Varsity Tops Laconia 1-0 to Remain Unbeaten

The Marauders recorded a methodical 1-0 victory over a determined Laconia squad under the Thursday night lights, stretching their modest winning streak to 3-0-1. Junior Eric Jayne scored his 4th goal in four games in the first half, and Hanover protected the lead by subsequently outshooting the visitors 15-0, denied a second score and more only by the stellar goalkeeping by Laconia netminder Will Salta.

Laconia, coached by JV Coach Mike Callanan's protege and former Captain Steve Tucker, entered the match with 3-1 record and plenty of experience gained from last year's NHIAA tournament. Tucker made an interesting move at the start of the season, converting All-State midfielder Will Salta into a goalkeeper. The move looked like nothing less than genius, as the athletic Salta handled every chance with ease, and kept Hanover at bay with his booming punts and goal kicks.

The Marauders attacked patiently, but were unable to come close until the 32nd minute. Eric Jayne, who had been denied a goal despite a heady play in the opening moments of the match, ran onto an absolutely filthy lead pass by ubiquitous center midfielder Aaron Segura and insolently flicked the ball over the onrushing Salta into the net.

In the meantime, the airtight Hanover defense was suffocating t, limiting Laconia to a long-range floater by Nolan Canfield that settled into Stefan Dyroff's arms with all the force of a low-impact baseball tossed underhand by an overprotective parent to his bubble-wrapped firstborn son. Boom. Shutout. Gunnar Shaw and Dan Remillard were dominating in the middle, and Nate Hanna and Matt Barth had time enough on the flanks to acquit their nominal duties and plan multitudinous offensive forays, sanctioned by their goal-starved coach.

Well aware of the fragility of a one-goal lead, the Marauders opened the second half with the intent of adding to the lead at any cost. Playing with intensity and precision, Hanover wore out the turf in the Laconia end of the park and did everything but score. One sequence typified the quality of play, with Remillard taking possession at midfield and firing a hard pass to the feet of Matt Barth, who quickly turned and hit an equally purposeful ball to Sean Gemunden, camped out on the right extremity of the field. Gemunden pivoted and hit a touchline-hugging worm burner past the Laconia defender and into the path of a streaking Eric Jayne, who took one touch and fired a demanding centering pass into the Laconia box. Ben Harris ran onto the ball with good anticipation and purpose and hit a hard, low shot to Salta's right that he barely saved with a sprawling move. The whole play took fewer than 10 seconds, and could not have been done any better by professionals.

Harris and Jayne continued their cannonading, and when they came off for a rest the assault was continued by Isaiah Fariel and Pedro Celaya, making his first varsity appearance. Hanover flaunted depth at midfield as well, with Richard Rebman and Roland Hermann-Stanzel taking over in the center of the park, and not missing a beat. Forrest Pratt played his best game to date at right midfield, and senior Sam Farnham was oustanding on the opposite flank, hitting several crossing balls that were among the most dangerous of the game. At one point Hanover had six subs in the match, and the level of play dropped not one iota.

As the clock would down sub number seven made his varsity debut a memorable one. Freshman Brendan Barth stepped on and almost immediately made his presence felt on defense, helping run down streaking midfielder Tony Delgado to blunt one of Laconia's few effective counterattacks. Moment later Barth ran onto a ball in the penalty box and hit a testing shot that Salta barely saved with a desperate dive. Salta ended the match with 15 saves, and the Marauders ended with the sufficient satisfaction of knowing that not all 1-0 scorelines mean the same thing. They were even more dominant than two nights earlier, and had more to show for it. Until the next match, that will have to do.

Next on the agenda is a Tuesday home game at 4:30 against Plymouth, back on the friendly confines of Merriman-Branch field. If the Marauders continue their evolution as a tight, unselfish and focused unit, it will be another match worth watching.