The Marauder Varsity improved to 3-0 on the young season by dumping visiting form the ranks of the unbeaten by a 3-0 score. The visiting Grizzlies, newcomers to Division II after dropping down from Class L play, had entered the contest with a 3-0 mark, but they were no match for the Marauders on the sun-drenched turf of Merriman-Branch Field.
Goffstown had a strong, athletic side that were well-organized and aggressive, and most of the play in the early going was at midfield. The Grizzlies never threatened, and in fact never managed a shot on goal in the first half. On the other hand, they worked hard on defense and closed Hanover down effectively for much of the half. The Marauders were patient and composed, and generated some good shots as the half wore down. Pedro Celaya authored the best of these, meeting a nice cross from Trey Rebman on the left flank and heading the ball off the crossbar. Joe Carey had a nice exploratory shot from outside the 18, and Eric Jayne worked free for another good look from long distance.
With Jayne on the bench mourning his busted Vapes and Ryan Brigham providing the fresh legs, Hanover took a 1-0 lead when Carey hit sweet lead pass from deep in midfield and Brigham ran onto it and shielded it from a Goffstown defender before lashing it into the net for a 1-0 lead and his first career goal.
The Marauders turned up the heat in the second half extending their territorial domination and threatening regularly. Forrest Pratt celebrated his birthday with two good bids, watching one of his goal-bound shots get scooped off the goal line. The Marauders went to the bench fifteen minutes into the half, and seconds later Keegan Gantrish got the ball to Eric Jayne on the right corner of the Goffstown penalty area, and the senior captain found enough daylight to hit a near-post laser for a 2-0 lead and his fourth goal of the season. Ben Harris and Brigham both had big-time bids that just missed, and Gantrish saw his delicate chip sail just wide of the upper right corner. With Brendan Barth and Roland Herrmann-Stanzel now calling the shots in the center of the park, Hanover's pressure continued, and when Roland was taken down on a run into the box, freshman Daniel Hazlett was tabbed by his mates to take the ensuing penalty. Good choice. Hazlett buried the spot kick for his second goal in two games and an insurmountable lead of 3-0.
All eyes turned to the other end of the part, and the Marauders' to earn their first clean sheet of the season. Goffstown made them work for it. Robin Smith and Matt Barth were highly effective in the center of the defense, and they got good help from Hayden Pressey-Murray, Connor Bentivoglio, and eventually Charlie Umland and Evan Greenwald. All six backs contributed, and Stefan Dyroff was solid in goal behind them, making several good saves to earn his first shutout of the season.
Hanover made one final bid for a fourth goal on a great run by Charlie Umland, culminating in a deft shot by Alex Dodds that just missed the target.
"This was a positive step forward," commented Coach Grabill."Goffstown was the best team we have faced so far, and we were able to rise to the occasion. We played our best team defense of the season, and got good play from all 22 players who got into the game. Our depth helped us win this game."
Next up for the Marauders is a much sterner challenge on Saturday. Hanover travels to Northwood to face Coe-Brown in a rematch of last season's Class I Championship match. Despite a shocking Tuesday loss to 3-0 Pelham, Coe-Brown has posted some impressive results, with wins over Oyster River and St. Thomas, the later by an eye-popping 5-0 margin. They will be the most highly-motivated opponent the Marauders will be likely to face all season, and that's saying a lot, given the intensity of many of Hanover's rivals. "I wish we were at full strength for this match," commented Grabill alluding to the ongoing absence of Isaiah Fariel,whose recovery from an ankle injury is nevertheless progressing well. "On the other hand, we have had seven different players find the back of the net, and our depth up front is evident. We'll have to play well at both ends. This should be a great game".
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