Evans, GA – Despite an incredibly close game that had a roller coaster of twists and turns, the Howard CC Dragons women's soccer team fell to the #4 ranked Heartland Hawks to end the Dragons fantastic season.

Coming into the game knowing a win by two or more goals was necessary to advance, the Dragons came out of the gates on the front foot and created a number of early opportunities.

The Dragons had several great chances on set pieces as Madalyn Nichols (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg) took two free kicks from just outside the Hawks box and saw one go just over the cross bar with the other sailing just wide. The Dragons continued to mount pressure as a corner kick was put dangerously into the six yard box and bounced around before the Dragons were called for a foul negating a glorious chance.

Heartland led by their talented pair of forwards earned their chances too, but Hailey Murray (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) was up to the task making one sliding save early in the first half then a clutch reaction save off a free kick just before halftime to keep the game scoreless at the intermission.

In the second half, Howard continued to put pressure on as a corner kick found Rebecca Herriotts (Glenwood, MD/Mt. Airy Christian) in the box, only to see her shot blocked away.

For the second straight day, major controversy shrouded the game as a long free kick by Clara Janush (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) was seemingly deflected into the Hawks goal, but the referees shockingly deemed the ball to have not crossed the goal line and waived away the score.

After that the Dragons found chances on goal hard to come by with the lone threat being another Janush free kick that was saved. Heartland was able to hit the Dragons on a couple of late counterattacks in the final 10 minutes of the game to put an end to the dreams of the Howard hopeful.

The first ever season for the Dragons in the promoted Division II was nothing short of a smashing success, winning the first 10 games of the season and climbing as high as #3 in the national rankings while earning a trip to the national tournament.