Hanover
She just might have earned herself a new bedroom set instead.
Well-positioned and opportunistic, Lubrano nettted all three Marauder goals for her first career hat trick in No. 8 Hanover’s 3-0 win over the No. 9 Pythons at Merriman-Branch Field.
It sends the two-time defending NHIAA Division II champion Marauders (12-4-1) to the quarterfinals for the eighth straight year. They’ll face top-seeded Hollis Brookline (14-3) on the road at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Lubrano’s performance helped re-energize a Hanover offense that aims to play aggressively but had been stymied in recent outings against top competition. During a challenging late-season stretch, the Marauders fell, 2-1, at eventual No. 2 seed Bow on Oct. 11, then played to a scoreless draw at No. 4 Windham two days later before a 1-0 loss to Hollis Brookline in Saturday’s regular season finale. (The Marauders also beat 18th-place Plymouth, 3-0, during the stretch).
“I’m really happy for Amelia because she won’t have to sleep in the garage,” Hanover coach Doug Kennedy joked. “But really, we needed that kind of outing to get us back on track. She had the same role as she’s had all year, but did a great job getting open.”
Lubrano benefited from sterling passes on all three goals. The first came thanks to a streaking diagonal feed across the middle by Carly Craft. Receiving it near the right post, she sent it across the goalmouth and off of the left one past Pelham keeper Amira Eid on what appeared to be a crossing attempt for Maeve Goodrich.
It was one of just five first-half shots — all by the Marauders — in raw rain that remained steady as the temperature dropped into the 30s during the game.
“Let’s face it, it was cold and wet out there,” Kennedy said. “It took us a little while to warm up and get it together.”
Hanover dominated the second half, outshooting Pelham 15-1 while neutralizing senior midfielder Morgan Walsh, who’s committed to play at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.
Craft set up Cate Wagner numerous times in the early stages of the the second half. Wagner sent one into the side of the net in the 52nd minute, then launched one just over the crossbar in the 55th. She got one on net with 21:30 to play, but Eid (11 saves) was there for the stop at the left post.
Hanover finally earned an insurance goal after a free kick with 16:33 remaining. Tri-captain and midfielder J.J. Taube sent it in from 38 yards out, directly in stride and off the raised knee of a hard-charging Lubrano to make it 2-0.
Lubrano’s third goal came just 1:28 later on a long pass by Clare Gardner that Lubrano again sent across the crease on what she later acknowledged was a crossing pass attempt.
“We’ve been working a lot on drills where (forwards) get passes from the back line,” said Lubrano, who tied Taube for the team lead with four assists in the regular season. “They did a great job executing that today.”
The Pythons (9-6-2) were an unfamiliar opponent, having moved up from D-III prior to this season. The teams didn’t meet in the regular season, setting up a strong first D-II playoff test for Pelham.
“They’re a good team and a deep team,” Pelham coach Jon Hall said. “We took the plunge to Division II this season, and today was a good look at what we’re aspiring to be. We want to be able to match that someday.”
Kennedy was just glad his team was able to rediscover its scoring touch.
Not counting the Plymouth game, it was the first time the Marauders landed three or more goals against a playoff-caliber opponent since Oct. 7 against Trinity.
“I think we needed to come away with a few goals today just to get back in a rhythm,” Kennedy said. “It gives us some momentum moving forward.”
Free Kicks: Hanover goalie Mahler Meyerrose had one save in her fifth complete-game shutout and the team’s 11th overall. … Craft tallied her first assist of the year after leading the team with nine goals in the regular season. … Senior forward Ruby Spitz was very active despite limited scoring chances. … Hollis Brookline took care of No. 16 Con-Val, 3-1, on Thursday to set up Sunday’s rematch with the Marauders.
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.