Hanover and CVU Play to a Wild 3-3 Draw

 Hanover traveled to Essex, VT expecting to be tested by one of the best teams in New England, and the match with Champlain Valley Union lived up to every expectation. Hanover watched the Redhawks race to a 2-0 lead after 23 minutes, and the deficit stayed that way at halftime.  CVU was outshooting Hanover 6-1, and looked to be firmly in control.  This was the test that Hanover wanted, and they responded magnificently, rallying to tie the score twice, dominating the second half for long stretches. The final 45 minutes of play, which included two overtimes, saw the action swing back and forth, and Hanover needed some big defensive plays at the end to maintain the 3-3 draw, a fair result.

It didn't take long for the swaggering CVU crew to demonstrate the the hype was justified.  Less than six minutes into the match, highly-touted striker Holden Batchelder took a ball at midfield and raced past the Marauder defense, going in along on Ty Nolon and finishing expertly for a 1-0 lead.  Hanover wasn't pinned back in their end, with much of the action at midfield, but they weren't able to generate much offensively. Midway through the half, Hanover got their first look where Carter Guerin raced onto a 50-50 ball with Redhawk goalkeeper Aidan Jaremczuk and nearly won it.  Three minutes later, the same scenario   played out in the Hanover end, but the results weren't so good.  Ty Nolon came off his line hard to get a through ball, and since he was well beyond the penalty area, he needed to go for a slide tackle, which missed.  CVU's Sam Dennison got to the loose ball and deposited it into the empty net for a 2-0 lead. Hanover was getting frustrated by the officiating, and the rough play which was the logical result, came off the field at halftime looking like they might not find a way back in.

Slowly, though, Hanover regained their composure after the interval, looking for more possession, looking for more play to the wings, and hoping to find the next goal.  Murphy Hunt raised hopes less than two minutes into the half, launching a long-range shot that forced a great save from Jaremczuk.  CVU was hardly done, though, and a minute later a bad angle shot from the right side by Batchelder beat Nolon before right back Jack McGrath did a superb job backing ump and sweeping the ball off the goal line. Six minutes into the half, Hunt gave Hanover a huge boost, finding space in his happy place outside the penalty area and hitting a soon-to-be-patented worm burner inside the post to cut the CVU lead in half.  The goal energized Hanover, and soon they were on the front foot. Jack Gardner had the most interesting chance, getting to a through ball before a changing  Jeremczuk and nearly missing a long-range shot.  Shortly after that, though, Hanover pulled even.  After squandering 17 corner kick opportunities two days ago against Keene, they made the most of one of the two they attempted in the half.  Eric Ringer hit a perfect inswinging serve to the far post, and Palmer Okai headed it home to tie the game.

The back and fourth action was now joined in earnest, and only six minutes later, Hanover surrendered the hard-won draw on a CVU corner kick.  After Murphy Hunt was hauled down on the box, Andy Bastress volleyed home a shot to put the Redhawks back on top.  Amazingly, Hanover took only 14 seconds to tie the match once again, working the ball right down the field following the kickoff.  Beckett McCurdy, a bulwark at midfield all afternoon, threaded a ball to Eric Ringer at the left post, and he made no mistake, ripping the ball into net to make the score 3-3.

It would have made sense for the goals to keep coming, but for the remaining 16 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, the score remained the dame.  It wasn't for lack of opportunities on both sides.  Jacob Kubik-Pauw, a dynamo all day, raced free down the left side and hit a hard shot that Jeremczuk managed to save. Three minutes later, Carter Guerin had a shot opportunity blocked at the top of the box.  CVU also came very close, with a header from another corner kick glancing off the far post.  Hanover had an edge in the first overtime, with both Hut and Ringer hitting testing shots.  In the second overtime, it was all CVU.  Nolon made a clutch save on a free kick by Riley Gauthier, tipping it over the bar.  Luke Ives had a ket shot block, and then made a decisive tackle on the elusive Batchelder.  Nolon made another diving save on a shot by Bastress. Finally, after 100 frantic minutes, the horn sounded and the match ended.  Despite the physical play and chirping that had characterized the match, the respect between the players after the match was palpable. Steel had hardened steel.

It won't be long before Hanover is tested again.  On Saturday, they will hop on the bus to Essex again, this time facing off against the host team, who engineered the tournament draw to culminate in the 7:00 match against Hanover.  The host Hornets had an easy time of it in their first tournament match, beating a weak Rutland team 5-0.  On paper, the Hornets are just as good at CVU.  Will Hanover be able to rebound fro a match that pushed them to the very limit?  Will their squad depth help them play another challenging 80 minutes?  Have there been lessons learned?  Hanover grew a great deal in the CVU match, and more lessons await.