Columbia, MD - The Dragons scored the last three goals of the game including two in the final minute to defeat the #4 ranked CCBC Essex Knights in an epic 12-11 comeback win. 

Howard played a nearly flawless first quarter where the defense of the Dragons was able to shut out the Knights allowing just five shots in the opening 15 minutes. Gianni Karam (Ellicott City, MD/Mount Hebron) got the Dragons out to a great start with a dish from JT Harich (Point of Rocks, MD/Brunswick) before the roles were reversed a few minutes later. Zane Dalpe (Belle River, ON/Saint Anne) gave Nate Boone (Elkridge, MD/Howard) an open goal from close range with a man up as the Dragons led 3-0 after the first quarter. 

Essex answered back strong with three goals in the first five minutes of the second quarter to tie the game, but a great high catch and shoot by Karam regained the lead for Howard. John Pavlick (Woodbine, MD/Century) scooped up the ensuing faceoff and set up Calum Brennan (Kingsville, ON/Kingsville District) to increase the Howard lead as they led 5-4 at halftime.

The Knights scored four straight goals in the third quarter to take an 8-6 lead, but a couple of Boone goals within 10 seconds of each other tied the game at 8-8. A couple more Essex goals put them back ahead 10-8 before a great pass by Harich to find Boone cutting from behind the goal for his fourth of the game cut the lead to just one. 

With the Knights ahead 11-9, a tripping penalty by Essex gave the Dragons a man-up opportunity as the nation's leading goalscorer Dalpe was finally able to get enough space to score his first of the game with six minutes left. With time running low, the Dragon defense made one more huge stop on a shot clock violation. Aiden Kirkpatrick (Hartland, WI/Arrowhead) took the ball from the alley and was able to dodge to the middle and fired a shot into the back of the net to tie the game with 70 seconds left. 

A wild faceoff saw the Knights initially win possession, but a Pavlick interception allowed him to push the ball forward to Erik Harrell (Owings Mills, MD/Century) who bounced a shot into the net to score the game winner with under a minute to send the Dragon faithful into a riotous frenzy. 

Charlie Wendel (Glenwood, MD/Glenelg) made 14 saves in the game to go along with a Dragon defensive line that forced 25 turnovers in the game to help Howard with the upset win.

The 5-2 Dragons will enjoy some time to heal and prepare for #2 Harford on Wednesday, April 12 at 5 PM.