Varsity vs Plymouth, Sept 20

HANOVER TOPS PLYMOUTH 5-0; STILL UNBEATEN

The Hanover varsity booters defeated Plymouth 5-0 on Thursday to stretch their unbeaten skein to eight, and in doing so recorded their eighth straight shutout. There are more than 160 high school teams in New Hampshire, and only one of them has yet to allow a goal.

Yosef Osheyack scored twice to take the team lead in the goal scoring department, and Ben Rimmer added two assists to top the table in that department. Eric Barthold added his fifth goal of the campaign, and the Marauders also got sweet scores from Paul Burchard and Kevin Dade.

Coach Grabill shuffled the starting lineup, and four players recorded their first varsity starts, including seniors Paul Buchard and Erik Barth, junior striker Kevin Dade, and sophomore goalkeeper Sam Gest. The Marauders got off to a solid start, establishing a large territorial advantage, but they were looking for a spark when five familiar faces entered the game twenty minutes into the half. Five minutes later, Hanover had a 1-0 lead, and was off and running. Casey Maue was the creator of the first goal, working feverishly in the box to win the ball, hold it, and spin past two Plymouth defenders before spotting Osheyack at the far post for an easy tap-in. Less than a minute remained in the half when Barthold’s goal doubled the lead, killing any hope that Plymouth might have harbored.

Osheyack’s second score of the afternoon came six minutes after play resumed when he
Converted the sweetest assist of the day, a long cross from a speeding Ben Rimmer on the right flank. Ten minutes later, Kevin Dade notched his first career goal, heading home a corner kick from Lou Gemunden, who collected his fourth assist of the season. The last goal of the day was a show-stopping crowd=pleaser, a long-distance drive from Paul Burchard that picked the upper left corner of the Plymouth goal. It was his second upper ninety drive of the season.

All throughout the second half Grabill kept looking further and further down his bench for new faces to get into the game, and by the time the match was over 24 different players had entered, with Peter Young and Joe Carey, on loan from the JV, seeing their first varsity action. Only Ben Harwick was a healthy scratch, despite his nonstop assertions about his prowess as a field player. Hanover’s quality of play remained excellent, but the prospect of seeing the scoreless streak snapped was too much for some of the senior starters. Angus Kennedy curled into a fetal position on the bench, and Matt Wetherell nervously peeled chunks of leather from his Predators.

Those fears were nearly realized with minutes to go in the game when a Plymouth corner kick created a scramble in the box, well-covered by goalie Gest. That near miss paled compared to the final close call, a long-distance rocket shot by Plymouth’s Driscoll that was labeled for the back of the net. Gest was equal to the task, preserving the shutout and The Streak with a highlight-reel dive, levitating to his left to tip the ball over the bar.

The Marauders now have nearly a week off before their next home match, a Wednesday matinee against Monadnock, which will be coming to Hanover for its third game in three days. See you on the rug!

Jose Mourinho resigns from Chelsea, Can Hanover hang on to Grabill?

Varsity vs Lebanon, Sept 18

HANOVER BEATS LEBANON 2-0 IN TITLE REMATCH

Hanover stretched its season-opening unbeaten streak to seven games Tuesday with a methodical 2-0 victory over archrival Lebanon. The rematch of last year’s Class I finalists lived up to its billing, featuring a tightly-contested match in front of a large crowd at the Raider pitch. Goals by seniors Eric Barthold and Casey Maue midway through the match provided more than enough of an edge for Hanover, which held a significant edge in play, outshooting their hosts 18-2.

Hanover-Lebanon games are always close contests. The two teams have played eight times in the past two years, and three of those matches have gone to overtime. Both teams have established themselves as title contenders in the early going, with Lebanon lugging a 5-1 mark into the match, and Hanover entering with a record of 5-0-1, having allowed no goals.

Hanover put the pressure on early in the match, and shots by Angus Kennedy and Yosef Osheyack forced Lebanon goalie Andrew Kelly to make a pair of sparkling saves. Osheyack just missed connecting on another close-in shot, and Aussie Cyrus got in clean on a breakaway but put his shot over the top. At the other end, the Marauder defense kept the home team completely bottled up. Lebanon had no shots on goal throughout the half, and their two corner kicks were parried away by Ben Harwick and the back line of Cal Felicetti, Matt Wetherell, Sam Peterson and Trevor Barlowe. Angus Kennedy and Cyrus were doing a superb job at midfield, repeatedly wining balls and stifling the Raiders.

