Columbia, MD - Kimberly Ruano (Laurel, MD/Laurel) led the Dragons to 3-1 victory over the Cougars of Frederick Community College in a high-intensity match. The win puts the Dragons at 3-3-1 for the season and 1-1-1 in regional play.

The Cougars goalkeeper Morgan Marchesani who had played in all seven of their matches for this season was out, in her place stood freshman defender Shianne Tibbs. Dragons wasted no time capitalizing on the missing goalkeeper, as Ruano got things heated up early with a goal at the three minute mark off of a pass from Melissa Villatoro (Riverdale, MD/Parkdale) that flew by four Cougar defenders along with Tibbs for a long range shot from right outside the 18-yard box making the score 1-0. Things seemed to start slow for Fredrick, but Shianne Tibbs seemed to find her defensive rhythm not long after with 3 saves off of a shot by Villatoro, Ola Tolbert (Columbia, MD/Penn Foster), and Yoselin Ortiz Cruz (Alexandria, VA/Alexandria City).
 
Frederick Community College seemed to be looking for some sort of momentum to work with after going into the second half down by one, but to no avail Howard continued to press forward on offense. A fast-break by Villatoro found Ruano who had two Cougar defenders on both sides of her and noticed Tibbs moving towards her and away from the goal for a wide open shot that rolls into the net. Cougars seemed to have been doing everything they could to keep the ball out of their net and keep their chances alive, but the Dragons add another goal making the score 2-0. The Cougars saw a glimpse of light after a miskick by Jackson, leaves Francesca Vaccheli with a wide open net, adding the Cougars first goal to the board at the 63^rd minute.

Things seemed to get a little heated on both sides of the ball, after a number of yellow cards began to fly from the referee. The Cougars received 2 yellow cards about 4 minutes apart and a red only 3 minutes later in the 75^th minute, awarding the Dragons a penalty kick that Yoselin Ortiz Cruz (Alexandria, VA/Alexandria City) scored high into the top right corner of the net. Emotions seemed to remain high after yet another scuffle prompted the referee to hand out a yellow card to the Dragons, and another red card to the Cougars in the 78^th minute. Two final yellow cards were given to Frederick Community in the 82^nd and 85^th minute of the match, one of which went to Cougars head coach. With a few more final shot attempts that went high and wide by Ruano and Giselle Castillo (Falls Church, VA/Justice) to finish out the match the Dragons come out victorious 3-1.

The Dragons will have some time to soak in their win and rest as they host another regional matchup at home on Tuesday, October 3, against Potomac State at 2:00 PM. The Dragons defeated the catamounts of Potomac State 2-1 in their last matchup back in August.