Bedford, n.h.
A moment that began as a jubilant celebration for a Hanover team that fought hard to force overtime shifted abruptly to the other sideline as the Jaguars instead got to celebrate a 1-0 win and the program’s fifth championship in six years.
“We can’t complain. Some calls go your way, and some don’t,” said a soaked and steel-faced Hanover coach Jean Essex in the aftermath. “That said, we have nothing to be ashamed about. This game could have gone either way.”
The fourth-ranked Marauders (13-2-2) held an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal and dominated much of the first half, outpacing No. 2 Windham’s defense to pressure aggressive senior Windham goalie Abby Harris. Harris kicked several balls out of the crease to keep it scoreless early until the Jaguars (15-1-1) converted their first penalty corner.
Senior Anna Desjardin sent a pass in for classmate Kenna Melvin, whose quick strike deflected past sophomore Hanover keeper Ella Edmunds 12:22 into the game.
Hanover continued with up-tempo play, then remained spirited during a halftime discussion. Essex concluded the meeting by instructing players to “close your eyes and find your mojo.”
The Marauders found it through much of the second half, keeping play largely in Windham’s end and nearly scoring on a bid by Isabelle Sangha off of a corner approximately six minutes in.
Hanover called timeout with 20 minutes left, but it was Windham that appeared to benefit from the break most as the Jags generated three rapid-fire corners thereafter. Hanover withstood the flurry to keep it 1-0, then nearly tied it again at the other end twice during a scintillating sequence orchestrated by twins Diana and Lois Schwarz.
Diana Schwarz — the Marauders’ leading scorer with 18 goals this season — earned a breakaway and thudded a high-velocity shot off the pad of Harris, who’d precariously charged well out of the crease and to the side of the goal to counter Schwarz’ advance.
Trailing the play, defender Lois Schwarz sent the rebound back toward the net, but defender Desjardin had somehow slid in for the save of the game on the goal line.
“Great play by Anna. That’s our captain, and she’s our rock,” said Windham coach Katie Blair.
Harris’ aggressive style is something she’s played with since youth league.
“It’s hard to be a good goalie if you just sit back and let shots (develop); that’s what I’ve always been taught,” Harris said.
Scoring chances decreased as the rain’s intensity heightened down the stretch, players struggling for footing and ball control at times on Bedford’s artificial surface.
Natalie Smith sent one shot wide inside of 10 minutes, and Windham forward Alexis Slaski countered with multiple shots turned away by Edmunds.
Hanover called timeout with two minutes to play, Essex offering more words of encouragement. The Marauders did all they could to net the equalizer in the final moments, wisely playing the ball into the penalty area to draw a corner with 2½ seconds left. The clock doesn’t stop when the whistle blows for a corner, but the game cannot end with a corner opportunity in the balance. So even though the game clock read 0:00, Hanover had one more chance to force overtime.
Like poetry, Curtis’ shot bounded into the net and Hanover seemingly kept alive its quest for a title in dramatic fashion. But an official on the far side of the field emphatically waived off the goal, dashing the hopes as quickly as they’d formed.
There were plenty of tears as the Marauders ruefully accepted their runner-up medals, but Essex knew her team had accomplished much.
“We played as a team in every sense of the word,” the coach said. “This was a special group.”
Stick Checks: Essex on Thursday was named NHIAA Division II coach of the year by the New Hampshire Field Hockey Coaches Association for the first time in her 16 seasons with the Marauders. … Prior to Sunday, Hanover was unbeaten in 10 straight games since Sept. 23 (8-0-2). … It was Windham’s fifth straight shutout and 12th this season. … The Jags’ only loss this year came on Sept. 1 against Souhegan (14-2-0), the division’s top seed before getting ousted by Hanover in the semis. … Hanover didn’t play any of its three playoff opponents during the regular season and hadn’t faced the Jaguars since 2013.
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.