Dundalk, MD – After defeating the vaunted CCBC Essex women's soccer team twice earlier in the season, the Knights finally got the better of it as they defeated the Howard CC Dragons 2-1 in the NJCAA Mid-Atlantic District championship game.

The Dragons had the first good look as Nichols hit a through ball for Tahlia Stangherlin (Hanover, MD/Pallotti) who hit a low shot that was saved. Stangherlin made another strong run on the Knights' goal just minutes later and was again stopped.

Both teams struggled to find clear cut chances until the 36^th minute when Anna Burns (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) sent Nichols through to score in the bottom right corner. For Nichols it was her 18^th goal of the season while Burns picked up her first assist of the year at a fantastic time.

It took less than a minute for Essex to tie the game as they caught the Howard defense napping to score on a Kalyn LaPointe goal.
Stangherlin nearly took the lead back late in the first half on a shot that crushed the post and bounced away. Essex then countered back the other way and nearly scored on a fast break only to see Clara Janush (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) make a sliding effort to keep the ball out of her own net.

Lillian Scott (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) appeared to put Howard ahead 15 minutes into the second half when she tapped in a cross from Nichols, but the referee made a controversial call to whistle for a foul incorrectly saying that the Essex goalkeeper had possession.

In the 72^nd minute, the Knights star forward Kara Dietrich finally found a way to score on the Dragons to net the eventual game winner to give CCBC Essex the district championship.

The Dragons will now have to wait and hope that they earn their way to the national tournament by way of an at-large bid.