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!