Hanover
There were no such troubles in a rainy rematch, as No. 4 Hanover potted three goals in the first 15 minutes, on the way to a 5-0 win over 13th-ranked Lebanon at Merriman-Branch Field in the teams’ first playoff meeting in six years.
Senior Carly Craft scored two of those early goals and finished with her first career hat trick as the Marauders (13-2-2) advanced to Sunday’s quarterfinal against Oyster River.
The No. 5 Bobcats took care of 12th-ranked Goffstown on Thursday, 2-0.
The Raiders (7-8-2) were making their first playoff appearance since 2012.
Speedy and energetic from the center forward position, Craft knocked in Hanover’s first goal just 3:20 in, past steadfast Lebanon keeper Sally Rainey, on the rebound of a shot by Cate Wagner.
Sophomore restart specialist Pepper Joseph scored directly off a corner kick in the 11th minute, curling one off the far post to make it 2-0 before Craft dug one out of traffic in the box to pot her second at 14:16.
Craft added an assist on Wagner’s strike in the 53rd minute, then completed the trifecta with another strong solo effort in the middle of the box after receiving a feed from Sage McGinley-Smith with 7:35 to play.
“I was actually a little nervous coming into this game, because we tied them last time we played them and this team really wants to go far (in the playoffs),” said Craft, a sophomore when Hanover won the second of back-to-back state titles in 2015. “We did a good job applying pressure and were able to find our confidence early in the game. I got some pretty good looks at the goal and had a some great (passes) sent my way.”
Jumping ahead early was vital for the Marauders, who held a 13-2 advantage in shots, but couldn’t break through during a scoreless deadlock in Lebanon on Sept. 26.
“That 0-0 tie was kind of weighing on us a little bit,” Hanover coach Doug Kennedy said. “We knew we wanted to score as quick as we could. We saw each other well today.”
Hanover has allowed just eight goals all season, but has been limited to scoring two or fewer 13 times while adjusting to the loss of eight players from last year’s semi squadfinalist. Hanover has been finishing much better lately, scoring 18 goals during its past five games, one more than it garnered during the first 12 contests.
“At the beginning of the season, it kind of felt like a rebuilding year,” Craft said. “I think we’ve been finding our chemistry lately. Our defense has been really solid all year, but we’ve been working hard on finishing.”
The Raiders had five of their six shots in the second half. Their best challenge to Hanover keeper Bella Bardales came when Megan Gradijan fired from the right side to force a lunging stop.
Lebanon also earned three corner kicks in the second half while keeping play in Hanover’s end at times.
“We played better in the second half, just trying to get that first goal,” said second-year Lebanon coach Breck Taber, whose team improved in many areas this season after a 4-12 campaign in 2016. “Hanover’s a really good team. They’re a top-five seed for a reason. It was tough, going down against them early on their field. Their first goal came off a rebound, and the wind took in the second one on that corner kick. It’s easy to let the wind come out of your sails a little bit after that.”
Joseph acknowledged she wasn’t aiming to bend the ball inside the far post.
“I mean, I’m always just trying to get it inside the 18 (-yard line) and let one of the other girls get a head on it, because we have a lot of players who can do that,” Joseph said. “It’s all about just getting it over in that general direction, so when I saw it went in, I was like, ‘Awesome!’ ”
The Marauders spoke at length during halftime about maintaining strong tempo, and followed through.
Wagner’s goal was well-placed to the middle third on a feed from Craft, and the Hanover bench erupted when Craft scored her third.
“It was really important that we kept the energy high because we knew Lebanon wasn’t giving up,” Wagner said. “Carly just had an awesome game.”
Free Kicks: It was the teams’ first playoff meeting since Hanover’s 3-0 win in the 2011 quarterfinals. … The Raiders are winless in their last 13 against the Marauders (0-11-2) dating back to Lebanon’s championship season seven years ago. … Lebanon junior Olivia Fielder led the team with six goals. … All of Hanover’s five corner kicks game in the first half. … The Marauders held a 20-6 advantage in shots. … Rainey finished with 11 saves for the Raiders and Bardales had three for Hanover. … Oyster River blanked the Marauders, 1-0, in last season’s semifinal, but Hanover beat the Bobcats by the same score on Oct. 14 in Durham, N.H.
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.