BOW – It felt like more than a regular-season Tuesday, as planned.
“We’ve had a pretty good season so far, but we knew this was going to be one of our hardest games,” Hanover’s Charlotte Johnson said. “So we were trying to prepare as much as possible and pretend like this was playoffs.”
The matchup between girls’ soccer royalty met its expectations. Bow took an early lead before Johnson scored an aerial hat trick and Hanover claimed a 3-2 win. The result kept the Marauders perfect at 15-0-0 and clinched the top seed in Division II. Bow dropped to 12-2-0, but the Falcons are in control of the race for second place and left the field feeling good.
“I thought we played great,” Bow coach Jay Vogt said. “We got beat on three corners kicks. They didn’t score in the run of play, so I’m happy with that. We’ve got to work on the corner kicks, but I thought it was a great game. At times we had it, at times they had it, back-and-forth, which is what I expect with Hanover.”
These are the two teams that have won the last three D-II titles (the Marauders in 2018 and ’16 and Bow in 2017) and they have 14 banners between them – five for the Falcons (four in D-III) and nine for Hanover (all in D-II). This season’s Marauders had been living up to their name, outscoring opponents, 71-2, coming into the game against Bow, which had outscored its opponents, 55-9.
The Falcons landed the first blow in the heavyweight battle when senior Lindsay Burnham jumped on a loose ball and sent a 20-yard shot into the corner to give Bow a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.
“Lindsay can shoot,” Vogt said. “It was perfect.”
It also led to a new experience for Hanover – trailing.
“This was the first time we’ve been behind this season, and it definitely gave us a run for our money,” Johnson said. “We have good mojo when we’re in the lead, but we didn’t know what it would feel like when we were behind, and it felt like we all came together, we all stayed positive, which is really what got us get back into the game, it was energy.”
Both sides played with energy and skill after the goal, taking turns making runs at each other. Hanover sustained more pressure as the half wore down, and it paid off in Johnson’s first goal.
With less than two minutes on the clock, Kira Smith came up with a steal in midfield and found a streaking Pepper Joseph down the right wing. That led to two corners for Joseph, and the second one found an open Johnson, who hammered the header straight into the back of the net for a 1-1 halftime score.
The back-and-forth continued in the second half. Hanover owned the first 10 minutes and nearly scored when Casey McGuire ripped a ball just inches over the bar. Bow took the next 10 and Taylor Burnham blasted a pair of shots over the bar.
The ball finally found its way in using a familiar path. Once again it was Hanover’s Joseph creating the play that led to a corner kick, which Joseph delivered on the money to the athletic Johnson, who timed her leap and rose above the defenders to make it 2-1 with 20:54 left in the second half.
“We work on those corners almost every practice and Pepper and I have been working hard just to connect with each other,” Johnson said. “I know when it’s coming in the air to just judge it off that, because of all the hard work we’ve been doing.”
Bow responded with pressure and nearly equalized off a pretty cross from Kristina Pizzi, but Hanover defender Eva Schiffman came up with a reaction save on the goal line.
Joseph and Johnson completed their corner kick hat trick in 86th minute. This time Johnson fought though traffic and headed the ball home with a bounce shot off the turf.
“She’s tough,” Vogt said of Johnson. “She just got up and over us and finished. Three nice balls where they needed to be and she finished them.”
The Falcons kept pushing in the last minutes, Pizzi sent another cross into the box, and this time no one was in the way to stop a nifty flick from Anna Lafreniere from making it 3-2. But there was only :30 left at that point, not enough time to knock Hanover from its undefeated perch.
“We’ve got to work on a few things, but I think we’re there,” Vogt said. “We know we can play with them.”
(Tim O’Sullivan can be reached at 369-3341 or tosullivan@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @timosullivan20)
Coe-Brown 4, Pelham 0
Key players: Coe-Brown – Izzy Myers (G, 2A), Corinne Fernald (G), Morgan Burnap (G), Megan Edgecomb (G), Sam Troy (A), Mackenzie Quick (2 saves), Amelia Brackett, Lauren Curtin, Kendall Nester, Becca Scruton
Highlights: Fernald opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a shot from distance while Myers picked up her first assist on a beautiful through ball for Burnap to put the Bears up, 2-0, at the half. Edgecomb converted a free kick from just outside the box with 20 minutes to play before Myers added a volley off a Troy corner kick to put the Bears ahead by four.
Coach’s quote: “We have to win our last two games to ensure a playoff position and the girls were ready to play today. On our senior night to get so many great contributions was great to see. Now we need to close out the season on Thursday and be ready to play on the road. Our confidence needs to be high and we need to be ready to play a full 80 minutes of soccer.” – Coe-Brown’s Josh Hils
Records: Coe-Brown 6-9; Pelham 3-11
John Stark 2, Lebanon 1
Key players: John Stark – Goalie Emaly Roy (4 saves), Assists by Liz Downing (A), Keghan Rousseau (G), Meghan Mefford (A), Chelsea Woodsum (G); Lebanon – Sally Rainey (goalie)
Highlights: Roy played the game of her life to supply the Generals with the four points they needed to stay high in the standings. Roy finished with four saves, including two where she tipped the ball over the net, and her ability to drop balls deep into Lebanon’s half gave Stark the advantage it needed.
