JV1 Helps Homecoming Sweep; Beats Memorial 3-1

All four Marauder teams played in the same time slot on Friday afternoon, one four different fields.  there were 108 players, seven coaches, and eight referees in action.  There is no other high school program that can accomplish anything like this.  The JV1 got off to a fast start and a fast finish to do their part, taking a quick lead on Manchester Memorial and earning a 3-1 victory to improve their record to 7-3 on the season.

The Marauders took an early lead when goalkeeper Jack Maynes his a long clear to Henry Aspinwall, who made a touch pass to send Peter Burnam through on the left flank.  Burnham carried the ball deep into the Memorial zone and sent it back to Aspinwall at the six, where he converted it for his tenth goal of the season.  Hanover nearly doubled the lead a minute later when a Will Ermarth free kick just outside the penalty area was inches wide of the post.

The Marauders continued to press, and in the 11th minute Eric Ringer hit a shot that forced the Memorial goalie to make a kick save, creating a juicy rebound for Ermarth, whose lefty bid on goal was gobbled up by the agile keeper. Hanover flaunted its depth in the 26th minute, doubling the lead when a corner kick by Derek Lacy found Jackson Lake on the back post.  Lake's header back across the goal mouth found the flying foot of Quincy McBride for a 2-0 lead.

Hanover came out strongly at the start of the second half, and Will Ermarth nearly missed his meg on the keeper after a cheeky heel pass from Henry Aspinwall.   Ten minutes later, the Aspinwall Soccer Collective combined with Ringer for a 3-0 Hanover  lead.  Mitch played Ringer through down to the touchline, and the frosh phenom played the ball back to the six yard line for Henry, who knocked in his second goal of the afternoon.

Memorial grabbed a lifeline when a back pass to Maynes in the Hanover goal hit a divot on the heavily-used pitch, and a fortunate Memorial player pulled back a goal to make the score 3-1.  The Crusaders came a bit closer in the final minute of the game when a shot hit the inside of the back post and rolled along the goal line before Maynes corralled it to prevent the goal and seal the victory.

The Marauders return to action on Tuesday with a road trip to Timberlane with a twist.  Because of a transportation crunch, Hanover has only one bus for two teams. Fortunately, a number of parents have stepped forward to transport their progeny  (and others, if they are Dresden-approved).  This Dunkirk-like arrangement should add some spice to an important road match.