Photo Credit: Anissa Weber
HANOVER, Ind. – Fourth quarter slump dooms costly for the Panthers as they dropped a heartbreaker on Wednesday afternoon to Lake Forest. Hanover fell in the matchup 11-10.
 
The Panthers were paced by freshman Owen Parker (O'Fallon, Mo.) and senior Josh Perkins (San Diego, Calif.) with three goals apiece. In frame, senior Sean O'Meara (Lexington, Ky.) played a strong game with 11 saves.
 
In just his fifth career start, Parker brought the intensity for the Panthers finding the back of the net off an assist by sophomore Zach Stone (Elizabethtown, Ky.). He followed it up with a face-off win that he took straight to net finding Perkins for another Panther goal, 2-0.
 
Hanover tacked on one final strike in the first quarter with Owen delivering the blow.
 
However, the Foresters claimed their first lead of the contest just minutes into the second frame delivering back-to-back strikes.
 
But Hanover killed the momentum with Perkins responding on a Stone assist that surged an HC run. Sophomore Nick Adams (Greenwood, Ind.) delt the final blow of the half giving Hanover the 5-4 lead.
 
The outburst continued in the second half with senior Dirk Meinhart (Elizabethtown, Ky.) making his way into the score's column. Perkins would pick-up the hat trick at the 10:19 mark propelling HC to the 7-4 advantage.
 
The Foresters refused to stop hunting as they cut the difference to one goal when Parker turned in a hat trick, 8-6.
 
Hanover rallied behind him with freshman Owen Cuniffe (ndianapolis, Ind.) adding another Panther goal giving HC the 10-6 advantage. However, Lake Forest came forging back netting the final five goals to claim the come from behind victory.
 
Hanover returns to action on Monday, March 14 when they welcome Wilmington. Game time is set for 3:30 PM.