Dundalk, MD - In a heartbreaking double-overtime thriller, the Howard Community College Dragons fell 2-1 to the CCBC Essex Knights in the Region 20 championship game.
A phenomenal game from the Dragons defense and goalkeeper
Julian Gugino kept the Dragons right with the Knights for much of the contest. Deadlocked at 1-1 in double overtime, the Knights finally broke through in the 106th minute to end the Dragons regional title hopes.
Essex scored early in the first half to take a 1-0 lead over the Dragons, but Howard would respond with a flurry of shots.
Nicholas Mirecki finally broke through in the 34th minute, scoring off a corner kick from
Yeabsira Tesfaye to even the score.
The second half was a defensive battle, with both sides peppering the others goal with shots. Both keepers stood their ground, with Howard's
Julian Gugino making a series of phenomenal saves to keep the Dragons in the game. Howard's defense managed to shut down Essex's Dony Mendoza, the highest scoring player in Division II, but the offense couldn't get around the Knights' goalkeeping.
Following a first overtime period, the Knights would score in the second extra period when Mendoza broke through Howard's defense at last.
Nelson Hernandez finished the afternoon with three shots and one shot on goal.
Carson Feeser added three shots and two shots on goal, while
Angel Giron-Ramos had two shots. Gugino made three saves in net.
The Dragons, ranked #12 in the country and #10 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, will await the upcoming selections for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament to see if they receive an at-large bid.
