Columbia, MD - The Howard Community College Dragons advanced through the Region 20 quarterfinals on Saturday with a 3-0 win over the Cecil College.
Goals from
Ethan Quander and
Yeabsira Tesfaye, combined with a solid defensive performance, gave the Dragons a berth in the Region 20 semifinals next Thursday.
The Dragons and Seahawks exchanged early blows in Saturdays game. Howard had plenty of chances in Cecil territory, but strong defensive pressure from the Seahawks kept the game scoreless. Howard's
Julian Gugino was busy in the first half, making several saves as the Seahawks answered every Dragons shot with one of their own.
A wild sequence gave the Dragons their first goal. A corner kick seemingly entered the net off the head of
Carson Feeser, but a Cecil player swiped it away in what appeared to be a handball. Both teams paused expecting a penalty, and Quander took advantage of the momentary lapse to score for Howard. No call was made against Cecil, but the goal would stand.
Leading 1-0 at the half, the Dragons continued to up the pressure on Cecil, while also holding off a fierce surge from the Seahawks. Howard's second goal would also come from a bizarre corner kick, as Cecil's Aymeric Daut accidentally knocked the ball past his own keeper for an own goal. Now leading 2-0, the Dragons iced the contest with a laser shot from Tesfaye in the 76th minute.
Tesfaye led the Dragons with five shots, two shots on goal, and a goal. Feeser had four shots and one shot on goal, while
Angel Giron-Ramos added three shots and one shot on goal. Quander had two shots on goal and his lone goal, while
Bricen Manderson added three shots and two shots on goal off the bench. Gugino made two saves on the day.
The Dragons next head to CCBC Dundalk for the Region 20 semifinals on Thursday, October 29. Their opponent will be announced later this week.
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