Hanover Heads to Vermont to Play the Best

 Not unlike an English premiership club that interrupts the league season to play the strongest clubs in other countries, Hanover will take a two-game break this week to travel to Essex, Vermont and play the two best teams in Vermont, Champlain Valley and Essex in the Jay Brady Classic, the biggest soccer event in Vermont.  Even better, the JV1 team gets to tag along and play the corresponding from those two schools, currently ranked first and second in the state by the Burlington Free Press.

Hanover opens the tournament with a 5:00 match against CVU (JV game at the same time), and after a day to recover and recharge, will play the feature event a Saturday night showdown with top-ranked Essex at 7:00.  The JVs will play at 5:00 that day.

As it happens, this is the right moment at the right time for this Hanover team.  In opening the season with a 4-0 record, they have been tested at times, but not really.  They have had to make occasional defensive plays, but they have hardly been put under pressure by a strong, skilled, talented opponent.  That will change Thursday and Saturday.  Will a senior-laden Hanover squad be able to respond when the opposition asks questions?  Will the attack be able to make the most of limited offensive  opportunities, instead of drifting through 17 corner kick attempts in one match?  How will they handle adversity?   In their one match where they were tied after taking the lead, against Exeter, they responded well against good team and imposed themselves.  But, to quote the doorman in "The Wizard of Oz", this is a horse of a different color.  We won't be in Kansas any more.

This is an exciting opportunity.  The games count in the regular NH standings, so there's that additional pressure.  It's a trophy-giving, TV-covered, All-Tournament team type of event. The teams even get participation presents.  Probably size XL shirts.

Hanover wears maroon on Thursday, white on Saturday.  Dismissal is 2:15 on Thursday, and departure is 2:27:44.  Stay tuned to social media for results, and we'll see you on the blog late late late tomorrow.


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