Arnold, MD - Howard Community College's red hot start to the season continued on Thursday night as the #20 Dragons took care of business with a 6-0 victory over Anne Arundel Community College.
Five different Dragons scored at least one goal, with
Bryan Barrientos (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) leading the charge with two goals as HCC took down the Riverhawks in a rematch of last year's Region 20 Quarterfinal match up. The win moves the Dragons to 7-0 on the season, their best ever start in modern program history.
Barrientos got the scoring started in the first half with a goal in the 11th minute.
Donnie Frayer (Odenton, MD/Annapolis Area Christian), who assisted the first goal, would score next as he netted a goal minutes later to make it 2-0. These would be the only two goals of the half for the Dragons, as Anne Arundel proved to be a tough opponent on defense. The Riverhawks offense would match the Dragons, out-shooting them 15-14 throughout the game. However, goalkeeper
Jonathan Sanchez (Ellicott City, MD/Mount Hebron) kept the Riverhawks scoreless thanks to his excellent saves.
The second half saw the Dragons offense pull away with four additional goals.
Denny Mora (Hyattsville, MD/Northwestern) netted his seventh goal of the season in the 62nd minute to make it 3-0, and
Kiar Sani (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia/St. Ragueal Church) added his own goal two minutes later to make it 4-0. A second Barrientos goal in the 71st minute made it 5-0 Dragons and sealed the victory for HCC. In the closing minutes, Howard's backups put on a show as
Carlos Contreras (Elkridge, MD/Oakland Mills) netted his first career goal to make it 6-0.
Barrientos finished the contest with three shots on goal and two goals.
Yeabsira Tesfaye (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia/St. Ragueal Church) added three assists, while Frayer and Mora each managed two shots. Sanchez made three saves and secured his fifth shutout of the season.
The Dragons next face #3 Mercer County on Sunday, September 21 at 2:00 PM in their biggest home game of the year.
