Class I Field Hockey: Hanover overcomes Oyster River

BEDFORD – Sooner or later, it's a lesson learned by almost every Cinderella -- the ball doesn't last forever.

No one wore the glass slipper better this year than the Oyster River field hockey team. Seeded 14th in the Class I tourney, the Bobcats rolled off three wins against higher seeds to find themselves at Bedford High School last night, playing No. 4 Hanover to secure the school's first state title in 30 years (they last wore the crown in the former Class A division in 1979) but the Marauders netted the lone goal of the game for a 1-0 win and the Class I title.

"I reckon the clock struck midnight for Cinderella, and we're back in the pumpkin instead of the carriage," said Oyster River coach Mark Smallwood. "I have nothing but absolute praise for what they accomplished. They played great."

The road to the final wasn't any easier for Hanover (11-6), who knocked off defending state champion Merrimack Valley 1-0 in the semifinal round at Exeter High.

"We had a really great season," said Hanover coach Jean Linehan, who guided the Marauders to their first title under her tutelage, and the school's first in 20 years. "They gained momentum as the season went on, played great and really wanted it today."

The Bobcats pressured the Marauders early on, and much of the first 10 minutes was spent in the Hanover zone.

The Bobcats almost scored at 20:06 mark in the first half, when Emily Rodgers hit Megan Mark-Anthony and Meredith Gitschier with crisp passes, but Gitschier's bid got lost in a crowd of players at the net.

Bobcat keeper Hannah Nelson's kick save stopped a shot at 4:19, but an unassisted shot by Hanover's Laura Sanderson slipped past her right leg pad for a 1-0 Hanover lead with 2:40 left in the first half.

Oyster River appeared to tie the game at 11:01 when Emma Smith's shot found the back of the net, but game officials conferred and ruled it a 'no goal'.

"The explanation was it went in too high," said Smallwood. "It has to cross the goalline no higher than board height, and the ruling was it came in too high."

The Bobcats had four corner opportunities over the final 90 seconds, but were unable to beat Hanover keeper Hannah Kornfield.