Hanover, IN (Alumni Stadium) - The Hanover College Panthers competed in the semi-final round of the HCLC tournament yesterday, at home, against the Quakers from Earlham College. HC and the Quakers just met for a regular season match-up last Saturday, so both sides were familiar with eachothers game plan heading into the contest.

The Panthers opened the game by scoring the first eleven goals, unanswered by the Quakers, through the first three quarters of action. Earlham was able to get on the board just as the third quarter was ending, but it would prove to be too little too late. Hanover went into the fourth quarter leading 11-1, and coasted to an 18-2 victory through the final quarter.

Senior and 2025 first-team All-HCLC goalkeeper Lance Guttormson started the game in net for the Panthers and lead them to their 11-0 shutout through forty-minutes of action. Senior defender and 2025 HCLC defensive player of the year Scott Dues lead the close defensive unit in caused-turnovers (7) and ground-balls (3).

Of Hanover's eighteen goals, fourteen of them were assisted. Senior midfielder Owen Parker opened up the scoring for the Panthers scoring the first two goals of the game, the first of which was assisted by junior attackman Ethan Abdoo. Senior attackman Alex Kleinhelter then had his hand in the next three points on the board, scoring off an assist from seniro defenseman Scott Dues, and tallying two assists to his fellow (junior) attackmen Colin O'Brien and Ethan Abdoo.

Freshman midfielder Kasey Hospelhorn was the next man to create some offense for the Panthers, finding junior attackman Colin O'Brien backside for a quick assist-to-goal. Then, to close the first half and open the second senior attackman Alex Kleinhelter would score two straight goals coming off assists from Ethan Abdoo and Owen Parker. A few possessions later HC would find themselves with a man-up opportunity, and were able to convert on a goal by senior midfielder Owen Cuniffe, assisted by freshman midfielder Kasey Hospelhorn. The very next possession would see another Kasey Hospelhorn assist, this time to junior attackman Ethan Abdoo to put the Panthers up 10-0.

After another six minutes of action, HC had earned another man-up opportunity and cashed in once again thanks to an assist-to-goal combo from junior and senior attackmen Ethan Abdoo and Alex Kleinhelter. Earlham found the first goal with six seconds left in the third, trailing 11-1 heading into the fourth.

The Panthers were able to net seven more goals in the fourth to put a stamp on their HCLC semi-finals victory. Fourth quarter goal scorers included freshman midfielder Kasey Hospelhorn, freshman attackman Dean Henderson, sophomore midfielder Gabe Hetrick, senior midfielder Owen Parker, senior defenseman Scott Dues, and senior attackman Alex Kleinhelter. Four assists came in the final quarter, two from senior midfielder Owen Cuniffe and one a piece from Scott Dues and Dean Henderson.

Hanover won in dominant fashion, 18-2. HC will take on Transylvania University on Saturday, in Lexington, KY. Time is still TBD (stay tuned to the website and socialmedia pages for updates).