JV2 Beats Sunapee 2-1 on The Road


A day of exams, trials, and several other synonyms for tests saw the Hanover Bears JV2 Soccer team travel 40 minutes south for a match-up with Sunapee High School. This time last season, we were drying our tears as we made our way off the field in a 7-2 loss. After 80 of the toughest minutes of the season, so far, the Bears strutted off Sunapee’s field as victors.

 

The match kicked off with Sunapee, sending the ball deep into their own half, though instead of the ball getting sent deep into Hanover’s end, Alex Brackett managed to cover enough ground to close down Sunapee and win possession. Hanover would remain in their opponent’s half for the next fifteen minutes, working the ball from side-to-side, playing everything to teammates’ feet, and working tirelessly to win the ball back any time we lost possession. 

 

Finally, a breakthrough came from the good work of Berkeley Chamberlain and Jai Gregory, making his return from injury, on the left flank. Berkeley stepped in to win a loose ball before finding Mr. Gregory, who razzled and dazzled his way to the baseline before cutting back and finding Alex Brackett. Alex, with his back to the goalkeeper, shielded the ball and shifted around just enough to find a pass to Soren Stettenheim charging through the middle. Soren met the pass first time and lashed it into the back of the net for Hanover’s first. 

 

The remained of the first half was much like the beginning. Loads of possession from the visiting Bears who remained calm and calculated on the ball. Sunapee were able to find a few sniffs at goal through their counter-attacks but none of them dangerous to force a save from Junior Keeper, Iver Skogerboe, who did well to come off his line several times tonight.

As the Bears pushed for their second of the night, halftime.

 

The second half began a bit slower than the first, and Sunapee were able to fashion a couple of chances just as a warning sign to the visiting Bears. Hanover again were able to maintain a decent amount of possession, particularly through the strong work of Liam Worden, Wynne Bushell, John Scherer and Alejandro in the midfield. However, one counter-attack from Sunapee saw the ball bounce twice on top of our Box before a Sunapee midfield stepped up and lashed in a volley from twenty yards out into the top right of the net, unlucky for us, but WOW What. A. Goal. Everyone at the field enjoyed watching that one.

 

The last twenty minutes descended into a bit of a slug-fest where each time started to try their luck from distance, but nothing came off for either side. With about ten minutes left in the match, Soren Stettenheim got onto the end of a ball to the right flank from Alejandro. Soren collected the pass, dribbled passed two defenders and squared a ball to Wynne Bushell on the back post who smashed the ball into the back of the net with a fantastic first-time finish on his (left? I think he used his left, I was too excited with the goal to remember exactly.)

 

A dramatic end to a dramatic night, well done to everyone in White tonight. Team efforts see team results. Good night! 

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