Wednesday was a cloudy day for Hanover's annual opening match
with the KUA Wildcats. It turned out to be a hard fought contest with
Hanover playing its most complete match to date, ending in a 0-0 draw. The team opened a
little flat-footed in the first few minutes. The defense and the steady
hands of keeper Matt Alibozek kept Hanover in the game. Hanover
warmed up and started connecting passes and making runs, and
slowly started winning possession of the ball. With this renewed
confidence, the team began making better choices and the ball started to
stay in the KUA half longer and longer. On the offensive end there
were some very dangerous crosses. On the end of one of those was a Aynan
Ahmaad, who made his first header toward goal for the season. Erik Blix
has a started to emerge as a constant threat down the left wing.
KUA was still very much a threat with some speedy forwards and a
centerback who could kick the ball over half the length of the field
creating a dangerous counterattack. The defense adjusted accordingly.
Though there were a few times where Matt's coolness under pressure kept
the score sheet clean in one-on-one situations, especially an instance
where his hand came up at the last minute to divert the ball over the
crossbar to keep the score 0-0 until the end of the half.
The second
half opened similarly, but with some speed up front that almost resulted
in a goal for Hanover on breakaway. The ball just barely going by the
goal post. Once again Hanover started possessing and pressuring leading
to numerous corners and opportunities with Teddy Ruth beginning to
understand the role of holding mid. and get some practice on corner
kicks the team started earning. As the game wore on, the
defense remained strong with Van Bailey, Koa Schuette, John Pham, Aiden
Peteresen, Jared Licht, Finn Seville, and Noah Phipps all working hard,
keeping the back secure, and giving no forward more than a brief moment
with the ball. Eli Cowie has really seemed to embrace his role as a
ballwinner in the backfield with some very spirited clears. Especially
one which almost took out a spectator as it flew over the sideline with
the velocity and directness that would be envied by the EPL's finest
forwards.
The midfield started making strides as well
with numerous passing plays, battling for every fifty/fifty ball, and
keeping constant pressure on the KUA defense. The game was
far from over and the possibility of a shutout for the defense and
keeper Alibozek was severely tested when KUA made a last run down the
sideline and let loose a shot on goal where Matt dived, fully stretched
out and managed to deflect away from the goal for his first epic save
for season. The defense cleared it and stayed vigilant for their first
shutout of the season with hopefully more to come.
It was a very encouraging and solid performance for the team, and we hope to keep it going. Hanover's next game is a Saturday road trip to Keene, with an 8:30 bus departure.
Coach McEwen
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