JV2 Plays Best Game of The Season, Beats Lebanon 5-3

A Night at Merriman-Branch: Hanover 5 - Lebanon 3

It's been a trying and unusual season for the Hanover Boys JV2 Soccer Team, but the team has shown that they're always hungry for challenge. On a perfect Thursday evening on the fabled Merriman-Branch Memorial Turf the boys faced their toughest challenge yet, a match with an impressive Lebanon JV squad in what I like to call the "I-89 Derby".

Having dealt with a week of formation and tactic changes from Coach Bucket the JV2 Boys lined up in a 4-4-2, looking for defensive solidity and the hope of catching a well-drilled Lebanon team on the counter-attack. Although the defensive rigidity of the squad did not disappear after kick-off, the fear of allowing Lebanon too much of the ball and catching them on one-off counter-attacks did. The Hanover boys, from the first whistle, took their best game of the season, so far, straight to Lebanon's defensive third. 

Almost immediately from the start, Forward Augie Krawitt displayed his usual confidence on the ball before finding Soren Stettenheim through on goal. Soren's shot went just on the wrong side of the far post, but the warning signs were there. Not two minutes later, Stettenheim found the ball at his feet again, this time bursting down the left side of the 18, before making his way into the box and tucking a low shot into the "right" side of the far post to give the Marauders another early lead. This team has consistently shown that they're ready to play right from kick-off, much to the joy of Coach Bucket.

A few more Hanover chances ensued, largely from Stettenhiem and his fellow goons, Ruslan Henry, Augie Krawitt, and Will Taylor. Unable to capitalize on their further chances, it was now Hanover's turn to defend. A dangerous cross from the right side of Hanover's box was deflected into the air at the near post before a clearance from Senior Defender, Jackson Liu, took an unfortunate bounce past a helpless Christain Blix to level the match at 1-1, not even 7 minutes in.

As quickly as the lead was lost, Hanover bounced right back to again find Soren charging down the left flank before poking another finish to the far post, almost identically to his first, for his second goal of the match. 10 minutes in, 2-1 Hanover.

This time, however, the boys didn't take their foot off the gas, "All gas, no brakes" echoed the team. A flurry of Hanover chances surrounded another Lebanon attacking chance. The ball found its way to a dangerous number 20 just outside of the Hanover box, and just as he made his way past Blix in net to tap into an empty goal, Captain Jackson Liu showed his serious distaste for conceding goals, tracked the dangerous attacker the whole way, and got his foot in for a goal-saving block to preserve the Hanover lead. "I wasn't worried, it's Jackson" Coach scoffed.

20 Minutes in, Hanover 2, Lebanon 1.

The Marauders were visibly boosted from the performance of their senior captain, and continued to find quick, attacking freedom in their opponents defensive third. Berkeley Chamberlain, a professional and composed player all night, received the ball just outside the left of the 18 before dishing a first-time service behind the Lebanon defense for Stettenheim to latch onto and finish off yet another Hat Trick, this time with a low finish to the left post. 25 minutes played, Hanover 3, Lebanon 1. What. A. Match.

Unable to stop, and with "all gas, no brakes" still ringing in the players' ears, the Marauders put together some of their most impressive footy of the season. Soren again found the ball behind the defense on the left baseline, before cutting a sharp cross to Ruslan who hammered a one-time finish into the bottom right of the net. Devastating soccer produced from a devastating first half performance. Hanover 4, Lebanon 1.

Lebanon would not stay quiet, however, and after a few dangerous attacks they managed to launch a long-ball over the Marauder's back-line for that guy, number 20, to poke past Iver to cut their deficit to 4-2. Thirty minutes in. Rub your eyes, this isn't a dream, it's some of the best soccer we've witnessed this season, from both teams.

Half time: Hanover 4, Lebanon 2.

The second half began with a slew of Leb chances. Without much to lose, the Raiders began attacking in numbers, but thanks to a steady defense performance from a back line of Finn Seville, Tom Mosdal, Kevin Chou, Jackson Liu, Wyatt "How do you spell your last name?" (Coach), and 2nd Honorary Freshman, Jackson McBride, the marauders were very capable in snuffing and serious chances from Lebanon. 15 minutes after the restart, Lebanon were finally able to halve the deficit. Finn Seville, about to clear a dangerous ball, had his legs taken out from under him by the Lebanon attacker, who stroked the ball into the back of the net. Lebanon 3, Hanover 4.

The next twenty minutes were spent at a stalemate, neither side produced any significant chances, except for a Krawitt free-kick which, unsurprisingly, almost found the top corner, before the Lebanon keeper was able to get a good hand behind it to keep the difference at just a goal. Tired legs didn't stop the Marauders, however, as they kept substitutes rolling onto the field, and finally, with 10 minutes to play, Stettenheim picked the ball up from 30 yards out, dropped a shoulder and rushed in behind the Leb defence before slotting his finish under an onrushing keeper to seal Hanover's win. Stettenheim's finish not only put the stamp on a fantastic performance from the Marauders JV2 squad, but also put his tally up to 14 goals in the short season.

The full-time whistle finally put an end to an absolutely thrilling performance from two good teams. Hanover 5 - Lebanon 3.