If there is a jinx location this season for the Hanover Junior Varsity, it probably is Scripture Field at Keene High School. The Marauders played Keene to a draw during preseason, and returned on Wednesday, determined to get full points. Despite long stretches of dominance, the JV1s saw a 1-0 lead slip away in the second half, and dropped a 2-1 decision to the Blackbirds.
The Marauders came out smoking, and had several good chances in the opening minutes. Eric Ringer's long pass found Henry Aspinwall in the box for a point blank shot that was saved by the Keene goalie. Five minutes later, Aspinwall's low, hard shot headed for the back post went through the keeper's hands. Alex Stephens was there for the rebound, but his shot went over the top.
Hanover broke through 25 minutes into the game. Mitch Aspinwall's cross caromed off of the goalkeeper's hands, and Derek Lacy was there at the goal mouth to punch the ball in for a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later the Marauders had a chance to increase the lead on a corner kick, but Eli Bush put his shot over the bar.
Keene was not without scoring chances. Their best opportunity was a 30-yard free kick that CJ Wheelan stopped with great positioning. The Blackbirds came out strongly in the second half, and six minutes into the interval they tied the match on a shot that went off the far post and was deflected in front, giving them a juicy rebound. Twenty minutes into the half, Keene took the lead on an unstoppable shot coming off of a counterattack, a banger into the upper corner.
Hanover had several chances to tie the game in the late going. Anthony Maynes, who was confounding defenders all afternoon, put a shot over the bar. Two minutes from the end, Theo Sparks sent a cross to Eric Ringer off a corner kick, but his back post header missed the target.
The Marauders are right back in action on Friday, traveling to Portsmouth for their first game ever against the Clippers, newly-promoted to Division One.
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