BEL AIR, MD - The Howard Dragons got out to a great start, but were unable to keep pace with the #1 ranked Harford Fighting Owls in a 20-6 defeat.

Howard could not have asked for a better start to the game as the Dragons defense forced a turnover then ran down the other way as Cyrus Frid-Denikos (Elkridge, MD/Howard) found a wide open Joe Patti (Orlando, FL/Dr. Phillips) in the first minute of the game. The Dragons doubled their lead a minute later as Gianni Karam (Ellicott City, MD/Mount Hebron) was able to bounce a low shot into the net.

Harford started to find their legs after that, scoring the next two goals to tie the game at 2-2. The Dragons regained the lead in the last couple minutes of the first half as Ethan Varani (Clarksville, MD/River Hill) was able to feed Patti for his second goal of the game as Howard enjoyed a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was not as productive for the Dragons as Harford would answer back with seven straight goals to take a 9-3 halftime lead. 

Harford kept the streak going, making it an 11-0 run until Patti was able to break the drought for Howard with a goal midway through the third quarter. Frid-Denikos followed that up a couple minutes later with a nice dodge to his right and pinging the corner of the net. Joe Hathaway (New Market, MD/Oakdale) added a goal late in the third quarter to have Howard down by just 10, but the Dragons were shut out in the fourth quarter as they were unable to close the gap any more.

Braden Chaney (Sykesville, MD/South Carroll) was fantastic in goal for Howard, stopping a career high 25 saves in the game as he fought down the barrage from the Fighting Owls.

The Dragons will next travel to Owings Mills, MD where they will take on the Stevenson University JV team on Friday, April 5 at 7 PM. Howard last defeated the Mustangs 17-14 in the 2022 season.