Essex, MD – In a stunning upset, the Howard CC women's soccer team dethroned the #1 ranked CCBC Essex Knights in a 2-1 thriller. The #4 ranked Dragons improved to 5-0 on the season while the Knights fall to 4-1 in a result that will guarantee the Dragons the #1 seed in the Region 20 tournament and gives them home field advantage.

Yassine Kamara (Hyattsville, MD/Parkdale) created the first good chance for the Dragons as her fancy footwork got her through on the Essex goalie, who made a double save as Tahlia Stangherlin (Hanover, MD/Pallotti) picked up the rebound and saw her shot parried away as well.

The Knights had their chances as well in the first half with their best opportunity coming when star forward Kara Dietrich, the second leading scorer in the NJCAA, had a breakaway that was saved by All-American goalkeeper Hailey Murray (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) as one of five saves in the contest. Dietrich came into the game averaging three goals a game but was held to just three shots under intense defensive marking by Kayla Hatmaker (Woodbine, MD/Century).

It was the Dragons who broke through first as Madalyn Nichols (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg) flew past the Essex defense down the left side, then cut a pass back to Stangherlin who hit a one-timer into the bottom right corner of the net. Stangherlin would go on to lead the team with four shots including the one that went into the net for her third goal of the season.

Howard CC got the all important second goal with just four minutes remaining in the second half as a long through ball from midfield by Lillian Scott (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) put Nichols in on goal to score her seventh goal of the season.

That goal proved to be a game winner as the Knights would score with under a minute remaining as a long free kick bounced off the cross bar and was headed in to pull a goal back for Essex.

The Dragons will finally get to enjoy their home opener when they host Hagerstown on Tuesday, May 4 at 1 PM.