Hanover Season Ends in Championship Final in Penlty Kick Shootout

  Hanover played a brilliant match in the NHIAA D1 Finals, losing to unbeaten, nationally ranked Nashua South in the 11th round of a penalty kick shootout.  Hanover rallied to tie the game 2-2 in the second half and them dominated the two overtime periods, hitting the post late in the second overtime. Nashua South prevailed in the PK shootout to claim their first title, finishing 19-0-1.  They are the first D1 team to be unbeaten since Hanover did it in 2013 with the same record.  The match was played in front of a crowd estimated at more than 2,000 in chilly Stellos Stadium.  The Hanover road crew more than offset the Nashua South home field advantage, and were rewarded by a performance to make them proud.  This was the final match for 11 exceptional seniors.

The match began well for Hanover, who recently had made a habit of fast starts.  Despite the pressure and the quality of the opposition, Hanover was on the front foot in the opening minutes.  Thirty seconds iafrter the opening whistle, Connor Hamlin sent one of his patented crosses from the right flank to Jacob Kubik-Pauw on the left side of the box for a header that was off target but a clear calling card.  Hanover earned two corners at the four-minute mark, but weren't able to produce a threat.  Play swung to the Hanover end, and after a Nashua South free kick, forward Harishkesh Dwaraka broke into the box and put the ball into the net, but was clearly offside.  Hanover broke the ice in the 10th minute with a brilliant goal.  Jack Ross played a long ball out of the back to Kubik-Pauw, in space on the left size.  K-P broke past his defender and hit a long cross into the box, and Murphy Hunt was there to meet it, making a perfect header after a perfect run to give Hanover the lead.

For the rest of the half, play swung back and forth from end to end, with each side attacking aggressively and defending expertly.  Shortly after Hunt's goal, Purple Panther defender Leo Kopickop punched out a dangerous Eric Ringer free kick in traffic.  Two minutes later, Palmer Okai, who started courageously on a gimpy knee, headed out a dangerous free kick. At the 17-minute mark, Kubik-Pauw hit a hard shot on goal that was saved by Kopicko with two Hanover players in position for a rebound. A minute later, Dwaraka, who was a constant threat, got loose oil the box and hit a hard, low shot that Ty Nolan saved with an excellent dive. The ball popped loose and Summerestero knocked it toward the open net from close range, and somehow, somehow, Nolan flicked up a hand and deflected the ball. It was a miracle save. 

Hanover retaliated with two good chances.  At the 22-minute mark, Jack Gardner hit a turnaround shot over the top, and four minutes later Ringer his a good looking free kick that went over the top and wide, but had a promising trajectory.  Hanover was able to hold Nashua South at bay for the rest of the half, although they threatened when Dwaraka was brought down by Jack Ross just outside the box, earning an overzealous yellow card.  Hanover had a ball don't lie moment and defended the kick well.

Although Hanover's start to the game was good, they had no such luck early in the second half, and Nashua South mood advantage by scoring twice in the first six minutes.  Only 30 seconds after the interval, brilliant midfielder Ethan Emata split the Hanover defense with a through ball to the always-dangerous Jadiel Bomfina, who broke into the box and hit an unstoppable shot to tie the game. It was Bomfina's second goal in two games against Hanover.  Five minutes later, Nashua South was awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, and Emata whipped the ball to Sam Hadouche, who sniped a shot into the upper left corner for a 2-1 lead.  Things looked dismal for Hanover, but they dug in and began the process of trying to claw their way back into the match. Hanover slowly tilted the field, and by the 60-minute mark. Five minutes after Jack Gardner made two strong plays in the Purple Panther penalty area, quality soccer and nothing else, Oscar Miller made a brilliant pass from inside midfield, sending Ringer in alone on goal.  He was tripped by the last defender inside the penalty area, and a penalty kick was correctly awarded. A play like this automatically calls for a red card on the defender.  To not do so it to allow the offending team to benefit unfairly.  Nashua South should have played the final 40 minutes short a player. Hanover shook this and several similar distractions off, and focused on the kick.  Ringer's initial penalty kick was saved, by Kopicko was clearly off the line too soon in making the save, and a re-take was awarded.  Ringer handed the baton to Kubik-Pauw in an eerie echo of Hanover's win over Dover, and K-P buried the spot kick and tied the game.  From that moment on, both teams went after the next goal with ferocity, and play swung back and forth.  Ty Nolan made a great play rtf punch out a free kick with 10 minutes left in regulation.  With three to play, Oscar for loose on the baseline and drilled a low cross that went across the face of the goal right in front, but no one was home.  A minute later, Nolan made another spectacular save to deny a shot by Max Lopez.  Time ran out in regulation.

Hanover played their best soccer of the season in the two ten-minute, sudden victory overtimes. They kept the ball on the floor, patiently probed the defense, and linked six, seven, eight passes together in multiple stretches of procession.  Midway through the first overtime, Murphy Hunt took the second of two shots in the period and hit the crossbar right near the upright.  It was a shot six inches away from being the all-time upper 90 game winner in Hanover history. Nashua South got close enough to win corner kick in the second overtime, but it came to nothing. Hanover came closer when Palmer Okai headed a corner kick over the bar, but it was the final straw for his knee, and he was out of the match, and unable to be considered for taking a penalty kick. Overtime ended,  and the huge Hanover  crowd surged close to watch the kicks that would decide the match.

Hanover had every reason to be confident, given their success over Central in the semifinals four nights earlier.  But Nashua South showed no hesitation and no fear.  The two teams went at it.  Ringer led off and his shot was saved by Kopicko.  But Ty Nolan immediately restored the balance, diving right to make the save on Lopez.  Kubik-Pauw made a clutch shot, and South countered.  Connor Hamlin;s shot to the left was saved, and South scored, and they led 2-1 with two round left.  Zach Tracy drove his kick home, and Bomfina crushed his, and with one round left the Purple Panthers led.  Owen Smith kept his team alive, going right when Kopicko went left, and Nolon cemented his superhero status with a diving save to deny Nick Esp, and once again it was sudden death.

Amazingly, the next five shooters for each team each converted their penalties. Ten shots, ten goals.  With everything on the line, not a single shooter clutched.  For Hanover, the successful shooters were Oscar Miller, Carter Guerin, Jack McGrath (inserted in the finals minute of overtime, just so he could take a kick), Ryder Hayes, and heroic Jack Ross.  After ten kicks, each team was allowed to reshuffle the lineup and start over.  Hanover sent up Kubik-Pauw, three-for three this season in penalties, and two for two on the the night.  This time, Kopicko guessed right and dove to his right to save Jacob's shot, and Harishkesh Dwarkla seized the moment and scored, and just like that it was over.

The match was a tremendous exhibition of high-level high school soccer.  Hanover left everything on the field. They were heartbroken, but it was heartbreak that the season was over, and for the seniors, their Hanover careers. What will remain is the residue of friendship, camaraderie and shared purpose that will last a lifetime.  This was a unique Hanover team for more reasons than can be listed here.  Clearly, though, they did what every Hanover teams aspires to do: play their best soccer at the last.  It takes a while to close down a season.  There will be a team meeting Monday, there will be celebrations, post-season honors, and exit interviews. Only four of Hanover's D1 teams have played all the way to the end of the season.  It's a mark of distinction that this team did so.