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# Hanover shuts out Merrimack Valley to return to D2 field hockey final for 3rd straight year (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/hanover-shuts-out-merrimack-valley-to-return-to-d2-field-hockey-final-for-3rd-straight-year/
- Published: 2019-11-02T14:16:18.000Z
- Updated: 2019-11-02T14:16:18.000Z
- Description: EXETER - The Hanover High School field hockey team has played better in the second half of games this season. After getting a scare Monday in the quarterfinals, Marauders coach Jean Essex worked on a few things to try to get her players going a little earlier heading into Friday's Division II semifi
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, field hockey, Hanover, Merrimack Valley, playoffs, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

EXETER - The Hanover High School field hockey team has played better in the second half of games this season.

After getting a scare Monday in the quarterfinals, Marauders coach Jean Essex worked on a few things to try to get her players going a little earlier heading into Friday's Division II semifinal against Merrimack Valley.

It still took a little while for Hanover to get going, but by halftime, the adjustments seemed to have worked.

Kate Blaisdell scored twice in the final 13 minutes of the first half and No. 2 Hanover tacked on two more goals in the second half for a 4-0 win over No. 6 Merrimack Valley at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter. The win sends the Marauders to the final for the third year in a row, where they will face No. 4 Souhegan at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Bedford.

Anna Stafford and Gail Morse had a goal apiece for Hanover (13-1-1), while Macy Curtis and Katherine Naughton (assist) also played well, and the defense, led by goalie Ella Edmonds (three saves), limited the Pride's chances after Merrimack Valley started the game off strong.

"I think that in general we’ve been a second-half team, so we worked hard this week on coming out strong in the beginning of the game," Essex said. "We changed the warmup a little bit, changed a few things just so we were a little more focused and ready to go.

"We’ve been waiting all year for the midfielders to connect and click. They’re strong individually. They were moving the ball well in the middle of the field which allowed our forwards to step up and do what needed to be done."

Merrimack Valley (11-6) opened the game by putting a quick shot on Edmonds and then had back-to-back corners. Hanover's senior goalkeeper came up with another save and the Marauders were able to transition the ball out of their own end, keeping the pressure on the Pride's defense.

"Before everyone of our defensive penalty corners, we always have something way say," Edmonds said. "It’s pretty much let’s get it out of here, let’s get it done. I think we really emphasized that going into those early corners. We needed the momentum in the beginning of the game. We couldn’t let them score and my defense did a great job."

Blaisdell broke the scoreless tie by hammering a loose ball in the circle into the far corner of the goal, making it 1-0 with 12:26 remaining in the first half.

Then, with under five minutes to play in the half, the Marauders got their fourth penalty corner of the half. A shot by Curtis was deflected high in the air and Merrimack Valley goalie Rosemary Ostrowski knocked the ball down.

But the rebound landed at Blaisdell's feet and she didn't hesitate in putting it in the goal for a 2-0 lead with 2:40 left in the half.

"We had a couple of good runs and the corners were working," Blaisdell said. "We just had good energy this game. It was a great opportunity. We have learned how to play off each other on the corners and we’ve become very versatile on the corners."

For Essex, it was great to see the junior, who moved to Hanover from Windham over the summer, contribute on the big stage.

"Give her tons of credit. It’s tough to switch high schools, it’s tough to switch academically and socially," the coach said. "It’s tough to switch systems and what’s expected of you. She had to learn 17 players on the team. She had a lot she had to deal with. I also give credit to the other 17 who were extremely embracing."

Hanover wasted little time getting on the scoreboard again in the second half, as Stafford made it 3-0 just 3:32 after halftime. The Marauders almost added another goal five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty stroke, and Essex had Edmonds take it, but her shot hit off the post.

"When we practice strokes, she takes them, too," Essex said. "She understands how to place them and where to place them. This was for her, as a senior, an opportunity to give it whirl."

Morse made it 4-0, scoring off an assist from Naughton, with 17:01 to play, and Hanover was able to keep Merrimack Valley off the board on the Pride's three corners in the final six minutes of the game.

The Marauders will try again for the program's first title since 2009, when they face Souhegan on Sunday. Hanover won the regular-season meeting, 2-0, on Oct. 18.