Hanover struck for the only goal they would need with four minutes to play in the first half when a long throw-in from Ben Rimmer skidded through the box and found Eric Barthold just inside the 18 with enough time to volley home a first-time shot inside the far post.

It didn’t take the Marauders long to double the lead in the second half and put the game on ice. A nice combination of passes four minutes into the half put Osheyack through on the right side of the Lebanon penalty area, and the junior striker laid a perfect ball back to a trailing Casey Maue, whose laser shot tucked into side netting past the far post. The 2-0 lead looked pretty solid, given Hanover’s continuing territorial edge.

The Marauders had several other chances to increase the lead, but a Matt Wetherell header on a perfect Rimmer corner kick misseed the target, and several other shots were also off the mark. Hanover got a nice boost in the late going thatnks to the fresh legs of Henry Caldwell and Kevin Dade up front, and midfielders Lou Gemunden and Paul Burchard. All four played excellent soccer, and helped close the match out on a high note.

Two long shots by Lebanon near the end of the match forced Ben Harwick to make his only two saves of the day, putting the lid on Hanover’s seventh straight shutout, and raising their record on the young season to 6-0-1. Next up for the Marauders is a home match at 4:00 on Thursday against Plymouth.

Week of September 17 to September 23 UPDATED

Wednesday, September 19
Meeting for all players – HHS gym 2:05 – 2:20

Varsity Schedule
Tuesday, September 18 @ Lebanon 4:30 pm
Thursday, September 20 vs Plymouth @ Hanover 4 pm

JV Schedule
Tuesday, September 18 @ Lebanon 4:30 pm
Thursday, September 20 vs Plymouth @ HHS Grass Field 4 pm (note updated location)

Reserve Schedule
Saturday, September 22 @ Cardigan Mountain School

Freshman Schedule
Monday, September 17 @ Lebanon 4:00 pm
Tuesday, September 18 @ Cardigan Mountain School 4:30 pm

Please consider carpooling if you travel to watch away games. It is kinder to the environment and cost effective.

Freshmen vs Lebanon, Sept 17

The freshman soccer team defeated Lebanon 4-1 on Monday. Hanover took a 3-0 lead in the first half on a goal by Adam Kline-Schoder and two by Ty Atkins. Alex Dodds scored in the second half for the Marauders before Lebanon got a late goal to spoil the shutout.

HHS Game Transportation Policy

Dear Parents and Players -

I'm writing to clarify the Hanover High School Athletic Department policy regarding transportation to and from away contests.

All players must travel to an away contest on the bus transportation provided by the school. Players may travel home with a parent after the contest, but only with prior approval by the athletic department. This is easily obtained by bringing a note to the Atheltic Department office prior to the contest. The note will be signed (or stamped) by Mike Jackson, and then carried by the student to the game. The only way a coach may release a player is if he/she sees this approved note. A coach does not have the discretion to alter this policy, and should not be placed in the position of refusing a parental request at the game site. All of the players have been aware of this policy since the start of the season. We hope that this notification will clear up any misunderstanding. Feel free to contact Athletic Director Mike Jackson with any questions.

- Rob Grabill

Varsity vs Oyster River, September 15

HANOVER TIES OYSTER RIVER IN SEMIFINAL REMATCH

Hanover helped longstanding rival Oyster River celebrate 50 years of NH high school soccer Saturday with a scintillating scoreless tie that showcased the sport at its highest level. The Marauders dominated the contest for the full 100 minutes, outshooting the host Bobcats 19-4, but could not dent a determined Oyster River defense, led by senior goalkeeper Ty Guarino. Hanover’s record “dropped” to 5-0-1, and Oyster River, again a contender for postseason honors, is now 4-1-1.

The game matched the two premier franchises in the state. No two schools have accumulated more state championships between them, and the rivalry goes back to the earliest years of competition in New Hampshire. That dominance has continued in the last ten years, with Hanover wining the Class I title four times in the last eight years, and Oyster River taking three in a row from 2001-2003, including a victory over the Marauders in the 2003 title game, a replay much like last year’s with Lebanon. It’s a rare year when the two schools aren’t among the last ones standing, and that was certainly the case last fall, as Hanover avenged a l-0 loss in the regular season with a 1-0 victory in the Class I semifinals en route to their second straight title. With that backdrop, it’s easy to see what this early-season meeting crackled with playoff intensity, especially since the match was the centerpiece of Oyster River’s 50-year celebration, and the sidelines were filled with Bobcat alumni and supporters.

