field to shed water. Even if it’s the only game played in the state this weekend, it will go on as scheduled.