Hanover Loses 2-1 To Windham in the Semifinals to End the Season

 Hanover's first loss of the season came in their last game, a 2-1 loss to a Windham team on a mission in the NHIAA Division One Semifinals at chilly Merriman-Branch Field.  The Marauders trailed 1-0 at halftime after a slow start,  and thentied the match in the second half that showed them completely switch momentum and at point point nearly take the lead.  Windham scored the game-winner in the 73rd minute and were able to hold Hanover off, and the Marauder bid to return to the Final and defending their title was over.

Windham came into the game after a stunning-upset of top-rated Central, and the senior-laden squad took the initiative in the first half, outshooting the Marauders and maintaining an edge in play.  They threatened several times on corner kicks, and after 28 minuted they cashed in on a break into the Marauder end.  Midfielder Max Husson penetrated on the right flank and drove a cross through the Hanover box, connecting with Jack Runde, who crushed a volley past Ty Nolon for a 1-0 lead.   Hanover had a few sniffs in the next few minutes.  Will Guerin almost got a header off from close range, and Eric Ringer had a dangerous drive blocked.  Windham's 1-0 lead at the half was well-deserved.

The Marauder bench was pretty calm at halftime.  There was no need for major adjustments or impassioned speeches.  Hanover knew what had to be done, and they had trailed a number of times this season.  Even with more at stake, and facing their toughest opponent of the year, the Marauders were equal to the task.  They tilted the field right from the start of the second half, and almost immediately started getting scoring chances.  Dylan Kotlowitz had several dangerous serves on a free kick and a corner, and Murphy Hunt had several looks  from the top of the box.  Henry Aspinwall broke into space on the left side to chase down a lead pass, and only a daring dash off his line by goalkeeper Preston Neal prevented a great scoring chance.

Fifteen minutes after the interval, the Marauders equalized.  Aspinwall controlled the ball near the right edge of the penalty area, and flicked the ball back to Jackson Lake, who took a great first touch and then calmly slid the ball across the top of the box to Hunt in the exact spot where he had launched two shots earlier.  The junior midfielder took the ball with his left foot and put back on his right, calmly hitting a glorious shot that sailed just under the bar and over Neal.  It was his second big-time goal in the late stages of a game this season, and it gave the Marauders new life.  

Windham was not completely quiet in their offensive end.  Early in the half, they had forced a great save by Ty Nolon on a shot by Owen Larouco that was labeled for the lower right corner, but for the ten minutes after Hunt's goal, the momentum was Hanover's.  Jackson Lake collided with goalkeeper Neal on another fifty-fifty ball, and Ringer hit a hard shot from the right that zinged past the left post, almost collecting with Tucker Monson, closing fast from the left side. 

With 10 minutes left in the game, a second Hanover goal seemed inevitable.  And then it came!  Or did it? A Kotlowitz restart from the right side put the ball into the box, and a wild scramble ensued at the left post. Evan Nichols, Eric Ringer and a scrum of Windham defenders converged on the loose ball, and goalkeeper Neal, standing in the goal, clawed the ball out of danger.  Had it been over the line?  The Marauder bench, pretty far from the action, erupted. But the players closer to the action didn't seem to react as though they had scored. There was no call from the official, and play continued. Maybe the film will be conclusive.

Two minutes later, against the run of play, Windham scored on another quick break through midfield.  Ryan Husson slipped a ball through the Marauder defense to his brother  Max, who chipped the ball past the onrushing and late-arriving Ty Nolon. With seven minutes lefty to save their season, the Marauders worked hard to create chances, but the fired-up Jaguars held them a bay, and just like that, the season was over.

The Marauders have set a high bar for themselves all season, and so of course they were disappointed.  They demonstrated composure and class at the end, congratulating the victorious Windham squad, and pointed no fingers except perhaps at themselves, owning the result.  Sure, they could have played better earlier, but it's possible that Windham could have been responsible for that.  The pain of the loss will fade, the team will gather on the hill Thursday to root hard for the girls as they take on Windham in their semifinal, and they will go through all of the bittersweet postseason rituals.

When the Marauders look back, they will see a unique and memorable season. So much was different due to the pandemic, but in the end, it had a familiar ring:  a well-trained Hanover squad playing great soccer when it was need most, getting timely goals and greta results, and making it to the top level of Division One, despite being the smallest school on the block by a wide margin.  This is a Marauder team that represented the school in the best possible way.

Props to the seniors for great leadership, and to the amazing coaching staff: Sam, Sam, Charlie and Daniel. Thanks to Trainer Cassie Lapple, Athletic Director Megan Sobel, and even Mr. T, who showed up on the sidelines on the final chilly night.  We will miss the seniors, but the fire is already burning for 2022.  The Marauders will be back.