HHS Boys Soccer Season Recap
One of the most memorable Hanover soccer seasons in recent memory came to an end at Stellos Stadium on Friday, November 3rd, when the Bears were handed a 4-0 defeat to the 6th-seeded Bedford Bulldogs in the D1 New Hampshire state final. It was a cruel way to end an otherwise remarkable season in which head coach Robert Grabill’s team paced the state in almost every offensive category and found themselves at the top of the table after the regular season.
From the opening whistle, the team didn’t play with the energy and explosiveness that defined their season. The first 20 minutes of the match were pockmarked with missed passes and lost 50/50 opportunities. They first conceded in the 19th minute on a chaotic free kick from 40 yards out, the Bulldogs put the game to bed on a disheartening deflected shot from Gavin Diaz 12 minutes after half, and the match ended with an ugly 4-0 scoreline.
Confoundingly enough for the best team in the league, this was not the first time they lost big to Bedford this season: they were also soundly defeated 4-1 by the Bulldogs on September 1st at home. How did 6th-seeded Bedford resoundingly beat the league leaders twice? In response to this question, Grabill directed the attention to the opposition: “Their [sixth] seed was deceiving, since they lost several games when players were suspended during midseason. When they had everyone back, they beat defending champion Nashua South and then Hanover”. He also said that Bedford scorers Elliot Texeria (19’) and Gavin Diaz (57’) “performed brilliantly” in the final, leading to a result not necessarily an insult to Hanover but more a compliment to Bedford. Whatever the reasons that led to the loss, feelings of despondency and regret were the only ones that permeated from the Hanover bench when the final whistle blew. It was the third consecutive year that Hanover touched the top but then fell in the final, a tough pill to swallow for one of the most talented teams and graduating classes in school history.
The team had 12 seniors and 18 returning letter winners to start the season. Grabill pointed towards this when asked what was so special about this team: “The team had a lot of very experienced senior leadership…the group was very focused and committed, and showed a lot of unselfishness.” This combination of leadership and talent led to a historic season when they combined for 93 goals over all competitions. This was the most ever in the team’s history, dating back half a century to 1961. Senior Zach Tracy led the goal-scoring with 24, while also racking up the second-most assists on the team with 12. This impressive production in front of goal led to being named the Hanover Soccer Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player, as well as a spot on the NHSCA All-State D1 First Team. All in all, Hanover had three first-team players in Tracy and seniors Will Guerin and Ryder Hayes. They also had three players on the second team: senior Carter Guerin and juniors Sam Ames and Andrew McGuire. Ames was a rock at center back, earning team Defensive Player of the Year.
The goal-scoring party came to a crescendo at Bishop Guertin on October 17 when Hanover ruthlessly piled on 14 goals against an extremely young BG side. The game ended in controversy afterward when Grabill made an Instagram post critical of the BG coaches and players. Grabill is seen as a pillar of sportsmanship and integrity, so it came as a shock to the Hanover soccer community. The post was taken down and apologized for, yet the HHS administration decided to suspend him for the last game of the season. It just so happened that the last game of the season was against the league leaders Pinkerton, and a win would put Hanover in first. It was against this backdrop of pressure and controversy that the team rolled through Pinkerton 6-1 and took the top spot. Grabill noted the players’ determination when asked what the game showed the most: “The resounding victory on Senior Day demonstrated that most of the important coaching takes place in practice. We have always emphasized the philosophy that once the match begins, the game belongs to the players.”
But with so many seniors, change is a guarantee. Some believe that this era of Hanover soccer is at a close. The 12 seniors that are leaving will leave behind a legacy of 4 straight final four appearances, three finals, yet no championship. The team will undoubtedly look much younger in 2024, and it may be harder to compete. However, the area of Hanover and the greater Upper Valley continues to be a soccer hotbed. There were four fully functioning teams last season, something that Grabill points out, “no other team in NH can match”. There will be no shortage of players eager to help the team get back to the final. As Grabill said, “it will be fun to be considered an underdog, and sneak up on everyone”.
The still red-hot sting of the final will continue to burn, especially for those 12 whose Hanover soccer careers are over. But the lasting memory of the season should be one of pride and dignity. The team next year will look very different, and it will be challenging to repeat the D1 success of the past decade. Yet two things are for certain: the program will be the envy of schools across New Hampshire, and Robert Grabill will be at the helm.