HANOVER, N.H. - Hanover boys soccer ran into an unbeaten buzzsaw on Thursday afternoon. Nashua South beat the Bears 2-0 in Hanover, ending Hanover’s 13-game home winning streak, a run that dated back to last season.
It was the Bears’ first home loss of the fall. The Panthers came in rolling, fresh off an 8-1 win at Manchester Central on Tuesday, and Thursday was their fifth straight win. Nashua South (15-0-1) has now won seven of its last eight games on the road and scored 33 goals over that stretch.
Hanover moves to 12-2-2. Even with the loss, defense has carried the Bears all fall. They have posted 12 shutouts in 16 games and allowed just eight goals all season while scoring 49. Thursday was only the second time Hanover was held without a goal; the other was a 0-0 draw at Concord on Sept. 8.
Both of Hanover’s losses have come against strong teams. The other was a 1-3 result at Manchester Memorial on Oct. 1, and the Bears also tied Bedford 2-2 on Oct. 13. Two days before Thursday’s game, Hanover rolled past Bishop Guertin 5-0, the team that knocked the Bears out of last year’s quarterfinals on penalty kicks.
Coach Lucas Richardson talked about resilience before the season. “Patience and positivity are key for us to have a successful season. This team knows how to work hard. If we stay committed to improving daily, remain resilient and positive while working out the kinks and establish our ability to both press the opposition and maintain possession once we win the ball, we will be in a great position in October,” he said.
Thursday was Hanover’s regular-season finale, and October is here. The Bears head into the tournament with one of the best records in their division.
Other relevant play on Thursday, October 22:
Winnacunnet (7-5-4) 2 at Bishop Guertin (5-7-4) 0 Bishop Guertin, which Hanover beat 5-0 on Tuesday, fell at home.
Bedford (12-2-2) 1 at Manchester Memorial (10-3-3) 0 Bedford, which tied Hanover 2-2 on Oct. 13, won at Memorial, which handed the Bears their other loss.
GIRLS SOCCER
Hanover at Nashua South | Thursday, October 22
Hanover girls soccer bounced back in a big way Thursday night, winning 3-0 at Nashua South at Stellos Stadium in Nashua.
The win snapped a four-game winless stretch for the Bears, who had gone 0-3-1 and scored just one goal in that span, including a 0-2 loss at Bishop Guertin on Tuesday. On Thursday they scored three times and kept a clean sheet.
Hanover moves to 8-6-2, already one more win than last season’s 7-8-2 team. It was the Bears’ fourth shutout win of the fall, joining 4-0 wins over Nashua North and Salem and a 7-0 win over Keene. Nashua South, playing its season finale, drops to 4-8-4 with back-to-back losses.
Coach Doug Kennedy put the season on his senior class before it started. “We have the athleticism and experience to produce a strong team this fall. Our seniors will be the key to our performance; if they fully commit themselves to all aspects of play, we will do well,” he said.
Other relevant play on Thursday, October 22:
Bishop Guertin (9-7) 1 at Winnacunnet (13-2-1) 0 Bishop Guertin, which beat Hanover 2-0 on Tuesday, won on the road for its fourth straight win.
Merrimack (7-8-1) 2 at Goffstown (13-1-2) 9 Goffstown, which beat Hanover 4-0 on Sept. 19, poured it on at home.
That wraps up the day for Hanover High School sports. We’ll see you next time!