Box Score RICHMOND, Ind. — A breakaway goal in the first half proved to be all the Earlham College women's soccer team would need on Wednesday as the Quakers beat regionally-ranked Hanover College.

With the 1-0 win over the Panthers on Matlack Field, the Quakers grabbed sole possession of first place in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

"The players were really united," Earlham Head Coach Shane Meridith said. "It was a great team effort and we did the little things right."

Earlham is 7-4-1 overall, but in the HCAC, the Quakers are the only squad without a loss at 3-0-1.

Hanover (10-3, 3-1) is ranked No. 4 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America Great Lakes Regional poll.

After receiving a pass on a header from Joy Doucette (Berwyn Heights, MD, Eleanor Roosevelt), Ryder Comstock (Yellow Springs, OH, Yellow Springs) found the back of the net at the 12:15 mark to give the Quakers an early 1-0 lead.

From that point, the Quakers were able to hold off the highest scoring team in the HCAC for the victory.

Comstock is tied for the lead in the conference with seven goals, while Doucette is tied for first in assists with five. Doucette, who has six goals, is on top in the league with 17 points.

The Quakers held a 9-8 edge in shots, while the Panthers led 6-2 in corner kicks.

Earlham goalkeeper Ashley (A.J.) Johnson (Columbus, OH, Ohio Virtual Academy) had four saves for the Quakers as she posted her third shutout of the season.

Next up for the Quakers is a home contest against Anderson University on Saturday. The HCAC match gets underway at 1 p.m.

Box Score