ATLANTA, Ga. --- University of Lynchburg's men's soccer team defended the frenzy with everything it had.

But the rebound went right to Fernando Martin.

Hanover College's senior one-timed a perfectly placed shot to the lower left corner, sneaking it past diving goalkeeper Justin Ennis to give the Panthers the golden goal and a 2-1 victory over Lynchburg Saturday evening in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament at Emory University.

The Lynchburg defense was stalwart all match, holding off Panther attack after attack and setting up possession of its own. But Hanover kept coming.

The Hornets kept HC off the board in the first half -- Ennis stopping both shots on goal in the first 45 minutes -- despite being out-shot by a 5-2 margin.

Hanover stopped Lynchburg's opportunities in the opening stanza as well. The Hornets nearly broke through in the 23rd minute after earning a penalty corner. Kenny Robles' perfect service went to Bhayle Kearns at the far post, and the fifth-year headed it strongly toward goal. But HC keeper Luciano Salemi secured the ball just before it completely crossed the line, and the teams finished the first half scoreless.

Lynchburg took control in the early minutes of the second half and finally earned a free kick in dangerous territory in the 57th minute. Robles again delivered a perfect ball into the box in midair, and this time the Hornets converted. Griffin Phillips sailed above the competition and headed the ball inside the near post for a 1-0 Lynchburg lead.

The Hornets continued to defend staunchly, stepping in front of Panther shots and trusting Ennis to make a pair of key saves as the clock wore down.

Hanover pressured in the waning minutes, however, earning back-to-back corners and maintaining possession in the attacking third. The Panthers centered the ball, and Keegan Marx passed it through to the cutting Joao Domenici, who finished low to the far post to even the tally in the 86th minute.

The teams traded opportunities early in extra time, and Patrick Pikunas nearly ended the match in the Hornets' favor. The senior floated a one-timer over the leaping keeper toward the far corner of the goal, but it missed just wide, continuing play.

After an HC corner in the 97th minute, Lynchburg's defense nearly cleared the ball in a scrum, but it bounced out to Martin at the top of the box. The senior drilled the ball through traffic and ended Lynchburg's season with the sudden-victory goal.

It was a tough end to the season for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's champions, but the accomplishments of 2021 -- a second-straight conference championship and the program's first NCAA tournament berth since 2017 -- weren't lost on Phillips after the match.

"It's been a goal for the seniors and my group to make the NCAA tournament," the Richmond native said. "We hadn't had a chance to make it yet, so that's a pretty big deal for us."

And though the senior's season came to an end Saturday, his eyes were set toward the future of Lynchburg men's soccer.

"I think it's a good stepping stone for the next generation," he said. "I think that getting here is good, and the next step is to win and to keep winning games. 

"I think we laid that foundation."

The 2021 ODAC title marked the 18th for the program and the fourth in the past six seasons. The men finished the year with a 14-5-1 record.