(RV) Hanover Seizes Second-Half Rally, Tops Anderson

On Saturday, the Anderson University women's soccer team entered the game in a three-way tie for first place with Hanover College and Mount St. Joseph University in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference standing. Saturday's game saw the Ravens take on the Panthers of Hanover College, who are receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches (USC) NCAA D-III national poll and are ranked No. 3 in the latest USC NCAA D-III Region VII Poll, in an important battle. The game, which saw the Ravens take the lead two separate times, ultimately saw the Panthers pull away with a 4-2 victory.

Although Hanover (12-0-3, 7-0-1) started the game with the offensive pressure, Anderson (6-1-1) wasted no time getting on the board. It would be Taylor Fort (Pendleton, Ind. / Pendleton Heights) putting the Ravens on the board just four minutes after the opening whistle. After a pack of Panthers stopped an offensive Raven attack at the edge of the 18-yard box, they would clear the ball into open space. Taylor Fort would be the only player around on either team to retrieve the ball. Fort would take one touch to settle the ball before hitting a strike from around 30 yards out. The ball would go on to bounce just in front of the diving Panthers goalkeeper and go over her hands and into the goal giving the Ravens a 1-0 lead to start the game.

A Panther offensive attack ensued as the Panthers fired seven shots between the 8^th and 20^th minute, not allowing the Ravens to get any shots until the 23^rd minute. Emmalee Paarlberg (Franklin, Ohio / Homeschool) made three important saves to keep the Ravens ahead during this time.

Both teams would continue to take shots before the half ended, but nothing would come out of them. Heading into halftime the Ravens led the Panthers with a 1-0 lead. During the first 45 minutes, the Panthers outshot the Ravens 11-4. Emmalee Paarlberg made five saves in goal versus the Panthers one save.

Anderson would start off the second half taking two shots compared to the Panthers one within the first 10 minutes. Hanover would then get on the board with their first goal in the 56^th minute by Autumn Boothby.

The Ravens quickly responded to take back their lead just two minutes later in the 58^th minute. Harper Manion (Lebanon, Ohio / Lebanon) assisted the goal after stealing the ball from the Panthers defense just to the right of the 18-yard box. Manion then sent a fast-paced ball across the box and backwards to the top of the 18 where Lauren Brown (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) struck a chipping ball over the goalkeeper and into the crossbar where the ball went straight down and across the line into the net.

The 2-1 lead would last for seven minutes until the Panthers once again tied the game. Kelsey Hughes scored the tying goal off a Beth Cook assist on the Panthers' first shot after the Ravens last goal. In the 64^th minute of the game, the Ravens and Panthers would be tied 2-2.

An offensive push then came from the Panthers as they didn't allow Anderson any more shots for the remainder of the game.

Hanover would get their third goal of the game in the 74rd minute from Bri Matis as they took a 3-2 lead over the Ravens.

Then, in the 81^st minute, the final goal of the match came as Maggie Day assisted Josie Dattilo to make it a 4-2 match in favor of the Panthers.

One more shot would be taken by the Panthers before the final whistle blew as the Ravens fell 4-2 to the competitive Hanover Panthers.

After putting up a hard-fought battle, the Ravens recorded seven shots on the day with three on goal compared to the Panthers' 26 shots with 14 on goal. Taylor Fort and Lauren Brown put their only shots on frame and into the goal. Isabella Trader (Eaton, Ohio / Eaton) hit her one shot on frame. Rounding out the rest of the Ravens shots were Jessica Pulaski (Centerville, Ohio / Centerville), Lillie Casey (Loveland, Ohio / Goshen), and Anhely Montes (Portland, Ind. / Jay County), all who took one shot each. Emmalee Paarlberg made 10 saves in goal for the Ravens.

Head Coach Jennifer Myhre had the following to say after the match: "We came [into Saturday] with the mindset and energy to compete and I was pleased with how we battled. The start was one of our strongest and before the game we talked about being ready from the whistle and making your chances count. Fort had an awesome strike to put us up early and played really well across the field. Hanover is a dynamic and deep team and [we] knew we had to close down and contain. Unfortunately, they were able to capitalize on their chances in the second half, but I was proud of how we responded and it was a great play by Harper to Lauren to tie it back up. Hanover hasn't given up 2 goals since opening weekend and only given up 1 goal since then, so this game shows us we can compete with the best of them. There's still a lot to play for to close out conference play and have another key game against Rose on Wednesday."

Anderson now turns its focus towards the final game of the conference season before tournament time. The Ravens are set to host on Wednesday as they take on the Fightin' Engineers of Rose-Hulman (10-2-2, 6-1-1). Anderson and Rose-Hulman now sit in a tie for third place with 6-1-1 records behind Mount St. Joseph University (10-7-1, 7-0-1) and Hanover College who are tied in first place with 7-0-1 records. Kickoff for Wednesday's match is set for 3:30PM at Fridley Field for AU Appreciation Day. Hanover and Mount St. Joseph clash for the HCAC regular-season title on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in Hanover.