Coach’s quote: “Roy is just having a season out of this world. She is aggressive, fast off her line playing a goalie sweeper and her combination of futsal and outdoor goalkeeping experience makes her hard to beat in the air or the ground.” — Stark’s Chris Pike
Records: John Stark 9-5-1; Lebanon 3-8-4
Merrimack Valley 1, Oyster River 0
Key players: Merrimack Valley – Alyssa Woodman (G), Kaylee Magoon (A), Lauren Pettingill (attack), Emily Philbrook (midfield), Hannah Costello (midfield), Hayley Kenney (midfield), Miah Boucher (defense), Katelin Locke (defense), Mackenzie McDonald (goalie)
Highlights: Magoon hit a quick free kick 15 minutes into the second half which went off the crossbar and was finished on a half volley by Woodman.
Coach’s quote: “A great senior night game that both teams battled under the lights. Very proud of our five seniors who rose to the occasion and helped set the tempo and energy for the whole game. A great win for a team that’s starting to find themselves on both sides of the ball.” – MV’s Nick D’Agostino
Records: Merrimack Valley 7-7-1; Oyster River 9-6-1
Kearsarge 7, Manchester West 0
Key players: Kearsarge – Jordan Busch (3G), Caroline Camp (G, A), Kennedy Geary (G), Ellie Camp (G), Sarah Wagaman (G), Kileigh Thomas-Paquin (A), Lauren Busch (A), Estelle Chmura (A), Kallee Selby (A);Manchester West – Abuk Teng
Highlights: Kearsarge came out of the gates hot, getting on the board early when Camp crossed the ball into the 18-yard box to Selby, who passed it forward to Jordan Busch for the first goal. That set the tone for the Cougars on senior night.
Coach’s quote: “Our team came charged and ready to play tonight. It was our senior night. The team rallied around the seniors and everyone played for each other. It was beautiful to watch.” – Kearsarge’s Emily Wagaman
Records: Kearsarge 8-6-1; Manchester West 1-14-0
Hopkinton 5, Fall Mountain 0
Key players: Hopkinton – Annie Higginbotham (2G), Lillie Presti (G, A), Eleanor Owen (G, A), Loren Charron (G), Melana Curley (A), Caitlin Clark (A), Sofia Locke (A)
Highlights: Hopkinton scored all five goals in the second half to earn the road win. Keeper Emily Fleegle posted her eighth shutout of the season while Maddy Follansbee played great defense on her birthday.
Coach’s quote: “The Hawks were held scoreless in first half as Fall Mountain did a good job stopping our attack in dangerous areas. The game opened up a bit more with better possession and better balls played into attacking third.” – Hopkinton’s Mike Zahn
Records: Hopkinton 12-3-0; Fall mountain 6-8-1
Hopkinton 7, Monadnock 0
Key players: Hopkinton – Derek West (G, A), Shea Dickson (2G), Mike Baer (G), Andrew Beckwith (G), Bryce Charron (2A), Logan Rockwood (G), Aiden Kennett (G), Benny Madden (A), Aidan Burns (2 saves)
Highlights: Baer opened the scoring with his first career goal and the rest of the game featured solid possession play by the Hawks peppered in with the occasional rush on goal, culminating in the goal of the game by Kennett. He played the entire 80 minutes tonight, at outside mid or forward, and took seven shots on goal before his magisterial finish late in the match. At the top of the box, Kennett touched the ball through his defender’s legs before hitting the next touch on the ball backpost over a helpless goalkeeper.
Coach’s quote: “Fun night tonight as three seniors opened the scoring on senior night, including Mike Baer on his first career goal from a nice low shot.” – Hopkinton’s Scott Zipke
Records: Hopkinton 10-4-1; Monadnock 1-14
Belmont 3, Prospect Mountain 2, OT
Key players: Belmont – Nate Sottak (G, A), Lucas Mathieu (G), Lars Major (G), Devin Bricknell (defense), Dylan Greer (defense), Jason Gaudette (defense), Joey Spinale (defense), Tommy Galambos (midfield)
Highlights: Sottak scored on a PK in the 14th minute, and was quickly followed by a Prospect Mountain PK in the 36th minute to tie it at 1-1 going into the half. The Timberwolves would answer first on a goal by Nolan Sikes in the 52nd minute. Belmont came right back to tie it up in the 58th minute on a nice goal by Mathieu from Sottak. Prospect Mountain’s keeper was outstanding down the stretch making highlight reel saves to keep them in it. With two minutes left in the first overtime, Major drilled a one-time shot from 30 yards out past a diving keeper for the winning goal.
Coach’s quote: “This was a great matchup of two quality teams. Once again the soccer gods were kind. Great effort tonight by both sides.” – Belmont’s Michael Foley
Records: Belmont 12-3; Prospect Mountain 10-5
Oyster River 3, Coe-Brown 1
Key players: Coe-Brown – Abby Jerome (2 aces, 12 kills, 15 digs), Niki Smith (8 kills, 2 blocks), Kaitlin Miller (29 assists, 10 digs), Molly Ewing (3 kills, 3 blocks)
Highlights: The Bears trailed in the first set, 18-7, before mounting a comeback to take a 24-23 lead. The teams traded points from there until Oyster River pulled out a 30-28 win. The fireworks continued after that as the teams split the next two sets before the Bobcats sealed it in the fourth for a 30-28, 25-23, 25-19, 25-15 win.
Coach’s quote: “Rivalries bring out the best in teams and tonight was no exception. We showed heart and grit by fighting back in the first set. We took our foot off the gas at the end and came up short in the fourth set. Ultimately, tonight we played for each other. We can’t wait to get back in the gym to work our butts off to prepare for our final match Thursday and playoffs. ” – Coe-Brown’s Renee Zobel
Records: Oyster River 12-3; Coe-Brown 10-5