Marauders Beat Stevens 2-0; Record Now 4-0-0

 The Marauder Varsity defeated Stevens 2-0, shutting the Cardinals out for the second time in a week to improve their record to 4-0-0. Jackson Lake scored his first Varsity goal for the game winner, and Eric Ringer scored in his fourth consecutive game.  Senior CJ Wheelan made two big plays at the end of the match to preserve what thereby became a well-deserved shutout, his second.

In outshooting every foe thus far by a wide margin, the Marauders have nevertheless adapted to a COVID-influenced regional schedule, with nary a D1 foe in sight.  Lebanon was a good challenge, and will be even more challenging the next time around,  in the home and home series 10 days hence.  In the meantime, Hanover has been lucky to play teams that know how to defend, and they have refused to be drawn into sloppy or selfish tactics, just because they can.  They have kept the ball on the floor, and patiently switched the point of attack, and worked own the sort of playing style that will help them in the event they get to play some heavyweights in the still-to-be-unveiled state tournament.

Hanover knew it might take a while to crack a Stevens defense strengthened by the return of their starting center back, starting after a week-long health scare.  After a patient  five minutes to settle into the game, the Marauders started testing the Cards, and their standout goalkeeper Cooper Moote. Jackson Lake forced Moote to make a diving save on a strong shot (we love foreshadowing in this blog!), and a minute later Jacob Kubik-Pauw had an even better bid near the left post blocked by Moote.  Ten minutes into the match, Eric Ringer rattled the right upright with a short-range header.   Two minutes later, Ringer teed up a shot from 30 yards out, and Moote made the save but left a juicy rebound that should have been converted.

Midway through the half, Ringer broke through the Stevens defense and came in alone on Moote, who made yet another brilliant save.  Ten minute later, Dylan Kotlowitz nearly scored a highlight reel header, lofting his shot across the face of the goal toward the far upper corner, only to have the ball tick off the top of the goalpost.  Ringer had one more good salvo from outside, but the half ended in a scoreless draw.

There was no concern about the lack of scoring on the Marauder bench, and they started the second half confidently.  Jackson Lake got a shot off early, and then less than five minutes left after the interval, Dylan Kotlowitz, closer to the Stevens goal than his own all afternoon long, threaded a pass to Henry Aspinwall in the box. Henry slid the ball to Lake, who crushed a shot past Moote for the only goal Hanover would need.  First career goal.  GWG.  A goal of significance. Kotlowitz is appealing for a hockey assist on the. play, pending film analysis.

Two minutes later, Lake his a sweet volley on a centering pass fro one of the lefty wings, either Jacob or Tucker Monson, but drove it right at Moote. Five minutes after that Aspinwall got a header on goal that Moote managed to save.  Twenty minutes into the half, Ringer forced Moote to make yet another wonderful save.  In the 64th minute, Ringer collected his fourth goal in four games, collecting a wonderful cross for Monson and ripping it past Moote.  Hanover kept hammering, and almost got one of those twin to twin connections, with Will Guerin setting up Carter for a good shot. Ryder Hayes collected his typical rip from the edge of the box.  One of these days.

Give Stevens credit, they never game up.  They were gifted a call at the top of the Hanover 18, and Moote came up all Manuel Neuer and lofted a not-that-close shot over the top.  Then, in the closing minutes, Stevens had two great chances to score a goal that would have completely deflated Hanover, and senior goalie CJ Wheelan made two dope plays that proved why he is one of the most improved players on the team.  He first came off his lie and made a sliding tackle outside of his box on a 50-50 ball, and the made a nice play in traffic on a corner kick, slapping the ball out of danger.  The clean sheet, his second, was well-earned.

Next up for the Marauders is a Thursday match at Hartford, and opponent not seen officially for more than a decade.  Unofficially, the two teams have played eight times recently, in a summer series at Dothan Brook School, which became Hanover's second home. Hartford had an edge on some of those friendlies, but Hartford hasn't seen the full Hanover side. Perhaps it will be a wakeup call.