Youth Hockey Briefs

Thursday, November 13, 2008 10:29 AM

Storm U12 girls

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Hanover doubles up at Stellos

Thursday, November 13, 2008 10:24 AM

Fall notches title shot with seconds to spare

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Marauders soccer heads to the finals

Friday, November 07, 2008 12:33 PM

    NASHUA — Both Marauder soccer squads will be appearing Saturday at Stellos Stadium in Nashua in a bid for a Class I title.

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Raiders upset in quarter-finals

Wednesday, November 05, 2008 10:29 AM

LEBANON — The No. 10 seeded John Stark bounced the second seeded Lebanon from the girl’s soccer Class I tournament Friday with a 1-0 win in overtime.

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HANOVER — For a team that was written off by many before the season had even started, Hanover football has proven it can come through in the clutch.
“That’s legit (being written off), we didn’t have anybody coming back,” Senior Franklin Taylor said. “In the end it’s who fought hardest and who played hardest and that’s us.”
Friday night could no better exemplify that fact in a 28-27 overtime win against Merrimack Valley to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Hanover seniors, as small a group as they are, would simply not allow their team to fall by the wayside and not make the post-season for the first time in recent memory, but it was a sophomore that ended up winning the game.
“It’s great to be part of a team where I can inspire the younger kids,” Senior Steve Dacey said. “It’s great to just keep their heads up when they get down. The past two years we’ve had an incredible amount of talent but weren’t always focused. This year since we knew we had a small group coming back we wanted to make sure we stayed focused.”
Hanover received the kick with less than four minutes to play in the game while looking at a 20-14 deficit. Seven plays and three minutes later a 36-yard pass from Sam Carney to a fading Taylor in the end zone tied things up.
Now, with 1:08 left on the clock and no kicking game, Hanover went for the two point conversion and the win – but failed.
“We knew if we could get close that we could do it,” Hanover coach Mike Ivanoski said.
At the very least the Marauders had set themselves up for an overtime period, at most they were looking at holding the Pride offense down.
MV started on the 20 but was into Hanover territory after three plays. There were 32-yards still to go, but a fumbled lateral pass fell into Hanover hands on the 34.
The Marauders took a knee to run out the clock rather than go for it.
The Pride took the ball on the 10-yard line for their first OT attempt, which lasted just a few seconds as MV bruiser Alex Thurston plowed into the end zone.
The extra point kick was good and the Marauders had their back against the wall yet again. Not that it mattered.
Hanover’s Christian Harris zipped to the end zone to catch a Carney pass just inside the pylon to make it 27-26, which left the two point conversion as the only choice for Hanover.
The MV defense was keying on Harris, and for good reason, which left Sutherland open on a rub route to the right corner for the pass, simple, clean and effective.
“We wanted to strike quickly because the momentum changes,” Ivanoski said. “They attacked Christian (Harris) again which left open the bootleg.”
Hanover had won the game and with it a shot at number one ranked Plymouth.
The Marauders started the game a with a three-and-out to setup a big MV return from the 30-yard line that turned into a touchdown after several tackles failed to take down returner Brandon Gallagher.
With 9:33 left in the first MV was already up 7-0.
Hanover’s next possession stalled once more, giving the ball back to the Pride with a punt down on the 29.
A fumble on the Hanover 14-yard line was recovered by Lucas McGovern.
The Marauders were unable to cash in the turnover, punting again after Carney was sacked on the 15-yard line.
Merrimack had a case of stone fingers, fumbling the ball again on their next drive, this time on the Hanover 27.
With 43 seconds left in the quarter, Harris took the handoff only to be hammered by three Tomahawk defenders, knocking the ball loose and giving Merrimack possession on the Hanover 24.
Thurston cashed in on the turnover with a six yard jaunt into the end zone to put his team up 14-0 after the successful kick.
Taylor received the kickoff deep in Hanover territory but pieced together a solid return to the 30.
Harris took two carries to gain another first down.
After crossing mid-field Carney hit Ken Jones with an 11-yard pass to the 36.
Harris carried the ball up to the 11 on three rushes and a first down.
An incomplete pass setup another Harris run to the sideline before he turned the corner and shot into the end zone.
The two-point conversion fizzled and Hanover was down 14-6 with 6:34 left in the half.
Merrimack had one last chance to score in the half after their final drive stalled on the 12.
The Hanover defense did themselves a favor, overwhelming the Merrimack line and blocking the attempt.
The Marauders closed the gap further on their first possession of the third quarter.
Starting on the 25, Hanover marched 75-yards on seven plays, capped with a 53-yard Carney sprint and a 1-yard lunge into the end zone on a QB keeper.
Harris took the direct snap and ran in the two-point conversion to tie the game at 14.
Both teams stalled on their following possessions until Merrimack took over on their own 41 after Hanover failed to convert a one-yard fourth down.
The Pride did themselves no favors, getting called on a neutral zone infraction and a holding penalty that negated a 54-yard touchdown run.
Merrimack persevered and finished off the drive with a QB keeper from the eight into paydirt.
The kick went wide and Hanover remained in reach with a 20-14 deficit, setting up their final scoring drive that ended in a Taylor catch to tie the game at 20 and force an overtime.
The 2007 Div. III champions have been a bulldozer in Div. IV this year, but Ivanoski won’t discount his team’s ability for an upset.
“Why not us,” Ivanoski said.
In a season that many had written off before the first game, why not indeed.
Notes: Hanover has played three overtime games under the captainship of Ivanoski, winning two of the three.
Plymouth has average 41 points per game this season. Their lowest scoring game came in a 27-14 win over defending Div. IVchampion Laconia.
Don’t look for a kicking game in the playoffs for the Marauders, Christian Johansen’s broken foot has left Ivanoski looking for conversions for the past two weeks.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008 10:24 AM

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Hartford headed for the title tilt

Wednesday, November 05, 2008 10:24 AM

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hurricanes will be making a return trip to the Vermont Division I football finals and all that stands in their way of a repeat is rival Rutland.

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Hartford finishes season unblemished

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 12:43 PM

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hartford football team’s last game before playoffs was marked with many highlights – an undefeated regular season, 1,000 yards reached and a first touchdown.

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Canes lose in title tilt

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 12:43 PM

BURLINGTON, Vt. — There might not have been a more appropriate nickname for the Hartford field hockey team this season than the Wolfpack, the squad both hungry for a championship and a tight-knit group.

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Mascoma slips to Wildcats

Friday, October 24, 2008 11:49 AM

WEST CANAAN — Sustainable energy isn’t usually the fodder for sideline talk, but Fall Mountain football’s win over Mascoma (1-5) Saturday had fans thinking long drives without refueling.

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Maroon Crushes

Friday, October 24, 2008 11:52 AM

HANOVER — The Hanover football team scored early and often Friday night, en route to a solid 34-14 victory over Division IV opponent Monadnock.

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10 Years and running strong

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 9:58 AM

THETFORD — Youth and experience were both served in the 10th Annual Foliage Five Road Race, held on Sunday, October 12th, at the Union Village Dam in Thetford.  

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