JV1 Draws Bedford in a Well-Played Match

 

The Hanover JV1 Bears took to the road on for the first time of their ‘22 campaign meeting the Bedford Bulldogs on their turf field. The Bulldogs lived up to their billing as being one of the stronger programs in the state. Bedford would control play early and Hanover gave an early free kick 25 yards out that could have been trouble. Wyatt Seelig in net and the starting back line of Sebastian Bujarski, Davey Tolliday, Schuyler Clapp, and Liam Foston were equal to the task and turned away the early chance with a ball thrown in the mixer. Hanover would start to pick up its level of play working to match the level of physicality that the Bedford started with. Henry Werner has continued to be both an engine and spark plug through the middle third playing a hybrid of a 10 and 8. While Hanover was starting to match the control and effort level that Bedford had, it was Bedford who would open the books on scoring with a well played line breaking pass into the 18. However, the Bears would raise their level and match the score no more than 6 minutes later. Freddie Mierke made a a great inside cut leaving his defender trailing. Mierke took two touches into the 18 while Lionel Ndong and Noi Larusson both made complimentary center runs. With Ndong being closer and pulling center backs on to him, it opened up Larusson for Mierke’s hard ground cross and finished it first time, knotting the score 1-1. The first half would have Bedford making some final pushes before the end of the half. Bedford’s dangerous striker (#16 who scored the first goal), would have another run on net; however, Tolliday played him physical and Seelig came off his line enough to deny a finish. Bedford would have another challenge inside the 18 but Gus Thompson was able to dispossess take a touch before seemingly being clattered by a one of the bulldogs, but able to keep Hanover out of danger nonetheless. The half would close 1-1 with Hanover feeling confident about how they defended the sun end of the field first.

The Bears would have a few changes to its starting lineup for the second half with Blake Bouchard spelling Davey Tolliday and the Andrew and Joseph Rudd switching spots to land in the 6 and 9 positions respectively. With the sun at their backs, the Bears seemingly upped their level connecting on more passes and playing some through balls into more dangerous areas breaking out of the middle third. Aidan Bradly and Ben Thaler-Wellborn were both able to sprint down several through balls down the right flank managing several quality centering balls. Hanover was able to out possess Bedford with quality build up and switching with their rotation dual 6s of Ian Holmes, Joseph Glass and Andrew Rudd (being back in his natural position). Hanover would also out-chance Bedford with several shots just missing the frame, including a couple hitting the football field goal cross bar and a deep header by Clapp on a corner taken by Werner. With the chances building up for the JV Bears, Bedford made a couple final pushes but the closing back line of Ezra McGinley-Smith, Teddy Abbate, Clapp and Tolliday were able do better with cutting down the free runs that the bulldogs had in the first half. Clapp made a world-class tackle inside the box, so clean that the official had no chance to be tempted to make a bad call. Overall a high level of play by both teams for JV soccer. The JV1 Bears look to keep their unbeaten streak going into a week where they will play 3 games in 5 days hosting Keene and Manchester Memorial before finishing with a matinee at Concord.