Posted: May 20, 2021

Women's Soccer: Knights Fall to Dragons in Region Final, Now Prep for Mid-Atlantic District Semifinals

By Rocco Geppi

Rosedale, Md. -- The Knights did not get the result they wanted last Saturday in the Region 20 Division II Women's Soccer Championship, dropping a heartbreaking 2-1 match to host Howard Dragons.

But despite the setback, the No. 5 nationally ranked Knights can still qualify for the NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Tournament.

Essex (7-2) will take on familiar foe Sussex County tomorrow at 3 p.m. at CCBC Dundalk in the semifinals of the NJCAA Mid-Atlantic District Tournament.

The Knights last met the Skylanders in the 2019 district semifinal round, winning 2-0.

Four members from that Knights team will be present for the rematch: Kara Dietrich, Ryleigh Fachler, Lydia Morris and now assistant coach, Emily Vetri.

"I'm telling the girls to keep the same focus they've had all season," Vetri said. "Our goal from the start was to go back nationals and we have two games standing in the way of that. We have a chance to showcase the hard work the girls have put in all season and I know they're up for the challenge that will be Friday's game."

Dietrich scored both goals in the first match against Sussex, with one of the assists coming from Fachler.

Coming into today, Dietrich's 22 goals leads the NJCAA across all three divisions.

"The chemistry on this team will help a lot against Sussex," Dietrich said. "With this shortened covid season we weren't able to bond over pre-season and out of state trips, but we were able to form a quick bond together that has helped us in big games. Having that chemistry allows us to play a quicker game and just connect better on the field."

The Knights are averaging nearly six goals per game and the defense is allowing less than one.

Essex's roster also features five All-Region 20 Division II players in Dietrich, Fachler, Caroline Warns, Eleni Serevetas - all of whom made first team - and Sam Wilson.

"Sussex gave us a great game [in fall 2019] and I think we'll see that again from them. But I don't think the girls are thinking of it as a rematch of the last Mid-Atlantic semifinal. They're ready for Friday's game no matter who the opponent."

Should the Knights win, there is the possibility of a rematch with the Dragons. Howard takes on Cape Fear on Friday and the winners of the semifinals play Saturday to see who gets the automatic bid to the national tournament in Evans, Ga.

The loser of the Mid-Atlantic championship will still have an opportunity to make nationals as one of four at large bids.

CCBC Essex is attempting to do something it's never done in program history: make the national tournament in consecutive years.

This is the first season of Division II soccer for the NJCAA. Prior to 2020-2021, the association offered only Divisions I and III.

The Knights trip to the 2019 NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship was its first since 1993. That was also the last time the program won a national title.