COLUMBIA, MD - The Howard Dragons were unable to overcome a rough start as they fell to the #3 ranked CCBC Essex Knights 21-7. Howard falls to 2-7 on the year and 0-2 in region play.

Not much went right for the Dragons in the first quarter as they trailed 6-0 after the opening 15 minutes. The Knights built up a 10-0 lead that lasted late into the second quarter before the Dragons were able to get on the scoreboard as Joe Patti (Orlando, FL/Dr. Phillips) fed Cyrus Frid-Denikos (Elkridge, MD/Howard) on a fast break. Patti would go on to sneak a goal in the back of the net with five seconds left in the second quarter to make it a 10-2 game at halftime.

Gianni Karam (Ellicott City, MD/Mount Hebron) scored a man-up goal in the third quarter on a great feed by Frid-Denikos, but the Knights extended their lead to 17-3 after three quarters. The Dragons found some momentum in the fourth quarter as goals from Joe Hathaway (New Market, MD/Oakdale), Frid-Denikos, JT Harich (Point of Rocks, MD/Brunswick), and Trent Hillis (Sykesville, MD/Century) brought the score a little closer. 

Charlie Wendel (Glenwood, MD/Glenelg) made 18 saves in the game while the combination of Erik Harrell (Ownings Mills, MD/Century) and Rory Blanchard (New Market, MD/Oakdale) won 17-31 face-offs.

The Dragons will complete their arduous week of games when they host the #2 ranked Nassau Lions on Sunday, April 14 at 12 PM.