Men's Soccer
Panthers earn HCAC academic honors
Ten Hanover College student-athletes have earned academic honors from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The league announced its fall academic all-conference selections from each of its nine schools.
Hanover's fall academic honorees include junior football player Joe Vormohr (Portland, Ind.), senior cross country runners Jeremy Brownlee (Franklin, Ind) and Geoff Darmstaedter (Des Peres, Mo.), sophomore cross country runners Whitney Helton (Winslow, Ind) and Shawna McLetchie (Lexington, Ky.), sophomore soccer players Abby Simpson (Lexington, Ky.), Brandon Bottorff (Jeffersonville, Ind.) and J.P. Presley (Sunman, Ind.), and sophomore volleyball players Natalie Fansher (Noblesville, Ind.) and Megan Oilar (Noblesville, Ind.).
To qualify, the scholars must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and be a varsity athlete. The cumulative grade-point average is the student-athlete's level at the end of the semester preceding the close of the fall season. Scholars also must complete the equivalent of a full academic year and be enrolled on a full-time basis at the institution to be eligible for the academic honor.
Soccer trio earns spots on all-HCAC squad
Ben Spain (Richmond, Ky.), Michael Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) and Andrew Illnick (Louisville, Ky.) have each earned a spot on the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's men's soccer all-league team.
Spain, a senior defender, was a first-team selection. Hansford, a junior goalkeeper, and Illnick, a junior midfielder, were each second-team honorees.
Spain earned first-team recognition for the third time in his career. He anchored Hanover's defense, which allowed 1.80 goals per outing.
Hansford, who has earned all-HCAC honors in each of his three collegiate seasons, posted five shutouts in 19 matches for the Panthers. He totaled 82 saves, allowed 34 goals - just 1.78 goals per match.
Illnick was a first-time all-league choice for the Panthers. He scored three goals and had one assist during the campaign. He ranked second on the squad with 34 shots, including 14 shots on goal.
Hanover finished fourth in the Heartland Conference standings with a 5-3 record. The Panthers, led by head coach Craig Jones, posted a 6-12-1 overall mark.
2008 All-Heartland Conference Honorees
Season ends with 2OT loss in semifinals
Hanover College's men's soccer team capped its season with a 1-0 double overtime loss to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the semifinals of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. The match was played Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Terre Haute, Ind.
Sophomore forward Mitch Buffington scored on a penalty kick with just 10 seconds left in the second overtime to nudge Rose-Hulman into the HCAC's championship match.
The top-seeded Engineers, now 13-4-3 overall, will square off against Transylvania University (Ky.) in league the championship Saturday, Nov. 8. Transylvania (11-5-1), the No. 2 seed, advanced to the Heartland Conference finale with a 1-0 victory against Manchester College.
Rose-Hulman outshot Hanover 25-8, including a 12-3 advantage in a scoreless first period. Junior goalkeeper Michael Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) turned away 10 shots in the match for the Panthers, including four in the two overtime periods.
The Engineers had 10 corner kicks. Hanover had just one in the tilt, which included 30 combined fouls.
Hanover ends its season with a 6-12-1 record. The Panthers, under head coach Craig Jones, placed fourth in the HCAC with a 5-3 mark.
HCAC victory lands Hanover tourney spot
Hanover College's men's soccer team locked up a spot in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's post-season tournament with a 2-0 victory against Anderson University. The contest was held Saturday, Nov. 1, in Anderson, Ind.
Senior defender Jordan Carroll (New Albany, Ind.) scored one goal and assisted on another to spark the Panthers (6-11-1; 5-3 HCAC), which will be the No. 4 seed in the league tourney.
Senior defender Kyle Laker (Batesville, Ind.) put Hanover on the scoreboard in ninth minute with a blast into the net near the far post. Carroll assisted on the goal, Laker's team-leading fourth of the season.
Carroll hit the back of the net in the 74th minute on a penalty kick for the final margin. The tally was Carroll's third of the season.
Anderson (8-10-1; 4-3-1 HCAC) outshot Hanover by an 11-9 margin.The Ravens had seven corner kicks to just one for the Panthers.
