Columbia, MD – The Dragons suffered their first conference loss of the season as they fell to the CCBC Essex Knights 5-3.

Howard fell behind two goals in the first 10 minutes of the game as a cross by the Knights was deflected off a Dragons defender for an own goal followed by a fast break goal by Kara Dietrich just a minute later.

Essex made it 3-0 in the first half as a through ball by Dietrich found Dani Zacierka who dribbled around Dragons goalkeeper Hailey Murray (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) and tapped into an open goal.

A first half injury to star midfielder Kylie Toler (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) dampened the Dragons' spirits, but Howard was finally able to get a little momentum early in the second half as Lilian Scott was set free by Madalyn Nichols (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg) and then taken down from behind in the box for a penalty shot. Nichols picked up the ball and powered it into the roof of the net for her 12^th goal of the season.

The comeback attempt was summarily squashed midway through the second half as Zacierka set up Taylor west followed by a Dietrich free kick just outside of the Howard goal box into the top corner of the net to make it a 5-1 Essex lead.

Howard did not hold their heads low as they came back three minutes later with Emily Delaney (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) hitting a long cross into the box that somehow found Nichols who placed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.

The Dragons pulled one more goal in the last five minutes as a corner kick by Nichols was hit right back to her. On the second try, her cross found an open Ellen Campbell (Highland, MD/Reservoir) on the back post who headed the ball in from close range to make it 5-3.

A much needed break comes for the Dragons as their next game comes on October 2 at 4 PM as they host the College of Southern Maryland.