Box Score Hanover, IN - The Panthers hosted the Wilmington College Fightin' Quakers in a beautiful Sunday afternoon non-conference match-up. Hanover entered today's contest coming off a loss in their season and home-opener on Friday despite putting six of their eleven shots on frame. The Quakers were also coming off a loss in their season opener, setting the stage for a competitive game two.

From the opening whistle Hanover pressed early, keeping the ball well over the midfield line and into the Wilmington defensive zone. HC was awarded a corner kick nearing the three-minute mark and that was all the Panthers needed to make some magic happen early. After a short scrum, sophomore midfielder Izzy Phillips was able to settle the ball with a touch, and beat the keeper to the far left pipe putting Hanover up 1-0 inside the first four minutes.

Wilmington responded with some strong offensive pressure of their own, generating a couple run-out chances but the Panthers ultimately held their defensive poise. The next twelve-minutes consisted of a lot of possession changes in-between the boxes as both sides fought to create any sort of breakaway opportunity. Wilmington was able to win the midfield possession battle and move the ball down within twenty yards of HC's goalmouth, and once again the Panthers held their own and maintained their 1-0 lead through the first twenty-five minutes.

In the final eight minutes of the first half, Hanover was able to shift their way down the field and put together an offensive press that lasted several minutes. The Panthers ate two fouls near the Quaker goal box, resulting in two free-kicks from both alleys in the Quaker defensive zone, both of which nearly ended in goals. Hanover embraced their momentum and came away with another possession out of the ball scrum, and sophomore forward Sydney Elliott found a shooting lane and buried one in the back of the net to put HC up 2-0 just before half-time.

Coming out of the break, Hanover picked up right where they left off, pressuring the Quakers defense early and often. The Panthers clearly felt in control of the game as they played much calmer than Wilmington - Hanover moved slower and more intentionally whereas the Quakers were flying around very one dimensionally, focused only on trying to score.

HC held possession well through the opening seven-minutes of the second half, and junior midfielder Kaleigh Schirmer was able to spin through two defenders while keeping the ball at her feet, and placed one in the upper right corner to beat the keeper. The Panthers took an aggressive 3-0 lead behind Schirmer's goal. Tensions began to rise as the Quakers began playing with more physicality, and the Panthers responded accordingly with another goal by sophomore midfielder Ginny Young, assisted by Kaleigh Schirmer.

A few minutes later, a collision between the Quakers goalkeeper and Hanover's sophomore forward Sydney Elliot lead to a penalty kick for the Panthers and junior midfielder Cam Horsley made sure to make her shot count, making it 5-0 with a decisive kick to the bottom left of the net.

The level of frustration was visibly rising in the opponent as bodies started colliding more and more, but to no benefit, as Hanover kept the ball on their offensive side of the midfield line.

Nearing the final ten minutes of action, the Panthers continued to match their opponents frustration and aggression with poise and offensive pressure. Shortly after the ten minute mark passed, senior midfielder Grace Caroline Linam was able to add to the lead, becoming the sixth goal scorer of the day for the Panthers.

Hanover went on to take a decisive 6-0 win, moving to 1-1-0 on the year. The ladies will return to action next Saturday, September 6th, at Spalding University in Louisville (KY).

Statistical Standouts for the Panthers from today's contest include:
#10 Kaleigh Schirmer, MF | 64 mins | 1 G |1 Ast
#1 Emma Patterson, GK | 75 mins | 3 SV
#24 Grace Caroline Linam, MF | 2 Sh | 2 SOG | 1 G