Hanover Falls in the Finals, Losing 4-0 to Bedford

 Hanover's dream season came to a nightmarish conclusion before a packed Stellos Stadium, as the Bears were unable to overcome a slow start and lost 4-0 to Bedford in the NHIAA Championship game.  Hanover trailed 1-0 at the half, and despite fighting hard surrendered three second half goals to a hungry, opportunistic Bedford squad. The Bears finished the season with a 16-3 record, with two of those losses coming at the hands of Bedford.

Hanover entered the game feeling confident but certainly not cocky.  Coming off a great performance against Central in the semifinals, the top-seeded Bears had every reason to believe that there was a good chance that their third straight trip to the finals would conclude successfully. A strong, senior-laden Bedford team had other ideas.

Bedford had an edge in play over the first 20 minutes, although the match was typical for a championship final, with most of the play occurring at midfield, and few good scoring opportunities for either team.  But the Bears were off unable to connect passes with the sharpness that had characterized their recent efforts, and certainly not able to establish a territorial edge. Wyatt Seelig made an excellent save on a high, hard shot by Elliott Texeira at 18:00 to keep the game scoreless, but three minutes later a free kick in Hanover's end changed all that.  Defender Jakub Bielecki hit a dangerous ball into the box, and the Hanover defense was unable to get an effective head on the ball, which dropped into the mixer.  The  dangerous Texeira was first to the ball and cooly deposited it into the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Hanover showed some improvement as the half continued, but didn't have a lot to show for it.  Andrew got a shot off that missed the target, and Sean Smith created a great chance, beating his defender to the endline and hitting a low, hard cross through the Bedford box that couldn't find anyone on the other end.

Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Bears were pretty confident that they would be able to continue their upward trajectory and get back into the match. They have been a good second half team all season.  Ryder Hayes had a couple of free kick opportunities that went wide and then high, and 10 minutes into the half Andrew McGuire forced a good save by Bulldog Derek Wilensky. A minute later, though, Bedford penetrated deep into the left side of the Hanover box, and freed up their best striker, David Diaz, who found time and space for a hard shot on goal.  It appeared that Seelig would be able to block it, but the ball first hit a Beart defender and deflected into the goal for a 2-0 Bedford lead.

Hanover didn't panic, and continued to do a better job generating good scoring bids.  There was no way they felt the game slipping away.  Will Guerin had a hard shot blocked by a sliding defender, and one again McGuire came close, hitting a hard, high shot that grazed the crossbar.  But then the game slipped away.  Bedford countered well and Diaz closed on the goal and hit a low shot that Seelig saved, but the rebound came right back to him, and he made the lead 3-0 with his second goal of the night.

To their great credit, Hanover kept battling, and didn't lose their composure.  Bedford was smelling blood in the water, and only two excellent saves by Seelig kept the score in check.  Hanover's urgency to score left them exposed at times in the back, but Seeling was equal to the task, once coming off his line to block a shot, and once making a close-range save at the right post.

Here's where a case can be made that the 3-0 score, and certainly the final 4-0 scoreline, were a little unfair.  The Bears outshot Bedford 11-8 in the half, and had six corners.  Very effective in recent weeks on corner kicks, on this night Hanover couldn't generate much on any of their restarts. McGuire, Carter and Will Guerin all had three shots, and Ryder Hayes had two more free kicks,  but everyone was just enough off to keep them off the board.

Bedford delivered the coup de grace in the 74th minute,  as the only ugly moment is a long, frustrating night gave Jack Toolin and empty next for the fourth and final Bulldog goal.  Poor Hanover, having watch their chances swept away over the course of the match, then had to endure Bedford's gleeful end-game substitutions.  Then, as the final whistle sounded, there was real grief, as many of the Bears collapsed on the cold, unforgiving turf. To their great credit, the classy crew struggled to their feet and lined up to shake hands, and then graciously accepted their medals and allowed Bedford their well-earned celebration, one that 24 hours earlier they had imagined that they might be having.  This was a bitter, bitter pill to swallow, but the Bears handles themselves with composure and class.

Hanover was grateful for the huge turnout of Bear nation, and thankful for the amazing post-game tailgate prepared by a bunch of dedicated parents, and comforted by the chance to be with each other in their fleeting moments together as a team. There will be ample time in the weeks ahead to celebrate a truly wonderful season. The seniors, every one of them, set a standard for dedication and leadership that will be difficult to match, but the underclassmen will in turn be grateful to have had the bar set so high. Win or lose, this is a great, Hanover team. The coaches love them, and feel privileged to have had the chance to work with them.