JV1 Rallies to Beat Kearsarge Varsity 5-4

Covid-19 regional scheduling means that Hanover is matched up with a number of local snaller schools. Four of these opponents have been matched up with Marauder JV teams, in an effort to get competitive games. The system worked perfectly on a breezy Wednesday at Dresden, as the Hanover JV1 team rallied in the second half to beat the Kearsarge Varsity 5-4. Hanover took an early lead, fell behind 4-3 at halftime, and then won the game with two Jack Gardner goals, completing his hat trick. Coach Willie Johnson takes over the narrative: "Setting the stage: a bright, sunny day, the Wild West across the river in Norwich at the dusty Dresden fields. The scoring opened quickly, as Mitch Rowley fed Zach Tracy down to the touchline, and Zach fired it across the goal line to Gardner for an easy put-away, a sitter in the 4th minute. It wouldn't take long for the young Marauders to double the score. John Reznek received the ball inside the 18 from a kick-in (Covid rules), and placed a pass just inside the arc at the top of the box for a superb bangu by Jack McGrath. Kearsarge would start counter pressing, and cut the lead in half with a bounding through ball in the 12th minute. Play continued to be balanced for a while, and Simon Taenzer earned a penalty, receiving a ball in the box and shielding it as he was pushed from behind. Ian Press was nominated to take the kick and he cooly placed it in the lower right corner, past the stunned Kearsarge keeper, who was so stunned he didn't move. Shortly after the intermission between the first and second quarters, Kearsarge "earned" a penalty of their own, a result of Hanover's high defensive line and an errant tackle. Standout Cougar midfielder Parker Root converted the kick with a low, hard shot. Kearsarge had the momentum, and surged forward, keeping the Marauder defenders in their own defensive third. The Cougars tied the game with a golazo by Root, a drive from outside the 18 that tucked just under the crossbar. With the score tied at 3-3, Hanover was looking to get to halftime, but Kearsarge had other ideas. Given, heck, gifted an indirect free kick outside the 19, Kearsarge took advantage of the rules prohibiting a defensive wall, and a well-taken restart resulted in a go-ahead goal in the 37th minute. Play and intensity picked up in the second half. The game became more physical despite the modified Covid rules. Jack Gardner brought a new level to the game, and scored one of the greatest individual efforts I have ever seen on a goal. (Coach Willie still talking here). A long ball was played out of the middle, headed toward the left sideline. Gardner levitated to keep the ball from going out of bounds, and then was able to tackle it off a defender and buried a shot to even the score at 4-4 in the 52nd minute. Not too much later, Gardner would provide some magic again. A kick-in was played short to Matthias Einarsson, who passed it back to Jack Stadheim. Stadheim crossed the ball into the box, and Gardner, forbidden to use his heaad, instead played it with his shoulder and put it behind the keeper. He was first to the ball on the goal line, and tapped it into the goal in the 55th minute. Hanover continued to roll out the subs and play their style. Kearsarge was not without their chances, but Jackson McBride and the defense stood their ground. The freshman netminder ended the game with 13 saves." The was a statement game for the JV1s, who will continue their schedule of varsity opposition on Saturday, hosting Fall Mountain on the Merriman-Branch turf at 1:00.