It didn’t take the Marauders long to show that their early-season success was well-earned.
They established a distinct territorial advantage, although for the first time this season they were contending with a team with the skill and organization to counterattack. Hanover’s 7-4 edge in shots reflected the flow of play, and Ben Harwick was tested for the first time in goal, rising to the occasion with outstanding judgment in several testing situations.

The morning rain lifted by halftime, and the clearing skies brought a stiff breeze at Oyster River’s backs. Despite this overrated edge, the Marauders increased their pressure on the hosts, and came close to scoring several times in regulation, outshooting the Bobcats 7-0. Matt Wetherell and Ben Rimmer just missed on short-range headers, and Angus Kennedy came close to finding the range on a pair of free kicks. Another factor in Hanover’s edge in play appeared to be superior conditioning. Despite the fact that only one substitute entered the game for the Marauders, they got stronger as the game wore on into the extra sessions after regulation ended.

Hanover also dominated the overtime, outshooting Oyster River 5-0 and just missing on two bids by Josef Osheyack and watching an Eric Barthold bid just roll past the far post.
Both teams concluded the match with genuine expressions of mutual respect and the sense that they would be meeting again.

It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Marauders, who now head to Lebanon Tuesday for a championship game rematch in the first installment of their home and home derby. The Raiders are off to a glittering 5-1 start, with only a 1-0 loss to Class I power Hollis, and the match should be yet another classic.

Link to 2007 Soccer Program Book

Please note the link on the right hand side of this page that will take you to an online version of the 2007 HHS Soccer Program Book. We hope to be distributing printed copies on the sidelines of games by the end of the month.

Please take the time to look at the program book and note the local businesses that have provided support to Hanover High School Soccer by advertising in the program book.

Varsity vs ConVal, Sept 11

HANOVER HIGH BOYS SWAMP CONVAL 5-0

The Hanover High boys soccer team ran their record to 5-0 last Tuesday (Sept. 11) with a 5-0 victory over visiting Con-Val. The Marauders took and early advantage on goals by Casey Maue and Yosef Osheyack, and dominated the contest throughout, outshooting the Cougars 22-2. Osheyack would add two more goals for his first career hat trick, and Senior Back Sam Peterson chipped in with his first career goal.

Hanover was businesslike from the opening kickoff, and took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute on a perfectly executed corner kick from Ben Rimmer, whose serve found Cal Felicetti at the back post. Felicetti headed the ball back across the box to Maue, whose uncontested header made the score 1-0. Yosef Osheyack shook off two near misses and netted the first of his brace three minutes later, taking a sick feed from Angus Kennedy and coolly converting the resulting breakaway. Con-Val held the Marauders off the scoreboard until just before halftime, when two lightning goals put the game away. With less than two minutes to play, Eric Barthold lifted a ball into the Cougar penalty box, and Osheyack turned a 50-50 ball into his second goal with noting less than hard work and hustle. A minute later, Sam Peterson’s free kick from midfield took a big recreation league bounce and hopped over the head of Con-Val goalie Mitch Carney and into the back of the net.

Five minutes into the second half, Osheyack made the lead 5-0 with along-distance breakaway, courtesy of a deft through ball from Maue. The junior striker converted his fifth goal of the season, and Coach Rob Grabill quickly cleared his bench. The pressure on Con-Val continued, thanks to some solid play by midfielders Paul Burchard and Erik Barth, and strikers Eric Jayne and Kevin Dade, who each came close to scoring with some scintillating play.

Ben Harwick recorded one save in goal to collect his fourth shutout of the season, and Hanover’s fifth in five game.

Third Week Results

Varsity Results
HHS 5 - ConVal 0
HHS 0 - Oyster River 0

JV Results
HHS 1 - ConVal 0 (OT)
HHS 1 - Oyster River 0 (OT)

Reserve Results
HHS 1 - Fall Mountain 0
HHS 5 - KUA 1

Freshmen Results
Did not play

JV vs Oyster River, Sept 15

The JV won a thrilling 2-1 victory in overtime on a goal by Patrick Choi. HHS goalie Stefan Dyroff had a great game, as the Marauders won their second straight overtime game.

Reserve Boys vs KUA, Sept 15

Flourishing under a new system, the Reserves made it
two wins in a row by defeating KUA 5-1. Sam Hicks
recorded a hat trick and was named player of the
match. Captains Dan Perovich and Ryan Collins did a
solid job controlling the mid-field and the team
recieved a nice lift from Freshman Keegan Gantrish(1
goal 2 assists), Jamie Reagis(assist), Ty Atkins(Goal)
and Forrest Pratt.