The Marauders played one of their most complete games of the season on Friday, beating Winnacunnet 3-1 on a pair of second-half strikes by Charlie Adams. The Warriors came into Hanover on a hot streak, but the Marauders dominated at both ends of the field in a matchup of two teams headed to the playoffs. They are now 9-3 on the season and continued to hold onto a top four spot in the NHIAA Division One standings.
The Marauders dominated the first half statistically, and took a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute on a goal by Matty Gardner. The hard-working Warriors took only eight minutes to retaliate, however, drawing even at 1-1 on a counterattacking goal that was one of their two attempts on goal in the half. The Marauders kept their composure and stuck to their plan to maintain possession and build slowly, and they were amply rewarded early in the second half when Charlie Adams scored two highlight-reel goals within 70 seconds of each other.
Hanover wasted little time from the opening kickoff, penetrating the Winnacunnet box with regularity and coming close a number of times. Captain Liam Collins continued his recent offensive surge, taking a total of five shots, and coming close several times. Charlie Adams had his playmaking hat on, sending Christo Dragnev in alone on goal in the tenth minute, only to be denied on a spectacular save by Warrior goalkeeper Nathan Todaro. Adams teed up along free kick five minutes later, and Matty Gardner barely missed getting a dangerous header.
Shortly after the trio of Eli Stack, David Stoffel and Amane Matsuoka entered the game, the Marauders finally got on the board. Stoffel hit a rightfooted shot in the box form close range that was blocked, and the ball rebounded to the edge of the penalty area, where Mattty Gardner was lurking, exactly where he was meant to be. Gardner hit a seeing-eye shot that caught the lower right corner, and Hanover took the lead.
Winnacunnet pressed energetically, looking for a reply. The Warriors featured two tall strikers, and they were a danger in the box every time Winnacunnet had a throw-in, especially because Warrior Captain Danny Webb-McClain featured a long, high throw that was capable of carrying into the center of the box. On one particular play at the thirty-minute mark, a long throw isolated David Stoffel in a defensive matchup with 6'3" Ben Allen, and the Marauder winger did his job to perfection. Two minutes later, though, the Warriors were fortunate enough to tie the game. Hanover had a corner kick, and the ball was cleared to midfield and then again to a speeding Chaz Zilikowski,
who help off pursuing defender Dillon Bradley and hit a short shot that beat Marauder keeper Joey Perras to his right.
Hanover was unfazed, The collected their composure quickly, despite the disappointment that came
from dominating play and having a halftime draw. They quickly took control after Winnacunnet's second half kickoff, and within seven minutes they had the lead back. Striker Christo Dragnev collected the ball on the right edge of the penalty area after a patient buildup, spun off a defender, and played the ball across the top of the box the Adams, who had time and space to uncork a hard, accurate line drive into the right corner of the net.
There was barely enough time to register the 2-1 score on the scoreboard before the Marauders were back in control of the ball, and threatening again. Matty Gardner controlled the ball 25 yards away from the goal, drew a defender, and chipped a short pass to Adams, who unleashed a left-footed half volley that found the far corner for a 3-1 lead. It was the 16th goal of the season for Adams.
The next thirty minutes were a clinic in how to finish off a game. Hanover kept pressing, behind Adams, Liam Collins and Dragnev, putting pressure on Winnacunnet to defend. The Marauders soon brought on fresh legs at outside back, with Noah Pikielny spelling Judd Adams and Brendan Barth taking over on the right side for Dylan Kotlowitz. Bradley and Kyle Doucette did a wonderful job controlling the center of the park, and Perras was strong off his line and very effective with his kicking game. Winnacunnet manufactured a few looks, but they never really threatened, and the Marauders closed the books on a highly satisfying victory.
The road ahead is not without challenges. After a Tuesday road trip to Spaulding, the Marauders will get ready to host Pinkerton, the team that ended Hanover's season last year in the Division One quarterfinals. The Astros are right back at the top of the table, boasting a 9-3 record identical to Hanover's. Following that will be a road trip to Stellos Stadium to face 8-2-1 Nashua North, currently ahead of both teams in third place.
First things first. The Marauders will get a few days off, and a chance to give back by participating in the charity CROP Hunger Walk in Lebanon on Sunday. They'll train on Monday afternoon at the Pasture in their final appearance of the season there, and play their final match on grass on Tuesday. Then they will get ready for their final third of the season, exclusively on turf and full of challenging games. This is what they have worked so hard and so long for. They have grown with every game, and will be eager for the challenges ahead.
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