Transy rebounds for key HCAC triumph
Transylvania University (Ky.) posted a 3-1 victory against Hanover College's men's soccer squad in a key Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tilt for the Panthers. The match was played Wednesday, Oct. 29, in Lexington, Ky.
Transylvania (10-4-1; 6-1 HCAC) rallied from an early one-goal deficit to notch the win, which pushed Hanover into fifth place in the league standings. The Panthers, pining for a spot in the league's four-team postseason tournament, must defeat Anderson University in the regular-season finale Nov. 1 to grab the final tourney slot.
Sophomore midfielder Josh Ussiri (Columbus, Ohio) gave Hanover an early lead with a goal just 69 seconds into the contest. Senior defender Kyle Laker (Batesville, Ind.) assisted on the goal, which marked Ussiri's third in his last four contests.
Transylvania's Stu Hampson tied the match at 1-1 in the 10th minute with his fifth goal of the season. Just five minutes later, the Pioneers' Tony Spero scored the game-winner on a header off a corner kick from Ryan Wood.
Transylvania added an insurance goal in the 86th minute. Corey Dillow scored off an assist from Hampson for the final margin.
Hanover (5-11-1; 4-3 HCAC) was outshot, 14-5, by the Pioneers. The teams evenly split 10 corner kicks.
Hanover vs. Transylvania (Ky.) stats
Hanover edges Bluffton in Senior Day tilt
Hanover College's men's soccer team raised its Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference record to 4-2 with a 2-1 win against Bluffton University (Ohio), Saturday, Oct. 25, at L.S. Ayres Field.
Senior defender Kyle Laker (Batesville, Ind.) scored one goal and assisted on another to spur Hanover to its fourth win in its last five outings. The victory put the Panthers in contention for a spot in the HCAC's four-team postseason tourney and pushed the squad's record to 5-10-1 overall.
Bluffton, meanwhile, dipped to 7-8-1 overall and 3-4 in the conference.
Laker netted the game-winner in the 84th minute. He powered a ground-level shot by the Bluffton goalie from 10 yards out. Senior midfielder Shane Henshaw (Shelbyville, Ky.) assisted on the goal, which marked Laker's third of the season.
The Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. Junior midfielder Andrew Illnick (Louisville, Ky.) chipped in a shot from just inside the box off a pass from Laker. The goal was Illnick's third of the season.
Bluffton tied the match at 1-1 in the 53rd minute. The Beavers' Nick Flath drilled a direct kick from 20 yards out for the score.
Hanover outshot Bluffton, 17-8, including seven shots on goal. The Panthers earned 13 corners to just three for the Beavers.
Hanover vs. Bluffton (Ohio) stats
Panthers fall to Oakland City in turf debut
The Hanover College men's soccer squad was defeated by Oakland City University, 3-2, in a battle Wednesday, Oct. 22, at L.S. Ayres Field. The contest marked the Panthers' first on the stadium's artificial turf.
Oakland City's Alec Robinson scored twice and the Mighty Oaks' Adem Ali added another goal to fuel the victory.
Robinson scored in the 32nd minute off a corner kick from Callum Grindlay to get Oakland City on the scoreboard. Ali hit the back of the net just two minutes later to give the Oaks a 2-0 advantage.
Hanover, which outshot Oakland City by a 19-13 margin, jumped on the scoreboard early in the second half. Sophomore midfielder Josh Ussiri (Columbus, Ohio) scored in the 56th minute off an assist from senior midfielder Jason Darling (Lexington, Ky.).
The goal was Ussiri's second in his last two outings.
Robinson, however, answered for the Mighty Oaks 30 seconds later. He drilled a header off a pass from Grindlay to give Oakland City a 3-1 lead in the 57th minute.
Hanover senior Kyle Laker (Batesville, Ind.) capped the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 86th minute. The tally marked Laker's second of the season for the Panthers (4-10-1).
Hanover vs. Oakland City stats
Hanover blanks Berea behind Darling's goals
Senior midfielder Jason Darling (Lexington, Ky.) scored two goals and senior forward Tyler Smith (North Vernon, Ind.) added two assists to help propel Hanover College's men's soccer team to a 4-0 victory against Berea College (Ky.). The match was held Saturday, Oct. 18, in Berea, Ky.
