Women's Soccer: Knights Fall 2-0 to Dragons in Region 20 Title Game

By Devon Douglas

Columbia, Md. -- CCBC Essex women's soccer lost last Saturday to Howard 2-0 in the NJCAA Region 20 Division II Championship game, thus ending the Knights season.

Howard scored their two goals during the last 10 minutes of the game in the 81^st and 83^rd minutes of the match.

Both teams had opportunities throughout the game.

The Knights (8-4) had some promising chances, but Dragons keeper Hailey Murray saved all eight shots that came her way.

The two leading goal scorers for the Knights, sophomore forward Kara Dietrich (Perry Hall, Md.), and sophomore midfielder Zaida Holloway (Perry Hall, Md.), were lively during the match.

Dietrich put six shots on goal and Holloway created two shots for herself.

Knights' freshman goalie Sydney Baker (Glen Burnie, Md.) was tested by Howard with six total shots on goal. She ended the night with four saves and came up big for the Knights to hold off the Dragons for most of the match.

The Knight's backline led by sophomore defender Aya Neal (Perry Hall, Md.) and freshman defender Abby Meadows were a wall.

The entire backline shut down Howard's attacks keeping the match scoreless for more than 81 minutes.

The Dragons (13-2) came at the Knights with high intensity in the second half.

While the Knights season may have ended on Saturday, the team battled injuries all season long to reach the Region 20 Championship game for third season in a row.

Dietrich ends her amazing NJCAA career as the Knights' all-time leading scorer with 106 goals and 233 points in only 48 games played.

Holloway netted 13 goals and nine assists in 25 games, and Neal helped solidify the back line this season.

For more, follow women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram @Knights_WSoccer.