Marauders Top Bishop Brady 4-1

Hanover prepared for their Wednesday showdown with Lebanon with a purposeful and attractive 4-1 victory over a determined Bishop Brady team Tuesday at Merriman-Branch field. After conceding the opening goal to the visitors, the Marauders stayed composed and played 70 minutes of outstanding soccer, scoring four goals in a ten-minute stretch from the end of the first half to the beginning of the second. Ben Harris has his second consecutive two-goal game, Eric Jayne tallied his team-leading seventh goal, and Hayden Pressey-Murray opened his account for the season with a goal and an assist. After dozing on Brady's goal, the defense was outstanding for the rest of the way, and every one of the 24 field players got significant playing time.

The first seven minutes of the match were largely at midfield, as a focused Brady squad seemed determined to stay stride for stride with their hosts. Hanover conceded a corner at the eight minute mark and made a meal of the clearance, allowing Matt Bosiak the opportunity to pounce on the ball at close range and dent the net for the first goal of the game. The Marauders then showed considerable poise, letting the match come to them and exhibiting no frustration as the energized Green Giants (that's their nickname, honest!) kept them at bay. A number of scoring attempts by the likes of Nate Hanna, Gunnar Shaw and Jonathan Fenton nearly found the mark before Hayden Pressey-Murray carried the ball deep on the left flank and hit an early cross that found Harris perfectly positioned to nod home the tying goal with a little over three minutes to play in the half. Not wanting to appear ungrateful, Harris returned the favor less than three minutes later, finding room on the right baseline to swing the ball in front for Pressey-Murray's first goal of the season. Coming with less than a minute to play in the half, it was a dagger in Brady's heart.

Hanover wasted little time in the second half administering the coup de grace. Seven minutes into the second session, Nate Hanna picked up the ball in his own half and blew past two defenders, streaking down the left side. The senior co-Captain hit a worm burner across the face of the goal for Harris, who took advantage of the Brady keeper's indecision and directed the ball past him for a 3-1 lead. Less than a minute later Jayne got control of the ball on the end of one of Stefan Dyroff's punts and made room for himself at the top of the box, hitting a low hard shot just inside the left post for his seventh goal, and fifth in the last six games.

The Marauders actually increased their territorial domination as wave after wave of substitute came cascading off of the bench. Isaiah Fariel and Jonathan Fenton, the Alphonse and Gaston of the pitch (look it up), took turns trying to set each other up, eschewing their own agendas to the point of near-absurdity. They promised to do better on the morrow. Brendan Barth and Ross Johnston continued to look at home in the center of the park, covering every inch of the required territory between the eighteens. Chris Tecca continued his bid to be recognized as the most improved player on the squad, and all three of his fellow backs were effective in keeping the second half sheet clean.

Having done exactly what they needed to do as squad, the Marauders can now turn their attention to welcoming undefeated (8-0-0) Lebanon on Wednesday evening at 6:30. Memories of last week's 1-0 loss with a minute to go in the second sudden death overtime are fresh enough, and the stakes are manifest. This match will be an excellent post-season dress rehearsal, and an opportunity to apply six week's worth of lessons. It ought to be a good show.

Players from both sides, parents, and all spectators are reminded to bring non-perishable food items for donation to The Haven. Yet another good reason to hope for the best crowd of the season!