It was another warm, springlike day, as the Marauders travelled the few blocks from their overnight hotel to JFK arena. The excitement was palpable in anticipation of the match between undefeated Hanover and Bedford.
The entire Marauder squad was dressed for action, and Loud was selected to play in his first varsity game.
No one in the large crowd was disappointed by a terrific first period which featured back and forth action and few stoppages. Bedford, the larger and more physical team, controlled the play deep in the Hanover zone, cycling the puck behind the goal, pinching at the points, and using their size to try to intimidate their opponents. Hanover on the other hand, demonstrated their superior speed and passing, enabling them to deftly transition into the offensive zone. While the Bulldogs had the better of the odd man rushes, the Marauders led in time of possession. With less than a minute left the first, Kim gathered in a loose puck and let go a hard wrist shot from the circle to give Hanover the lead.
The Marauders kept their foot on the accelerator, but the Bulldogs tied the score five minutes into the second when they were able to knock in a rebound of a point shot. The teams traded power plays, and it was apparent that Hanover needed to stay out of the penalty box to win this match. Unfortunately, Bedford capitalized on their next man advantage, when a shot from the point was deflected into the goal. Most in the partisan crowd thought the goal would be disallowed for a high stick, but this was not the case, and the period ended with Bedford in front two to one.
The Bulldogs got an insurance goal early in the third, as they pounded away at the puck in the crease. Bedford connected on another power play opportunity with another deflection, this time off the leg of a forward parked in the slot. Hanover had a few chances to pull back into the game, but Goff's one-timer from the slot was smothered by the Bedford netminder, and B. Acker was hauled down on a breakaway.
Special teams were the difference in this game; Bedford went two for four on their power play, while Hanover was scoreless in three opportunities. Hanover plays Trinity in their final match.
One more trip down 89 and one more game to go, tonight vs long time rival Trinity. At the preseason meeting, Coach Dodds was lamenting the change in the D1 schedule that had us no longer playing a regular season home and home with Trinity - well Coach, looks like you got them twice this season any way. Funny how life has its own way of working things out for you!
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