Freshmen Draw 0-0 With Exeter in Match Shortened by Darkness

      Monday's trip to Exeter was a frustrating day across the board for the young Marauders. The boys where full of confidence and eager for the challenge that The Blue Hawks always bring, as one of the top programs in the state.  The Marauder struggles began before they even stepped off the bus. A large accident on Route 101 caused the bus to be delayed for an hour and the boys arrived at Exeter High school shortly after the scheduled start time for the match. The boys stretched as quickly as they could to hasten the start time of the game. It was a chilly, rainy and grey day and that certainly wouldn't help to extend the game once the sun went down. Due to all these factors the officials decided it would be best to play an abbreviated game of two 30 minute halves as opposed to the normal 40 minute halves. In the end it was the correct decision by the officials as the game concluded in near darkness but would prove to be detrimental for Hanover's hopes of leaving Exeter with a win.

 

     The first half started with Exeter coming out flying. In the first 30 minutes the Blue Hawks found themselves with several chances, playing the ball to the wide areas and finding some pacey wingers. Meanwhile, Hanover was having a hard time finding their legs. If not for Hanover's man of the match, Jackson Fisher in goal, the game would have easily been 4-0 at halftime. Jackson saved a total of seven shots on net in the first half alone, while the Mauraders only managed one shot on frame in the first half. 

 

      The second half started much like the first except the Marauders slowly but surely started loosening up their legs and playing Hanover soccer. Ten minutes into the second half the momentum started to shift. Hanover was penetrating deep in to the Exeter half but still lacking that final pass or threatening shot on net. At the 50 minute mark the Marauders came alive. After a dangerous cross in to the box off the left foot of Alex Rockmore wasn't cleared properly, Oscar Miller put a shot on goal from 12 yards out, it beat the keeper, hit the bottom of the crossbar and came "straight" down. It originally appeared to have crossed the line but with the darkness growing and the official not in the best spot to definitively see, he could not give the goal, much to Hanover's dismay. However, with the conditions, it was probably the correct call. After the near miss the Marauders poured men forward for the next ten minutes, putting ball after ball in to the Exeter box. The Blue Hawks had parked the bus and were working hard to keep any shot from reaching the keeper when an Exeter defender made an attempt to clear the ball, it glanced off the side of his foot and was headed for the side netting but just missed the post by mere inches. The ensuing corner kick from Connor Hamlin was placed perfectly in the box but with 20 men in there it was near impossible to get a ball through the tangle of bodies and the ball deflected just outside of Exeter's 18 yard box. As Hanover regained possession and were about put the ball back in towards the net at the 60 minute mark, the whistle blew and the game was over. 

    It was the first time all year that Hanover had dropped points and the first time they had been held to no goals. It was a disappointing end to the game especially after such a long bus ride. However, both teams played extremely hard for 60 minutes and left it all on the field. 

 

    The young Marauders will regroup in time for their rescheduled Wednesday matchup at Dresden field at 4:00 p.m. against a perennial Division One powerhouse in Manchester Central.