Baltimore, MD - The conference opener for the Howard Community College men's lacrosse team was one to forget, as the Dragons suffered their worst loss of the season.

The Dragons struggled from the get-go against the #2 nationally ranked CCBC Essex Knights, falling 17-5. Howard's five goals were the fewest they have scored all season. The loss marked the third-straight loss for the Dragons and their third-straight loss to a nationally ranked top-five team.

Falling into an early 3-0 hole, the Dragons finally got on the board halfway through the first quarter, as John Stubbs (Catonsville, MD/Boys Latin) scored unassisted. Stubbs scored again late in the quarter to make it a 5-2 ball game and give the Dragons hope that they could pull off the upset. But a barrage of second quarter goals from the Knights ended Howard's hopes, though Cyrus Frid-Denikos (Elkridge, MD/Howard) did score a last-second goal to make it 8-3 at the half.

Essex put the game away in the third quarter, scoring four quick goals to pull further away. Howard's only goal came off an unassisted William Pesce (Derwood, MD/Col. Zadok Magruder) shot late in the period, but it could only stem the bleeding for so long. Frid-Denikos scored the final goal for the Dragons late in the fourth, as Essex continued to up the score to close out the contest. The loss drops the Dragons to 2-4 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.

Frid-Denikos led the Dragons with two goals on six shots, while Stubbs scored twice on seven shots. William Pesce (Derwood, MD/Col. Zadok Magruder) scored one goal on seven shots with three ground balls, while Logan Foust (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. Hebron) had seven shots as well. Aidan Ro (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) went 10-16 on faceoffs with five ground balls, while Joseph Facchiano (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) went 3-8 on faceoffs. Mitchell Dua (Mount Airy, MD/Loyola Blakefield) had the games only assist, along with three ground balls. Jack Feys (Poolesville, MD/Poolesville) caused two turnovers, while Lewis Collora (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) made 14 saves.

The Dragons return home this Sunday, March 30 at 1:00 PM as they welcome the College of DuPage!