Hanover girls hockey beats Exeter to win eighth-straight D1 title

MANCHESTER – The Hanover High School girls hockey team is going to need to find some space in its already crowded trophy case. The Marauders scored the game’s final three goals on their way to a 3-1 victory over Exeter in the Division I championship Saturday at SNHU Arena.

The title marks second-seeded Hanover’s eighth straight and ninth overall since girls hockey became an NHIAA varsity sport during the 2007-08 school year.

Saturday was top-seeded Exeter’s first ever trip to the state final. The Blue Hawks finished the season with a 19-2 overall record.

Hanover senior forward Maddie Lyons broke a 1-1 tie with 3:26 remaining in the second period to give the Marauders a one-goal lead entering the third frame.

Lyons collected the puck off a rebound and tucked it inside the right post through traffic in the crease. Her go-ahead goal came two seconds after Exeter killed off Sarah Gallo’s five-minute major boarding penalty.

“That was a huge momentum swing,” Lyons said. “Hockey is a game of momentum and we got a little bit frustrated that we didn’t score on that five-minute penalty but we knew that if we let that show then the momentum would go (Exeter’s) way.

“I think that was our goal: don’t stop.”

Gallo’s penalty came 6:32 into the middle stanza and put the Blue Hawks on the defensive for the remainder of the period. It was the second of four penalties Exeter took in the contest.

“It certainly gives the other team an advantage and a team like Hanover, it’s tough to keep handing them that advantage over and over,” Exeter coach Geoff Taylor said of his team’s penalties. “They’re going to capitalize on it sooner or later even if it’s after you’re back to even strength.”

Hanover (19-1-1) did not take its foot off the gas in the final period.

Briland Laycock went top shelf on Exeter sophomore goaltender Izzy Day from the right circle with 1:51 left to cap the game’s scoring. The Marauders outshot Exeter, 12-6, and tested Day (24 saves) with two unsuccessful two-on-one rushes over the final 15 minutes before Laycock’s tally.

The score was deadlocked at 1-1 after the opening period thanks to goals from Exeter’s Carissa Towlson and Hanover’s Cate Wagner.

Towlson went top shelf on Hanover sophomore goaltender Cici Barton (15 saves) 1:04 into the contest to open the game’s scoring. Her tally marked the game’s first shot on goal.

Wagner notched the equalizer at the 7:20 mark of the opening period. All alone in the slot, the junior forward put home a wrister off a backhanded feed from Laycock.

Each championship is special but Marauders coach John Dodds said his players were a little more excited that this one came against Exeter. The Blue Hawks handed Hanover its first loss to an in-state opponent since 2012 on Feb. 20.

Lyons was excited to conclude her Hanover career with a fourth title and add another chapter to the growing legend of Hanover’s winning culture.

“Personally, it’s an amazing feeling to win four championships and also just (to) do it for the rest of the girls who have played for Hanover hockey,” Lyons said. “And to honor the tradition that they’ve built before us is a pretty amazing feeling. It’s great to be a part of this thing that is so much bigger than yourself.”