Hanover, IN - The women's soccer team hosted the Cardinals from Otterbein University (Westerville, OH), the Panthers fourth game of the 2025 campaign, the Cardinals third; HC entered the match 1-2 and OU came in at 1-1.

In the first half the Panthers dominated time of possession, but Otterbein found ways to make their opportunities count and matched the Panthers in first-half shots with six a piece. Hanover landed three of their six shots on frame to OU's two, and played a much cleaner first half accumulating zero penalties despite being fouled twice.

Senior goalkeeper Emma Patterson came out of the first with two saves, and the Panthers felt composed heading into the second half tied at nil/nil.

Coming out of the break, HC wasted no time getting back on the prowl and pressing into the attacking third. Senior midfielder Morgan Castiglione broke open the scoring with an unassisted goal in forty-ninth minute of action, putting the Panthers up 1-0. Just shy of fifteen minutes later, the Otterbein defense made a great defensive effort near their goal to disrupt the Panthers attack, but an unfortunate miscommunication lead to an own-goal on a pass between the Cardinals defensive back and their keeper.

Hanover now leading 2-0 and feeling good about the momentum of the game kept their energy high and pressed hard on the attack, again, right away. Junior midfielder Kaleigh Schirmer maneuvered her way through the defense and found an open teammate in sophomore forward Sydney Elliot for her second goal of the year in the sixty-fourth minute of the contest.

The Panthers had a brief lapse in defensive poise, allowing a goal in the sixty-fifth minute immediately after going up 3-0, and now lead 3-1. HC went on to close out the game at 3-1 and lead the Cardinals in shots taken thirteen to ten, as well as shots on frame at seven to four.

HC (2-2-0) takes the field at home again this Sunday, September 14th, hosting the Capital University Comets (2-1-1) in a 1:30PM (EST) match-up.