Bears Beat Pinkerton 1-0 for 9th Straight Win and a 12-4 Finish
Hanover closed the regular season with a flourish, beating Pinkerton Academy 1-0 for their ninth win in a row. The Bears end the season with a record of 12-4, surging into a tie for 3rd place in the NHIAA Division One standings. They will open postseason play Wednesday with a home game, probably against Concord.
After a scoreless first half that saw Pinkerton enjoy an edge in play, the Bears took the lead less than six minutes into the second half on Andrew McGuire’s 10th goal of the season. Although they didn’t add to their lead, Hanover managed the game professionally and emerged with a well-earned result. Ty Nolon highlighted the defensive effort with seven saves to record his sixth shutout of the season.
The game began without any initial fireworks, but it was clear from the start that the hardworking Astros, with several big results on their resume, would present a challenge. Hanover had the first real challenge in the 14th minute when Andrew McGuire’s shot was spilled by Pinkerton Goalkeeper Will Paganini. Jack Gardner got the loose ball, but his hurried shot floated wide. Four minutes later Pinkerton got the first of several dangerous free kids they would be awarded, but this one was blocked by a wall of Bears.
The two teams traded shots at the midway mark of the half. Carter Guerin his a hard shot wide of the near post, and then Astro Jack McNair his a longish shot straight at Nolon in goal. Pinkerton then created three dangerous chances, and really should have had something to show. After a dangerous 50-50 ball went unchallenged when it looped into the box, Astro striker Zack Smith found himself all alone in front, and hit a six-yard shot directly at Nolon. Nolon then went full out to make a fingertip deflection of a shot by Noah Sands that crashed off the crossbar after the minute but critical course correction. Pinkerton got one more golden chance in the final minute, awarded a free kick right at the top of the box. Zach Smith blasted it into orbit, however, and Hanover had survived the first half.
There were no histrionics at halftime, and the Bears calmly went to work in the second half, taking a territorial edge that had eluded them for most of the first half, and taking the lead in the sixth minute. Hanover earned three corner kicks in quick succession, and used the, to create some good chances, including a Jack Gardner shot that was just wide of the near post. On the third corner, Jack McGuire hit a good serve into the box and McGuire headed it off the crossbar. The rebound came right to him, and he wasted little time knocking it home to give the Bears the lead.
Play ranged from box to bon in the middle 20 minutes, and Hanover was regularly asked questions by the Pinkerton attack. Andrew McGuire showed his two-way bona fides with a great far post shot block on the end of the box that then triggered a good counterattack. After Carter Guerin shot another good shot just wide, Nolon made perhaps the save of the season, a professional-looking full-on dive to the right to turn a hard shot by Smith past the post. Whew! With a little more than 11 minutes left, Jack McGuire made a superb defensive play on the weak side to preserve the lead.
The last 10 minutes showed Hanover’s improved ability to manage a lead. The Bears maintained possession, kept attacking, and denied the Astros even a sniff. Becket McCurdy motored into the box and had a hard shot saved, and Ian Press, who celebrated his first Varsity start, rolled a shot wide. The last three minutes were a master class in taking the game to the corner and killing the game.
Following their one-sided loss to Windham a month ago, Hanover was 3-4. They never panicked, made adjustments, kept working (and listening to Sam Farnham), and slowly, patiently won nine games in a row. Now they turn the page and start a new season with a number of challenges awaiting.
The first hurdle will be a home match on Wednesday, perhaps with Concord. The Bears would love to see the Crimson Tide to start their Revenge Tour. Concord beat Hanover 2-1 in overtime during their three-game losing streak, and the Bears feel they can improve on that.
Looking beyond the first round of the playoffs is dangerous. It should be noted, though, that if Hanover succeeds in the first round, and if #4 Exeter beats first round opponent Pinkerton, the Bears would have a road trip to Bill Ball Stadium on Oct. 30. A chance to beat Exeter and keep them out of the semifinals in their own house? A chance to play three in a row at a stadium that they love? Yes, please. But first Concord. Let’s see if we can have a blackout to end all blackouts at Merriman-Branch.
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