JV2 Beats Lebanon 6-1 For First Win

The afternoon was cool and overcast as the Marauders took to the field against Lebanon. It would be a test to see how they would respond with only a day off after a road trip game.  In the first five minutes it seemed that they would once again get penalized for a slow start when Lebanon blazed down the right flank and made attempt on goal only to be stopped by the quick and aware hands of Matt Alibozek.  The defense would soon be tested a couple minutes later as a Lebanon attacked and a shot bounced off the post to be cleared just in time by a sliding Teddy Ruth.

This time,  though,  Hanover quickly woke up, and were determined to create a goal.  Matt Fenner seemed to sense this when he found the ball in the attacking third and raced toward the baseline where he placed a perfect low cross in front of the net.  The Lebanon goalie was there to receive it, but so were the Hanover forwards and midfielders.  When the goalie bobbled the cross, Declan Flynn pounced and kept the ball in play for an onrushing Caleb Callaway to bury it the net to leave no doubt of a goal.  It seemed a weight was lifted off the team, and they started to relax, but still play hard.  This combination of poise and intensity paid off when they won the ball in the backfield and Maxwell Lutz played it out to  Jackson Liu who made a great one touch pass past the defense in quick transition back to Maxwell.  The play continued with a one-two with Mark Ralston-Daniel placing Maxwell at the top of the box as he capped off the run with a coolly placed shot it in the far side netting.

 

  The pressure would continue and the team would go into the half up by two.  The second half started a touch listless, but this changed quickly when Max Patyl-Finkel was found on the top of the box where he received the ball, turned quickly, outpaced his defender, and struck the ball in the lower right corner.  Lebanon would show some teeth, though, and on counterattack found one of their forwards on Hanover's eighteen where he unleashed a shot that Matt Alibozak managed to get his hand on, but it just had enough power to get by him.

 

 Hanover was not through for the day though as they continued to attack and earned a corner.  Teddy Ruth then executed a beautiful cross curling over the heads of several defensemen and into the box where Mark Ralston-Daniel reacted to a loose ball and volleyed it with deceptive ease for his first goal of the season.  

 

  Lebanon would have another opportunity for a goal as they earned a penalty kick from a handball in the box, but  the ensuing shot went well clear of the crossbar.  There was still some time remaining, and Hanover wanted capitalize on its attacking flow when Mark Ralston-Daniel made a well-directed assist to Maxwell Lutz steering him towards the goal where he once again  found the back of the net. Finally, in the waning moments Boris Devitsky somehow found Max Patyk-Finkel on the outside of the box who struck another quick accurate shot that found the inside corner.  This play earned Boris his first assist of the season and Max's second goal for the game.  

 

Though the storyline of this game are the numerous goals, the defensive play was rock solid.  There was very little they let through against some fast and skilled Lebanon forwards.  The ball was kept often in the Lebanon half, and almost threats in the box were dealt with authority and decisiveness.  The backline's role in the build-up of attack could not be overstated as well. Furthermore the Man of the Match would have to go to Matt Alibozek.  He not only stopped almost all threats from the ground and air, but also came up big in more than a few one on one breakthroughs.  This play culminated in the save of the game where he managed to layout in a breakaway and stop/trap a shot with  his legs much to the consternation of the forward who was expecting a sure goal.  

 

    It was a great day for the Marauders and well earned win created by hustle, composure, and teamwork from everyone involved.  Let's keep it up.