Darling scored twice to give Hanover a 2-0 first-half cushion. He netted the Panther's first goal in the fifth minute off an assist from senior midfielder Ben Spain (Richmond, Ky.). Darling scored early in the 29th minute off an assist from senior midfielder Shane Henshaw (Shelbyville, Ky.).
Sophomore midfielder Josh Ussiri (Columbus, Ohio) pushed Hanover's lead to 3-0 with a goal in the 53rd minute. Smith assisted on the tally, which marked Ussiri's first of the season.
Smith, who leads the Panthers with four assists, fed senior forward Seyram Kekessie (Accra, Ghana) just three minutes later for the final goal of the match.
Hanover, now 4-9-1 overall, outshot Berea by a 22-11 margin. Junior goalie Michael Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) had three saves for the Panthers.
Hanover trips Franklin in HCAC contest
Hanover College's men's soccer team raised its record to 3-2 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with a 1-0 victory against Franklin College. The match was played Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex.
Freshman forward Jake Stawick (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored the game-winning goal in the 77th minute. Junior midfielder Andrew Illnick (Louisville, Ky.) assisted on the tally. Following a Franklin yellow card for roughness, Illnick lofted a direct kick in front of the net, which Stawick deflected into the goal for his team-leading fourth tally of the season.
Junior goaltender Mike Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) had six saves for Hanover, including five in the second period. Hansford made a diving deflection on a ground-level blast to the left post to secure the triumph with just 31 seconds left in the contest.
Hanover, now 3-9-1 overall, outshot Franklin (3-11; 1-3 HCAC) by a 17-10 margin. Illnick led the Panthers' attack with four attempts at the net.
Seniors lead Panthers to HCAC victory
Seniors Jordan Carroll (New Albany, Ind.) and Tyler Smith (North Vernon, Ind.) each had a goal and an assist to help propel Hanover College's men's soccer team to a 4-0 victory against Defiance College (Ohio). The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference battle was played Saturday, Oct. 11, as part of Hanover's Homecoming festivities.
Hanover jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first six minutes of play. Carroll, a defender, scored an unassisted goal from 30 yards out to get the Panthers on the scoreboard in the third minute. The goal was his second of the season.
Freshman forward Jake Stawick (Indianapolis, Ind.) converted a header just three minutes later to give Hanover an early two-goal cushion. Smith assisted on the goal, which was Stawick's team-leading third of the campaign.
Hanover, which outshot Defiance by a 22-3 margin, pushed the advantage to 3-0 in the 39th minute on an unassisted goal by senior midfielder Jason Darling (Lexington, Ky.). The tally was Darling's first of the season.
The Panthers (2-9-1; 2-2 HCAC) capped the match's scoring in the 59th minute. Smith punched in a header off a corner kick by Carroll for his second goal of the year.
Defiance dipped to 0-12 overall and 0-3 in the HCAC with the loss.
Hanover vs. Defiance (Ohio) stats
Defense earns double-overtime shutout
Hanover College's men's soccer team held Urbana University (Ohio) scoreless for 110 minutes in a 0-0 double-overtime tie with the Blue Knights. The non-conference match was played Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex.
Urbana (3-8-1) outshot Hanover 19-10 in the contest. Junior goaltender Mike Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) collected eight saves for Hanover. Hansford had five saves in the first period when the Blue Knights outshot the Panthers by a 13-4 margin.
Hanover's defense limited Urbana to six shots in the final 65 minutes, including just one attempt at the net in the extra 20 minutes of action.
Freshman forward Jake Stawick (Indianapolis, Ind.) had four shots to lead the Panthers' offensive attack. Senior forward Tyler Smith (North Vernon, Ind.) attempted two shots in the second overtime, including a potential game-winner from 30 yards out that sailed just over the crossbar in the 110th minute.
Hanover vs. Urbana (Ohio) stats
Another one-goal loss stings Panthers
The Hanover College men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to Manchester College in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest, Saturday, Oct. 4, in North Manchester, Ind.
Corey Brueggerman converted a header off a corner kick in the 33rd minute to lift Manchester to its third win of the season (3-8-2; 1-1 HCAC). The Spartans' Ben Cole assisted on the tally.
The setback marked Hanover's fifth one-goal loss of the season. The Panthers fell to 1-9 overall and 1-2 in the Heartland Conference.
