Hanover Beats Exeter 3-2 in Playoff Preview

 At some point in a season a team needs a signature win, one that carries with it the distinct risk of losing, and perhaps along with that the risk of sending a season sideways with that loss. The was what Hanover was facing when second-ranked Exeter came to town.  Hanover had put together a modest little three-game winning, but the opposition left something to be desired.  Exeter, with big wins over Manchester Central and Nashua South, was another level.

 

Happily, the Bears responded to the challenge with a thrilling 3-2 victory, decided in the dying minutes with a spectacular goal by Jack Gardner.  It was the sort of win that reminded Hanover that their lofty goals might be possible after all.  With their modest winning streak now intact at four games, the Bears have broken into the top eight in the NHIAA D1 standings, and have the opportunity to continue their slow crawl up the ladder.

 

Exeter arrived early in a sleek coach bus, warmed up confidently, and 

held a slight in an evenly-contested first 20 minutes.  Hanover had the first good chance, though, when Jack Gardner narrowly missed the far post with a low, hard shot from the left side.  Exeter countered almost immediately, when a Blue Hawk corner kick gave Jack LaBroad a free header in the box.  Fortunately, his shot was just a bit off the mark. Hanover’s backs were having some trouble settling into the match, and gifted Exeter a number of off-target passes, but each time the defense stiffened.

 

Midway through the first half, it appeared as though Hanover was going to have a golden chance to score.  Jack Gardner worked his way into the Exeter box, and he was hauled down from behind as he turned his defender, ready to curl toward the goal with the ball on his right food.  The whistle blew for a foul, but the ball was placed just outside. We film the games, so….we’ll have a clear look soon.

 

The missed opportunity felt even more galling at 25:13, when the Blue Hawks took a 1-0 lead on a well-executed far post header by Jude Keener on a corner kick by George Keener. It didn’t take the Bears long to respond.  Three minutes later, Noah Winchester played a ball from inside his own half of midfield, lofting a beautiful chip to Zach Tracy, who broke through the defense and raced toward the goal.  At just the right time, Tracy squared the ball to Andrew McGuire, who buried the ball from short range at the end of a perfect finishing run. It was McGuire’s team-leading seventh goal in the past six games.

 

The rest of the half was scoreless, but full of drama at both ends. Speedy Exeter forward Sam Henry, one of the most dangerous strikers Hanover has seen all year, broke into the Bear box on the left side and beat onrushing goalie Ty Nolon to a 50-50 ball, but his lofted shot slid by the right post. Exeter was awarded another corner when a long, high ball bounced over Nolon and over the bar without a touch or deflection.  But it was called a corner.  Glad we film. Back at the other end, Carter Guerin took advantage of a free kick just outside the Exeter box and hit a hard shot that was saved at full extension by Hawk goalkeeper Joe Bernard.  On the ensuing corner kick, Sean Smith was in position for a far post header but was unable to get his offering on net.

 

Hanover looked like the better team after halftime, getting a great start when Jack Gardner earned a corner with hard work pressing, and Backet McCurdy, tireless all day at holding center mid, headed the serve over the top. Just two minutes after the interval, the Bears took the lead on a marvelous goal by Carter Guerin, who was played into space on the left side with a lofted chip by McCurdy.  Number 10 closed quickly and ripped a shot past Bernard for his fifth goal in three games.

 

Exeter quickly demonstrated that they were capable of countering dangerously, and Dylan Drunsic narrowly missed the goal with a whizzing shot from the right side of the Hanover box. Play continued to be back and forth in highly entertaining fashion, and with ten minutes elapsed Guerin was back in business, breaking into the Hawk box, only to have Bernard race out of his goal the snuff the shot at Carter’s feet.  With less than 20 minutes remaining, the momentum swung more to Exeter, and only a miraculous save by Nolon on a point-blank header by Jack Herring kept the bears on top.  Nolon was in action just minutes later, diving full-out to his left to parry a low, hard shot by Sam Henry.  Henry would have several more shots from the right side that flew high and wide. Nolon made a dope play on a free kick lofted into the box, coming off his line well to punch the ball away.

 

Just when it looked as though Hanover might emerge with a tidy 2-1 win, Exeter burst the balloon with the tying goal in the 73^rd minute.  The Hanover defense blocked several shots inside the penalty area but could not clear, and the ball fell to Herring, who lashed it home to make the score 2-2.  This would have been a great time for Hanover to wilt, with Exeter suddenly on the front foot and eager to capitalize on their momentum. But the Bears met the challenge, and with the clock frozen at five minutes (per procedure), they created the most important goal of their season.  Carter Guerin got control of the ball at midfield on the left flank, and chipped a long ball to Jack Gardner, paired off with a strong Exeter central defender.  Gardner got possession with the ferocity that he shows on a lax faceoff, and found room at the very top of the box to rip an absolute laser into the upper right corner. There were less than two minutes to play.  The Bears were composed and efficient in closing out the game,  thanks particularly to the midfield troika of McCurdy, Tracy and Ryder Hayes, and had the opportunity to celebrate a great win.  They have every reason to believe that there will be more of these down the road.

 

Next up is a good challenge for the Bears.  They travel to Londonderry on Friday to play a Lancer team that lost by just a goal to Exeter, Bedford and Nashua South.  Hanover is dangerous though.  They have wind in their sails, and a clear vision of what they need to do to succeed.