Friday 4:00 Match For Soccer Quarterfinals

 Hanover will host a quarterfinal NBHIAA Tournament game against upset winner Pinkerton Academy at 4:00 Friday.  Hanover's quarterfinal opponent emerged after #11 Pinkerton's 2-1 victory over #6 Londonderry.   The suggested theme for Friday's game:  "Trick or Treat".  Suggested dress code:  Halloween costumes!  Perhaps everyone should come as Bears, Huskies, Hawks, Trailblazers, and Jalapeños It's the last home game for any Hanover fall team in any sport, and the weather looks favorable.  Here's another reason for everyone to come:  We will be hosting our final Food Drive for the Haven.  We have had wonderful donations of non-perishable food items for the Haven Food Pantry, and this is the final opportunity to donate.  We are particularly interested in having members of the JV1, JV2, and Freshman teams join us for the game and bring food items.

Pinkertons's upset win over Londonderry was only one of five first-round games which saw the lower seed win.  In all, the number 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8th seeds all lost.  #4 Memorial last to Portsmouth, #5 Concord lost to Nashua North, #6 Londonderry lost to Pinkerton, #7 Dover lost to Winnacunnet (remember them?) and #8 Windham lost to Exeter.  Good thing Hanover wasn't among that throng of higher seeds whose seasons ended early.

The last two times Hanover and Pinkerton have faced off in the playoffs, Pinkerton has won on penalty kicks.  The Astros beat Hanover in the Division One semifinals in 2014 after a 1-1 draw in regulation  (goal by All-American Asa Berolzheimer).  In 2017, Hanover beat Pinkerton during the regular season, and had an identical record. Yet the NHIAA sent Hanover to Pinkerton, and the game was staged on their muddy practice field. Perfect setting for Hanover's turf-based passing game. What a coincidence. It ended in a scoreless tie when a superb Hanover goal was disallowed in the closing seconds, and Pinkerton advanced on penalties.

The cast of characters is different, save for both grizzled coaches. (Pinkerton coach Kerry Boles is a Hall of Famer, with well over 300 victories and multiple state titles.  Pinkerton is the largest school in the state with an enrollment of over 3,000 students.  They have an aggressive, athletic team and they will be riding high after beating their archival Londonderry.  Fans would be well-advised to ignore records and seedings.

Fun Fact: Pinkerton is called the Astros in honor of Alan B. Shepherd, a Derry native and Pinkerton grad who was the first American Astronaut in space.  He had a suborbital flight that was slightly longer than those funded by Elon Musk and Richard Branson.

Please mark Friday at 4:00 on your calendar. Bring food.  Trick or treat!




Comments

  1. Joseph MillerOctober 28, 2021 at 4:14 PM

    Rob, This might be my favorite write-up in four years of reading this blog. I love the history and the fun fact at the end.

    ReplyDelete

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