Maurer's penalty kick lifts Yellow Jackets to victory over Hanover for first conference win

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Joshua Maurer converted his second penalty kick in as many attempts this season with just over three minutes remaining to give the Yellow Jackets their first conference win, a 3-2 triumph over Hanover at Justin F. Coressel Stadium Saturday afternoon. 

Defiance improves to 4-4-3 overall and 1-0-1 in the HCAC and the Panthers are now 4-6-0 and 1-1-0 in conference play. 

The scoring barrage started early in this one as Riley Hensley scored his ninth goal of the season to give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute. Six minutes later, the Yellow Jackets found the net again. On a free kick, Riley Hensley hit the ball into the box and found Jack Stanoikovich headed the ball into the upper left corner of the net to double Defiance's lead.

The Panthers broke through for the first time in the 29th minute. Orry Killam saved a shot from Charlie Hubert but couldn't gain control of the ball and John Azzara was there for the rebound. With 49 seconds left in the first half, Hanover was awarded a penalty kick and Orry Killam came up with the huge save. 

The second half had no shortage of action as well. Hanover came out of the half firing and found the equalizer in the 59th minute on the goal by Patricio Campos. The first 31 minutes of the second half featured some sort of offensive input from the Panthers. 

In the 83rd minute, Orry Killam saved his second penalty kick of the game as Omar Dizdar was denied. This turned out to be a huge play because in the 87th minute, the Yellow Jackets were given a penalty kick and Joshua Maurer converted it which ended up being the game-winning goal.

The second half was very physical and featured 10 yellow cards, all coming in the final 22 minutes and 13 cards overall were given with the first three coming in the first half. 

Hensley, Maurer, and Noah Svanberg each recorded three shot attempts in the game and Orry Killam made 10 saves. 

The Yellow Jackets next play at Earlham on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.