Columbia, MD – A gritty Dragons team gave the #1 ranked team in the country a run for their money, but the strength of CCBC Essex led them to their 10^th straight regional championship 3-0.
 
The Dragons came out strong to start the game, pressing at a frenetic pace that kept the Knights from having the comfortable possession that they are accustomed to. Howard had some great chances early to take the lead as a shot by Evan Doten (Costa Rica/River Hill) just pulled wide of the net early on. Baraka Kagira-Kargbo (Kenya/Moorland (England)) took a free kick shot that was saved by the Knights goalkeeper in the 18^th minute that had the Howard fans in roaring approval at the effort. The Dragons best chance could have come on a counter attack fast break that saw Howard on a 4v2 break only to see a great interception by the Knights to prevent a shot.
 
Doten continued to put on strong efforts, leading the team with six shots including four on goal. The teams went into halftime tied at 0-0 with Howard feeling good about being able to hold the top ranked team in the NJCAA Division II. However, the star power of the Knights shone through as two wonder strikes along with a mid-air volley gave Essex all they needed to earn their place in the national tournament.
 
The Dragons season comes to an end with a 10-7 record, but the future looks incredibly bright for Howard with an entire roster of players that are eligible to play at Howard in the 2022 season.