Hanover Bounces Back to Beat Alvirne, 8-0

  

 

Hanover bounced back from their worst loss in many years to record one of their most one-sided, beating Alvirne 8-0 and breaking a three-game losing streak. Now 4-4, the Bears took the first step on their climb back into  Division One contention.

 

Six different players scored, led by Zach Tracy and Andrew McGuire, who each tallied twice, and added an assist  Jack Gardner scored the first and game winning goal, and it tied with Tracy for the team scoring lead.  Three Bears – Alex McGrath, Veer Patel and Gavin Munson, tallied their first career goals.

 

Although Hanover had a bright start offensively, the Bear defense looked shaky in the early going, and only a great save by Ty Nolon one a breakaway by Matt Branco kept the game scoreless in the early going.  Hanover tightened things up and began to turn up the heat on the Alvirne defense with quick passes and changing the point of attack. Thirteen minutes into the match, a great buildup put Sean Smith in the position to feed Jack Gardner, and the senior sniper finished expertly for a 1-0 lead that was never threatened. The Bears doubled the lead less than two minutes later, with Zach Tracy getting the assist.

 

As Hanover’s defense tightened, the game tilted even more significantly in the Bears’ favor. Center back Alex McGrath did a nice job blocking a shot deep in the Hanover box, and at the other end McGuire scored his second goal of the day, taking a pass from Sam Calderwood (first Varsity assist) and cruising across the top of the box forever before finding an opening.  Calderwood then his a good shot that was saved, the first of two tries.  Ben Woods his a well-taken free kick just over the bar.

 

Hanover picked up right up where they left off in the second half.  Sean Smith, shining in his first Varsity start, forced a good save early in the half, and then Tracy scored the first of a brace, lashing a short range shot through everything in his way, including a teammate. Five minutes later made a great run into space and headed home a cheeky chip from Ryder Hayes to make it 5-0.

 

Five minutes later, Alex McGrath scored his first Varsity goal in the way that he may well score half a dozen more, heading home a far post corner kick, beautifully taken by Ben Woods for his first Varsity assist of many.

Veer Patel made the score 7-0, bundling home a shot in a scramble.  The only downside on the play was that the ball was in the mixer long enough to deny Ryan McLaughlin an assist from a beautifully-executed cross from the right flank that did indeed set the play up.

 

Back in the Hanover end, sophomore backs Noah Winchester (first Varsity start) and Same Ames played calm, controlled and precise soccer. Before the clock wound down, Gavin Munson scored his first Varsity goal, taking a back pass from Zach Tracy and finishing solidly with two seconds left on the clock.

 

It was a cathartic win for a team that had suffered some close losses and one forgettable blowout, but there is much work remaining before Hanover’s climb up the ladder in the D1 standings can be better judged.  The team has four training sessions before they return home to host Merrimack (and 

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