Columbia, MD - In the first week of the META Invitational Rocket League Tournament, the Howard CC Dragons got out to an early lead but ultimately fell the the United States Army Academy 3-1.

In the first game of the best of five series, the Dragons got out to a great start with a long range Akaash Patel (/) goal just 27 seconds into the match. After Army tied the game up a minute later, Jeremy Hotchkiss (Columbia, MD/Long Reach) went flying through the air to hit the ball into the top left corner of the net for what turned out to be the game winner with Hotchkiss also coming up with a big late save.

The Army Black Knights really locked it in after falling behind as they took game two 4-1 with the Dragons lone goal coming from Patel as time expired. Game three was a tight defensive battle for both teams as it took nearly three minutes for Army to break through with the first goal of the game. With time running low, a great aerial move by Logan Ghandi (/) set up Patel for the tying goal with just 30 seconds in regulation. The dramatic game went to overtime, but it was the Black Knights who scored the golden goal 40 seconds into extra time to win game three.

With their backs to the wall, the Dragons got goals from Ghandi and Hotchkiss, but were unable to hold back a swarming Army team that scored six in the game to take the match.

The Dragons will get back to NECC action on Friday, October 16 when Team 1 will take on Montana University and Team 2 battles with Carroll University.