JV1 Beats Dover on the Road; Now 8-4-1

 The Hanover JV1 squad  would face off with the Green Wave of Dover on the dewy Bellamy road fields here at 10a on Oct. 9th. Being down some number of players due to trips for the holiday weekend, and had 15 available players, but coach Willie was not concerned. Before the game, He noted to the team that their early departure and few subs would make for the players feeling more awake and engaged. They proved him right, beating Dover 1-0 to improve their record to 8-4-1

Hanover would start the game quick on their feet, moving the ball well. Joseph Umwizeye and Henry Werner paired well through the center midfield, constantly checking off one another and denying easy turns in the middle. In the 6th minute, Werner would play Soren Stettenhiem toward the endline, where he was able to sight Umwizeye at the top of the 18. Umwizeye had a chance after settling the ball but missed the goal mouth for a goal kick. In the 12th minute, Veer Patel would take a well struck cross and found Ian Smith off the back side of the six yard box. Smith put the ball back across the goal mouth only to have it go wide of the far post. Hanover would hold the Wave to a few attempts out of their own end as the half went on. Ethan Munson and Sam Loescher did well, taking turns tackling and falling in behind one another to stave off much in the way of Dover attacks. Freddy Mierke and Cam Forbush did well to hold the attacking 3rd line as well as recovering back with their center back pair. The backline was disciplined enough to catch an ambitious forward run by the Green Wave's striker. As the half wore on, Hanover would continue its quality possession of the ball. In the 27th,  Aidan Bradley and Stettenhiem would produce some quality build up down the right flank that resulted in a centering ball to Nick Riess' feet. Riess would strike it squarely but into the awaiting keeper. In the 32nd minute, Davey Tolliday struck a quality free kick from half that found its mark in Stettenhiem. Soren was able to take the ball down in the 18 but had it tackled off his feet, yielding a corner kick. Werner lined up to take it and placed a quality ball toward the penalty mark that found Christian Blix's head. Blix popped the header up dangerously and it drifted down toward the bar where the Green Wave's keeper had to punch it over the bar. Hanover would have one final chance in the half where Riess would have time expire as he wound up taking a shot in a similar area as his first. Goalie Wyatt Selig would post a clean sheet, easily handling several heavy through balls by Dover, and producing an excellent kicking game.

Hanover would show much of their same intelligent and gritty play in the second half. Consistent pressure through the middle third won Hanover much of their possession again. After a tackle won by Ian Smith in the 43rd, he produced a perfect through ball to put Stettenhiem in on goal. Soren would take a touch to see if he could move the goalie, and poked a shot as the defender closed on his back shoulder, but it was saved by the Wave keeper. Stettenhiem would have another chance on goal in the 48th where once again he ran onto a ball just outside the 18 barely beating the keeper to it. Soren got past the keeper and took a bid for goal, but had it go just wide past the back post. Seelig would spell Stettenhiem in the front line in the 54th, and immediately impacted the game. On the ensuing throw, Wyatt would flick the ball center straight to Sam Calderwood, positioned between the two Dover center backs. Calderwood, fighting for possession, took a touch before poking it just under the keeper as he looked to fall on the ball, giving Hanover 1-0 advantage. Dover would try to play with a bit more physicality, but Hanover was equal to the task. Patel and Seelig would both force corner kicks by chasing their opponents back into their own end. After one corner that was put a bit wide, the ball took a glance off a Dover player's hand about 25 yards out. Henry Werner would take it just over the back. Hanover would find another great scoring chance with a centered ball from deep in the right corner that found Aidan Bradly making a late center run. Bradly was able to hit the ball first time out of the air only to have it go just past the post. Dover, sensing the game was nearing the end, started playing a higher line forcing Hanover to play defensively in the final minutes of the game. Forbush and Munson stymied several shot attempts by Dover's crafty number nine. Hanover would concede a free kick right outside the 18 on the left flank, but it was turned away harmlessly. Blix would hold firm, and also post a clean sheet to contribute to the 1-0 Hanover win.

Hanover is off for a week, and then hosts Manchester Central next Friday with a 5:00 game on the turf at Merriman-Branch Field,