HANOVER, N.H. - Hanover boys soccer opened its tournament run the same way it has won all season: one goal at one end, nothing allowed at the other. The Bears beat Concord 1-0 at home Wednesday evening in the opening round of the tournament.
It was Hanover’s 13th shutout of the fall, and it settled some unfinished business. The two teams played to a 0-0 draw at Concord on Sept. 8, one of only two games all season in which the Bears were held without a goal. This time Hanover found the one goal it needed and let its defense do the rest.
Concord was the last team into the field. The Crimson Tide clinched a spot on the final night of the regular season with a 1-0 win at Keene, and their season ends at 5-8-4.
Hanover improves to 13-2-2 and bounces back from a 0-2 loss to unbeaten Nashua South in its regular-season finale on Oct. 22. The Bears have allowed just eight goals in 17 games, and their only other loss came at Manchester Memorial on Oct. 1.
Up next is a quarterfinal at home against Londonderry, which edged Pinkerton 1-0 on Wednesday. Hanover beat Pinkerton by the same score on Oct. 8. The quarterfinals are where the Bears’ season ended a year ago, on penalty kicks against Bishop Guertin, so Saturday is a chance for this group to go further.
Coach Lucas Richardson set the target before the season. “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. It is the last week of October, and the Bears are still playing.
Hanover boys soccer is next at home against Londonderry in the quarterfinals on Saturday, October 31, at 3 p.m.
Other relevant play on Wednesday, October 28:
Pinkerton 0 at Londonderry 1 Londonderry, Hanover’s quarterfinal opponent, edged Pinkerton, which the Bears beat 1-0 on Oct. 8.
Goffstown 1 at Manchester Memorial 3 Memorial, which handed Hanover one of its two losses, moved on.
Dover 0 at Bedford 7 Bedford, which tied Hanover 2-2 on Oct. 13, rolled at home.
Bishop Guertin 1 at Exeter 5 Exeter ended the season of Bishop Guertin, which Hanover beat 5-0 on Oct. 20.
Salem 2 at Merrimack 3 Merrimack, which Hanover beat 1-0 on Sept. 15, edged Salem.
Winnacunnet 2 at Windham 0 Winnacunnet won on the road.
That wraps up the day for Hanover High School sports. We’ll see you next time!