Cincinnati, OH - The Panthers played in the semi-final round of the HCAC tournament this evening at Mt St Joseph University, and advanced past the Lions after a double-OT stand-off, in a shoot-out showdown that went all ten.

Through regulation, Hanover was outpaced through most statistical categories, particularly corner attmepts having not taken any all night long, and MSJ saw eight in regulation. HC did however strike first on the scoreboard in the sixty-fourth minute behind an unassisted goal from freshman defender Anna Black.

MSJ responded nearly ten minutes later, tying the game up and preserved the stalemate through the end of the second-half. Hanover couldn't generate any shots through two overtime periods, but maintained their defensive posture lead by senior goalkeeper Emma Patterson and got the team to penalty kicks.

The senior goalkeeper was the catalyst of tonight's performance, tallying four first-half saves, three in the second, and one in the second over time period for a total of eight saves in the game. Once the game went to PKs, Patterson came up huge with the game-winning save on the fifth (of five) attempt by MSJ, after MSJ had previously matched HC's first four PKs goal for goal.

The Panthers needed all five of their penalty goals to defeat the lions, and their line-up delivered with a variety of different finishes, burying all five PKs. Senior midfielder Morgan Castiglione lead off the shootout, putting the pressure on MSJ right away. Following Morgan was junior midfielder Cam Horsley, junior midfielder Kaleigh Schirmer, and sophomore midfielder Maddi Mosby - all three beat the keeper, same side.

MSJ remained unrelenting and matched each of the four goals, setting the stage for sophomore Izzy Phillips, the anchor of the Panthers five shooter line-up. Philips put her's home, Patterson came up huge, and the rest is now history.

Hanover has now advanced to the HCAC finals, to be hosted at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology this Saturday November 8th. Stay tuned to the Hanover Athletics and HCAC websites and social media pages as the time is still TBD.