Senior forward Joey Olivera sealed the win for Merrimack Valley with a brace in the second half on Thursday night over Bow. His two goals came unexpectedly, but sometimes in a game of small margins that’s all it takes.

His first goal came after fellow senior forward Logan Vong hit a header from a cross toward Bow’s keeper, Burgess, who parried the ball up in the air. It fell in front of a well-positioned Olivera, who knocked it into the back of the net. 

“It feels amazing, man,” said Olivera after the 2-0 win. “It was a quality team, and I think those two goals were well deserved. I think we played really good.”

Both teams were coming off big wins on home turf. Bow smashed Laconia 5-0, and Merrimack Valley had beaten Hollis-Brookline 4-1. However, Bow, the defending Division II champions, has had a slow start to its season with a draw and two losses before their first win. The Falcons are now 1-3-1. Merrimack Valley moves to 3-2-0.

The Pride’s work did not end when leading 1-0 early in the 2nd half, as Bow relentlessly pressured them. However, the chances did not seem to fall as luckily for the Falcons. They had many opportunities from corners and long throws but Merrimack Valley defended well and cleared the ball every time it crept near their goal.

Bow head coach Josh Smith said, “We got the ball in the dangerous areas, but just didn't feel like it was our night and it wasn't going to find the right person at the right time. And as a result, we didn't get any goals.”

Bow had 8 corners and numerous free kicks in the opposing half, and even in the first half when it seemed that they might score, the Pride stood solid. They chased the game until the end because it remained 1-0 until Oliver’s second goal at the end

Merrimack Valley’s back line, comprised of Carter Lankhorst, Eli Wormald and Davian Loiselle, was strong through the air and made the game difficult for Bow’s forwards, while their midfield tracked back well and closed-off the wings to limit Bow’s chances. Josh Smith thinks that the way forward for the team is to convert the few chances they have whenever they come.

“(If we’re) a little more clinical in the final third, we score a couple of those. It’s a different game completely. So it’s really trying to capitalize on the opportunities when we have them,” said Smith.

Although Bow’s midfielders and defenders played well, they couldn’t seem to find the big bodies of defenders Keenan Hubbard and Jake Reardon up top, and forward Milo Cocola was neutralized by the Pride. 

The high pressure from Bow and solid defense opened up the field for Merrimack Valley to manage the game well while leading. The ball movement from Merrimack Valley was precise and patient under pressure from Bow’s physicality, and in the end held on to win it.

“We're a very skillful team. When we pass the ball around with more movement on and off the ball, that's where we really excel, especially against a huge team like this. They had some pretty big guys,” said Merrimack Valley’s assistant coach Spencer Nowe.

Olivera’s second goal was a testament to the ball movement and non-stop work his teammates further down the field put in. He scored on a late counter attack with less than five minutes left when players’ legs got tired and Bow pushed up to find the equalizer. He slightly redirected a long cross from the right wing and it rolled into the far-post’s side netting to seal the deal.

“High, high pressure and it's the intensity. We need to bring the intensity and today we absolutely brought that intensity,” said Nowe.

For Merrimack Valley, facing the defending champions was no easy feat, but  the Pride proved that they can compete and take aim at a run in the playoffs.

Bow will look to bounce back away from home at Plymouth Regional High School on Tuesday.