Bow, Hanover set up I boys' soccer final
By JOHN HABIB
Staff Sports Writer
EXETER – Ryan Obolewicz wasn't kidding when he said Bow was a second-half team.
The senior forward tallied a hat trick, including two of his team's three second-half goals, as the second-ranked Falcons ousted 11th-ranked Souhegan of Amherst, 4-2, in the semifinals of the Class I boys' soccer tournament last night at William Ball Stadium.
Bow (17-1-1) will return to Eustis Field on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. to meet two-time defending state champion Hanover (17-0-2), a 2-0 winner over fifth-ranked Hollis-Brookline. Bow, searching for its first Class I title, and Hanover did not meet in the regular season.
Bow and Souhegan were deadlocked at the intermission, but the Falcons took control of the game after scoring two goals in a span of 56 seconds for a 3-1 cushion. The goals came off the feet of Obolewicz and senior forward Dorian Hohm with 25 minutes left.
"It seemed after we scored those goals that they (Souhegan) started to let up a little bit,'' said Obolewicz, who now has 30 goals this season. "It's hard for any team to come back down by two in the second half. We seem to play stronger as the game enters the second half.''
Obolewicz, who scored Bow's first-half goal just 9:02 into the contest, supplied the Falcons with a 4-1 bulge at the 55:19 mark. Tim Eagan answered a minute later for the Sabers, but it was too late.
"Bow outworked us in the second half,'' said Souhegan coach David Saxe, whose team played shorthanded over the final 60:44. Souhegan senior Mathieu Bemis was ejected from the game for arguing a call after his infraction awarded Bow a penalty kick.
Bow's Kyle Geddes missed the net on the spot shot, keeping it a 1-0 game. Souhegan did manage to tie the game before halftime on a goal from junior forward Michael Peret, but Saxe said playing the game shorthanded took its toll.
"It makes it tougher on a bigger field and after a while we started to get tired,'' said Saxe. "Bow has a nice aggressive team and Obolewicz is a tricky little player who is tough to defend. He's going to be a solid player on a collegiate team.''
Bow will be severely tested by Hanover, which pitched its 16th shutout of the season. The Marauders have allowed four goals this season, none in three post-season games.
Junior forward Henry Caldwell, on an assist from junior Yosef Osheyack, gave Hanover the early lead just 13:10 into the match. The insurance goal came in the final minute off a corner when Casey Maue rammed his team-leading 13th goal into the cage for the clincher.
"Hollis was very competitive and all the credit goes to my team for being ready against a quality opponent,'' said Hanover coach Rob Grabill. "We were very patient, waiting for our opportunities, and we didn't hand them anything.''
Hanover contained senior forward Owen Hawkins, one of the key players this season for the Cavaliers, who were held to one shot on goal.
"Hanover marked him and didn't let him turn all night,'' said Cavaliers coach Scott Zarba, whose club ended its campaign at 14-5.
