Manchester
So learned top-ranked Exeter during the Marauders’ 3-1 win in Saturday morning’s NHIAA Division I championship game at SNHU Arena.
Maddie Lyons had the go-ahead goal on a rebound in the second period, and Briland Laycock and Cate Wagner each had a goal and an assist for No. 2 Hanover (20-2-1; 20-1-1 league), which captured its eighth consecutive NHIAA crown and ninth in 10 years.
Including three straight unofficial titles prior to NHIAA sanctioning, that’s 12 times in 13 seasons the Marauders have claimed Granite State dominance.
“It’s certainly nothing that we take for granted,” said Hanover coach John Dodds, who has presided over all of the championship seasons. “We work really hard for what we do, and we’ve created a real family environment, whether it’s at practice or games.”
The win avenged last month’s 4-3 loss to the Blue Hawks at Campion Rink — Hanover’s first loss to another New Hampshire team in five years.
Exeter (19-2 league) scored three power-play goals in that game and had the upper hand early on Saturday, scoring on Carissa Towlson’s top-shelf offering past Hanover goalie Cici Barton on the first shot of the game at 1:04.
The Hawks continued to generate chances in quick-moving opening minutes.
“They definitely had us on our heels,” Dodds said. “There was a lot of play in our zone the first seven, eight minutes of the game. When they score right off the bat like that, it changes things for you mentally.”
Marauder players entered the game already wary of the Hawks and considered themselves underdogs after the regular-season loss.
“I think that really helped motivate us,” Lyons said. “The last time Hanover lost to a New Hampshire team, against Lebanon (in 2012), my older sister (Hannah) was on the team, and they came back and beat Lebanon in the final. We really wanted to have that same feeling.”
Hanover’s well-positioned defense began taking away Exeter’s seams, controlling the neutral zone and generating opportunities in transition, highlighted when senior defender Sarah MacCormick poked a puck on the left wing for Laycock.
Laycock sent a spot-on pass to the slot for Wagner, who beat heady Exeter sophomore goalie Izzy Day (24 saves) for her 13th goal of the year to make it made it 1-1.
“Every girl on that team knows their role 100 percent,” Exeter coach Geoff Taylor said of Hanover.
“We wanted to buzz in and spend more time (around the net), but they take away your time and space better than anyone else, and they get it back going the other way quickly. They had a 3-on-1 on that first goal. If you’re going to beat Izzy Day, that’s they way to do it.”
Both teams had chances to take a 2-1 lead by the first intermission, but Day robbed a wrist shot by Wagner and Barton stopped a bid by Katie Kopecky before smothering the rebound.
Barton, a sophomore who also started last year, finished with 14 saves.
“I’ve seen other goalies get down on themselves after letting in a goal, and it never helps,” Barton said. “Last year, I was hard on myself a little bit after letting in goals, but I’m getting better at using that energy to focus on the next shot.”
Hanover largely dominated the second period, though it managed only a pair of weak shots during a five-minute power play after a major boarding call against the Blue Hawks’ Sarah Gallo.
The Marauders netted the go-ahead goal exactly two seconds after the man advantage expired, when Mahler Meyerrose fed Hannah Curtis for an initial shot and Day chest save before Lyons converted the rebound on the right side to make it 2-1 with 3:26 left in the second period.
“We talk a lot about being there for back-door rebounds. That’s how a lot of goals get set up,” Lyons said. “That was a big, because (Exeter) was going to get some momentum after killing a five-minute power play, but then, all of a sudden, we got all the momentum.”
Hanover had two more power plays in the third period as it continued to dictate the tempo, getting chances on slap shots by Sylvie Alexander and Meyerrose, each halted by Day.
Exeter’s Towlson had another couple of chances, including a shorthanded backhand bid that Barton met.
Hanover milked the clock until an insurance goal with 1:51 to play, Laycock plunking home an open-ice pass on assists from Clare Gardner and Wagner.
“Our team defense really game together to spread the puck into the neutral zone.” Laycock said. “We prepared so much for this game since we lost to them, and the mental game is a big part of it. I’m really proud of the way we picked ourselves right back up after letting in that first goal.”
Ice Chips: Hanover alumnae Kelly Brigham, Eliza Laycock and Matti Hartman were on hand and briefly joined in the celebration in the Marauders’ locker room after the game. They’d helped compose an inspirational email assistant coach Brian Drew read to the team before the game … The Blue Hawks’ only other league loss this year came in a 6-5 decision against Bishop Guertin in January. … Hanover was whistled for just one penalty, a tripping call against Gardner in the second period. It created 4-on-4 play and an eventual abbreviated power play for Exeter, which was serving its own tripping minor at the time. … Hanover led 27-16 in shots on goal. … Lyons and Gardner both rang shots off the post in the second period. … Hanover graduates eight seniors: Meyerrose, Gardner, Lyons, J.J. Taube, MacCormick, Alexander, Brittany Richard and Leslie McNamara.
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.