Junior goalie Mike Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) had a season-high seven saves for Hanover. Both teams totaled eight shots and had two corner kicks in the contest.
Senior defender Ben Spain (Richmond, Ky.) and freshman forward Jake Stawick (Indianapolis, Ind.) attempted three shots apiece for the Panthers.
Stawick header gives Panthers first win 
Hanover College's men's soccer squad picked up its first victory of the season with a 1-0 triumph against the College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio). The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tilt was played Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex.
Freshman forward Jake Stawick (Indianapolis, Ind.) netted Hanover's game-winner in the 35th minute. Stawick lofted a header from the left side of the box into the net.
Senior midfielder Shane Henshaw (Shelbyville, Ky.) assisted on the tally, which was Stawick's second of the season.
Hanover, now 1-8 overall and 1-1 in the HCAC, outshot Mount St. Joseph by an 18-6 margin, including nine shots on goal. The Panthers had a 9-0 advantage in shots during the first period.
With the setback, Mount St. Joseph dipped to 1-8-1 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
Hanover vs. Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) stats
Late goal edges Panthers in Heartland opener
The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Clint Vatterrodt scored in the 75th minute to lift the Engineers to a 1-0 victory against Hanover College's men's soccer squad. The match, which kicked off the Panthers' Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference slate, was played Sunday Sept. 28, in Terre Haute, Ind.
Hanover and Rose-Hulman had 12 shots apiece, though the Engineers (6-3; 2-0 HCAC) had seven shots on goal to just three for the Panthers. Junior midfielder Andrew Illnick (Louisville, Ky.), who had scored in the Panthers' last two matches, had two of the squad's attempts at the net.
Junior goaltender Mike Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) had six saves in 90 minutes in the goal for Hanover, which fell to 0-8 overall and 0-1 in the league.
Nationally-ranked Centre drops Panthers
Centre College (Ky.) earned a 5-1 victory against Hanover College's men's soccer squad Wednesday, Sept. 24, in Danville, Ky.
Centre, ranked 24th in the country, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and built a 4-0 cushion before Hanover ended the shutout bid in the final 10 minutes. The Colonels (8-2) outshot the Panthers 19-4.
Hanover's Andrew Illnick (Louisville, Ky.), a junior midfielder, scored in the 80th minute to get the Panthers on the scoreboard. The outing marked Illnick's second consecutive match with a goal.
Chris Baumann scored twice to lead Centre's attack. Baumann scored the Colonels' first goal with an unassisted tally in the 20th minute. He also netted the match's final point with a goal off an assist by Alex Wegener in the 86th minute.
Junior goalie Mike Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) posted four saves in 78 minutes in goal for Hanover, now 0-7 on the season.
Hanover vs. Centre (Ky.) stats
Late goal keeps Hanover winless
Spalding University (Ky.) forward Chris Kittleson scored in the 89th minute to lift the Golden Eagles to a 4-3 victory against Hanover College's men's soccer team, Monday, Sept. 22, at the L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex.
Hanover, now 0-6 on the season, battled from a 3-1 deficit to knot the contest at 3-3 in the closing minutes. The Panthers outshot Spalding by a 21-10 margin, including a 13-5 advantage in the second period.
Junior midfielder Andrew Illnick (Louisville, Ky.) squeezed a ball into the back of the net from just outside the box to pull Hanover within 3-2 in the 71st minute. Senior defender Jordan Carroll (New Albany, Ind.) tied the match in the 77th minute on a free kick from 25 yards out.
Kittleson, who tallied three of Spalding's four goals, netted the game-winner from just inside the box following a pass from junior Jasmin Lizdo. Lizdo also added a goal in the 44th minute to give the Golden Eagles (4-3) a 2-1 advantage.
Freshman forward Jake Stawick (Indianapolis, Ind.) tied the contest at 1-1 with an unassisted goal in the 27th minute. The tally was the first of Stawick's collegiate career.
Hanover vs. Spalding (Ky.) stats
Panthers drop one-goal decision to Earlham
The Hanover College men's soccer team fell, 1-0, to Earlham College, Saturday, Sept. 13, at the L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex.
