Marauders Beat Bedford 1-0, Host Playoff Semifinals Wednesday

 Jacob Kubik-Pauw scored the only goal of the game in the second half and Hanover beat a strong Bedford team 1-0 in the NHIAA Division 1 quarterfinals Saturday in Hanover.  The Marauders will now host the semifinals on Wednesday, and will play unbeaten Windham, who upset unbeaten Central 2-1 (3-2 penalties). 

Hanover and Bedford last met in the 2019 Finals, and produced another top-flight match that was dead even until the 66th minute of the match, when senior striker Henry Aspinwall, Hanover's leading scorer, slid a pass to Kubik-Pauw at the top of the penalty area, freeing him for a shot just inside the left post. It was the junior's second goal of the season.

 

Hanover's sophomore goalkeeper Ty Nolon played a strong game in goal for the Marauders, making four saves to earn his third shutout of the season.  He made a spectacular diving save early in the game on Bedford's Ricardo Foltron, a constant threat on the left wing for the Bulldogs, whose only loss of the season came against Central.

 

Hanover remains unbeaten at 9-0-1, and holds the longest unbeaten streak in the state, an 18-game stretch dating back to last October. The Marauders beat Bedford on penalty kicks in the 2019 Final.

 

The Marauders got outstanding defensive play from seniors Alex Stevens, Dylan Kotlowitz and Nathan Subrahmanian, and also from junior center backs Evan Nichols and Palmer Okai.  Hanover has allowed only six goals in ten games, and has collected five shutouts.

The Marauders got the first good look of the game in the fourth minute, when Henry Aspinwall got behind the defense and had only goalkeeper Zach Dion to beat.  Dion was quick off his line, though, and blocked the ball at Aspinwall's feet to quell the chance. Bedford was dangerous all day, and had a great chance to take the lead in the 9th minute.  A centering pass from the right was headed to the left flank where it fell right to the feet of Foltron, who launched a shot form outside the 18 that was headed back inside the right post.  Nolan made a tremendous dive to his left to push the shot past the post, and Hanover dealt effectively to clear then ensuing dangerous corner.

Aspinwall continued to be a threat up front, and when he headed to the bench to take a rest midway through the half, Oscar Miller continues to provide a spark off then bench,  controlling a ball just inside the penalty area and blazing a left-footed shot just wide of the right post.  Hanover made great use of its bench, and by the end of the half the Marauders had used seven subs, keeping the game under control and giving the starters valuable rest for the second half.  Murphy Hunt did a particularly good job in the maelstrom of midfield, winning and holding the ball, and taking great transition passes to trigger the attack.

Bedford made another fast start at the beginning of the second half, with Ricardo Foltron blazing not one but two dangerous crossing balls through the boxes. At the other end, Eric Ringer countered with a great cross into the box that was punched clear by Dion. The action swung from end to end, with both teams making big defensive plays.  Dylan Kotlowitz was doing a great job on the dangerous Foltran, bending but now breaking in a series of one on one battles.  Nolan did a great job coming off his line to make a save on Matt Flanagan, and then at the other end Dion did the same on Aspinwall, diving again at his feet to smother a good chance.  Tucker Monson defused a dangerous bid in the box with a timely clear, and then Nolon saved a hard free kick by Foltron.

Slowly, Hanover's deep bench and fitness took a toll on the Bulldogs, who had made far fewer substitutions.  A good step by Evan Nichols created a break down the left flank by Kubik-Pauw that earned a corner for Hanover, and then a cross by Ringer almost found Oscar for a far post header.  Dion came off his line hard to win the ball at the feet of Will Guerin, giving him a boo-boo.

Finally, Hanover struck, and just as they had done against Concord, it was a lightning fast end to end effort.  Deep in the Hanover end, Nathan Subrahmanian won a ball and crushed a lefty lead pass that sent Henry Aspinwall sprinting solo to the left edge of the penalty area.  Aspinwall drew the defense and then deftly slid the ball to Kubik-Pauw, who had made a great run to join the play.  Jacob planted hard onto his left foot and juked right, losing three defenders closing on him and finding room to rip a right-footer inside the left post.  Back to back Goal of the Year candidates in back to back games.  Glad there's still more soccer.

The Marauders had fifteen minutes to manage against a great team, and they did it clinically, continuing to use their bench.  Notable was Mitch Aspinwall, whose season-long rehabilitation  from a bad injury paid off with his first minutes of the season. What an amazing moment to see two sets of twins, seniors and freshmen, sharing the turf at the same time. Bedford got several looks, including two more corners and another free kick, and all they could manage were a pair of soft shots that Nolon gobbled up to earn his first real shutout of the season.

 

Wednesday's semifinal will be the first ever hosted by Hanover.  Normally, the final four is played at neutral sites, but the safety rules in this unique season call for one of the competing teams to host, and by luck of the draw the Marauders have the distinction of hosting.  Windham will provide a big challenge. The Jags are a senior-laden, well-coached team with a great goalkeeper,  Preston, one of three triplets on the squad.  They are unbeaten this year, having played all Division One teams, and for gosh sakes they just did what on one else has done, and beat a hugely talented Central team. The Marauders have talent, but they are brilliantly prepared by Sam Farnham, and they are cohesive and led by am amazing group of seniors, eager to make history.