Columbia, MD - In an absolutely thrilling five game match, the Howard CC Dragons Rocket League team defeated the University of Alabama 3-2.

The Dragons conceded the first goal in game one, but an incredible effort by Akaash Patel (/) saw him score three goals including the game-winner with just 30 seconds left to take the opener.

Alabama's defense really tightened up as Patel scored a goal to tie game two at 1-1, but that was the only goal Howard managed as they gave up the overtime goal to fall 2-1 despite five saves by Patel. The Crimson Tide scored first for the third straight game then went on to score the game three winner with 50 seconds left to take game three 3-2 and surge ahead with a 2-1 advantage in the match.

With the match on the line for Howard, the errors of the previous two games were completely erased as the Dragons' Logan Ghandi (/) scored 11 seconds into game four and never looked back. Patel scored with two minutes left on a great Ghandi assist and Patel scored 10 seconds later on a Jeremy Hotchkiss (Columbia, MD/Long Reach) assist. Patel completed his second hat trick of the match with 20 seconds left as the Dragons won a dominant game four by the score of 4-1.

The decisive game five was the only one-sided game of the match as the Dragons lept out to a 6-0 lead and cruised their way to a 6-2 game five win to take the match 3-2. Ghandi was able to tally three goals and two assists while Patel added two of each. The defensive wizardry of Hotchkiss was on full display with four saves and even chipped in a goal as well.

The win moves the Dragons ahead of Alabama and into second place in the NECC at 4-1 as they only trail the undefeated Johnson and Wales College.