The Quakers' Victor Anciano scored in the 64th minute to push Earlham to its fifth victory of the season (5-1). Bannet Asingura assisted on the game-winner.
Hanover outshot the Quakers by an 11-6 margin, including seven shots on goal, but could not bury a shot into the back of the net. Senior defenders Jordan Carroll (New Albany, Ind.) and Andrew Westendorf (Cincinnati, Ohio) combined for five shots on goal to lead the Panthers' attack.
Hanover, now 0-5 on the season, earned a 13-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Junior goaltender Mike Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) turned away one shot through 90 minutes in Hanover's net.
Hanover drops two matches at Trine Invitational
Hanover College's men's soccer team suffered setbacks in two matches played during the Ralph Ketner Classic at Trine University. The event was held Sept 6-7 in Angola, Ind.
Wittenberg University (Ohio) handed Hanover a 4-1 loss in the opener. Elmhurst College (Ill.) blanked the Panthers, 4-0, in the squad's second outing.
Wittenberg's Matt Borland scored three goals in the Tigers' 4-1 win against Hanover. Borland found the back of the net twice in the opening five minutes. Shane Price scored in the 10th minute to give Wittenberg an early 3-0 cushion.
Hanover senior defender Kyle Laker (Oldenburg, Ind.) spoiled the shutout with an unassisted goal in the 71st minute. The tally was Laker's first of the season.
Borland completed his hat trick with an unassisted goal in the 86th minute.
In Hanover's second match, Elmhurst outshot the Panthers 14-4 and had a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks in the Blue Jays' 4-0 triumph.
After a scoreless first period, Elmhurst outshot Hanover 9-1 and scored all four goals in the second half.
Matt Steiner had two goals for the Blue Jays. He opened Elmhurst's scoring with an unassisted goal in the 49th minute and capped it with a tally off an assist from Cary Kendzior in the 83rd minute.
Junior goalie Mike Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) had five saves for Hanover, which dipped to 0-4 overall on the season with the losses.
Hanover vs. Wittenberg (Ohio) stats
Hanover vs. Elmhurst (Ill.) stats
Thomas More shuts out Panthers 5-0
Thomas More College (Ky.) belted Hanover College's men's soccer team, 5-0, Sunday, August 31, in Crestview Hills, Ky. The outing was the first played on the Saints's artificially-surfaced Bank of Kentucky Field.
Thomas More's Joey Tensing and David Mengel combined for the three goals and three assists in the contest. Tensing tallied two goals and an assist. Mengel had one goal and assisted on each of Tensing's goals for the Saints (1-0).
Aaron Osborne scored in the 26th minute to give Thomas More a 1-0 lead. Tensing scored two goals off rebounds in the box. One came in the 29th minute and his second in the 34th minute.
Mengel hit the back of the net from 30 yards out in the 51st minute to give the Saints a 4-0 lead. Adam Saunders capped the scoring in the 67th minute with a tally off a cross from Mark Uhl.
Junior goalie Mike Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) allowed five goals and notched one save in 75 minutes in the Hanover net. Freshman Shaun Koesters (Indianapolis, Ind.) had two saves in the final 15 minutes.
Hanover was outshot by just a 16-14 margin. Senior forward Tyler Smith (North Vernon, Ind.) and senior defender Jordan Carroll (New Albany, Ind.) had four shots apiece for the Panthers (0-2).
Hanover vs. Thomas More (Ky.) stats
Hanover opens 2008 soccer slate with loss 
Hanover College's men's soccer team kicked off its 2008 campaign with a 2-1 loss to Asbury College (Ky.). The outing was played Friday, August 29, at the L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex.
Senior forward Tyler Smith (North Vernon, Ind.) gave the Panthers an early lead with a goal off a rebound in the box in the 18th minute of action. The tally was the first of Smith's Hanover career.
Asbury (1-0) countered with Harrison Creech's goal on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute. The Eagle's Alasdair Wooffitt netted the eventual game winner on a breakway in the 40th minute.
Hanover, 0-1 on the season, outshot Asbury by a 17-11 margin and had eight corner kicks compared to just two for the Eagles.
Junior goalkeeper Mike Hansford (Liberty Township, Ohio) had four saves in 90 minutes in the Panthers' net.
Hanover vs. Asbury (Ky.) stats
