JV1 Beats Exeter 2-0 in Abbreviated Game; Now 2-0 on the Season

 The Hanover JV awaited with great anticipation as it went through warm-ups. Once it was about half an hour until game time, we got the news that Exeter would be delayed for some time. Hanover did its best to stay warm as their typical routine was not timed for the delay. Exeter would arrive shortly after 6:30 pm and were very sporting about the whole situation. They came off the bus ready to lace up without a real warm up to speak of and agreed to play two 25 minute halves. 

The game kicked and was played with great pace through the middle third of the field. Joseph Umwizeye would show his skill by linking the back and front lines efficiently from the kick. Early in the first half Ian Press played some tantalizing through balls to Sam Calderwood that were barely off his feet, preventing him from being in alone. Exeter would not be without its chances, but Hanover was equal to the task. The starting back line of Cam Forbush, Ethan Munson, Sam Loescher, and Jackson Watt did an excellent job keeping the play in front of them and layering behind one another for tackles, and playing quick and decisively. Exeter would earn a free kick in the 12th minute that was positioned from a dangerous area, but goalkeeper Wyatt Seelig was quick to gather it up. As Hanover rolled out its substitutes, teammates from last year's JV2 Liam Worden and Henry Werner would create the first goal of the match. Worden won a tackle in the middle third and played Werner toward the gap between backs on the front edge of the 18. Henry would take his two touches before sliding it past the keeper who was a bit slow off his line in the 17th minute. Hanover did well to drop the center mids and backs behind the level of the ball to only allow Exeter two shots on frame in the shortened first half.

The second half continued with a similar pace of play as the outset of the game, playing end to end but without much in the way of scoring chances. Exeter would find itself playing some deeper balls out of the middle third that really challenged the center backs of Hanover. Ethan Munson would have two sprints that deterred the opposition from getting straight in on goal. With Munson making his swift sprints, he was subbed quickly in the second half for Peter Jorgensen who played with great confidence in both halves of the game. Exeter would press up on Hanover and created some real scoring chances. Christian Blix stopped one with a hard punch out near the six yard box that fell near the foot of an Exeter player, but Sayan Bhattacharya was able to slide goal side to avoid any shot on goal. In similar fashion Davey Tolliday had an excellent time walling off an offensive player who dribbled down to the six, but denied any semblance of a cross by not diving in for a tackle. With Exeter playing on their heels just a bit, Hanover was able to play some deeper balls and allowed the forward group to press and this created the game's final goal. A ball was played deep the right side where Aidan Bradley was able to press it and force a back pass to the keeper. The side grass field is notorious for bad hops in the penalty area, and the keeper was unable to settle the ball Augie Krawitt showed real hustle getting to the errant touch, poking it in the back of the net in the 40th minute of elapsed play. We would have loved to play a full game, but it would be whistled over about 25 minutes into the second half while the game clock still showed the remaining 15 of the optimistic 40 minutes that was set for second half. Nonetheless, a well played game by both sides, and Hanover believes that Exeter could be a team they have to contend with at the Nashua JV soccer tournament to end the season.