Columbia, MD – Head coach Shannon Riley earned her first ever soccer coaching victory as the Dragons defeated a short staffed Brookdale Jersey Blues side 4-2 in the Dragons' home opener.
 
Madison Dzubak (Highland, MD/River Hill) opened the scoring in the first half as Sarah Woods (Laurel, MD/Reservoir) through it in to the corner where Dzubak hit an impossibly angled shot over the Brookdale goalkeeper and into the net.
 
Howard really picked up the pace in the second half as it took just 15 seconds to double the lead. Molly Nichols (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg) hit a cross to the top of the 18 yard box that allowed a shot by Jaylene Sotelo (/), which was deflected into the path of Casey Boin (Ellicott City, MD/Mount De Sales) who was able to direct the ball into the net for her first goal of the season.
 
It took just five minutes more for Howard to add to the lead as the play went through Nichols once again as she cut inside and had a powerful shot hit the post, but the rebound fell to Sotelo who put the ball into the top right corner for her first of the season.
 
Nichols picked up another assist a minute later when her cross was helped along by Sage Huber (West Friendship, MD/Glenelg) to a wide open Boin on the far post who tapped it in for her second of the day.
 
Howard out shot the depleted Brookdale squad 42-18 in the game as Olivia Jackson (Ellicott City, MD/Centennial) made eight saves to earn her first collegiate win between the pipes.
 
The Dragons will now prepare for another tough regional rival as they travel to Montgomery College on Tuesday, September 13 at 5 PM.