The Howard Community College (HCC) women's soccer program defeated CCBC Essex by a score of 3-1 on Friday afternoon with a strong 2nd half.

The first half was a back and forth battle between two teams who came determined to get a result.  Even though the Knights outshot HCC 15-6 in the 1st half, the Dragons were much more accurate as they forced CCBC's Francesca Gray to make five saves as Savannah Hill (Laurel, MD/South Carroll) only saw two shots come between the pipes.  

Entering the 2nd half trailing 1-0 the Dragons were looking to get possession and control the tempo of the game, and they did just that.  With 32 minutes remaining in the 2nd half Hill came up with a spectacular save as, which at the time preserved the 1-0 deficit, keeping the Dragons in the game.  The Defense played big in the second half leaning on Devon Bodziony (Columbia, MD/Atholton) and Jasmine McConnell (Columbia, MD/Howard HS) who seemingly turned away all threats in the second half.  

In the 74' minute of the contest, the dragons got the equalizer.  Brittany Nixon (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) slotted the ball past the keeper off of a beautiful cross from Mirela Balestino.  One minute later in the 75' minute Nikki Viera (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colégio Adventista de Itapecerica da Serra) would put in the winning goal as she was getting pulled down in the box the ref played advantage, and she took full advantage of the opportunity setting an absolute firecracker of a shot past the outstretched netminder.  Brittany Wartman (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. Hebron) would not be left off of the score sheet as she hit a bomb from long range to give HCC some insurance late in the game.  

With the win, the Dragons improve to 7-4-1 (7-1-1) on the season.  HCC will return to action at home next Tuesday, October 17 as the will face the Montgomery College Raptors, game time is slated for 4 PM.