(Columbia, Md) The Tigers boarded the bus Friday afternoon ready for an exciting weekend in Columbia Maryland.   After a rough start to the season the team was ready to get back on track as they faced 2 non-region games, versus Anne Arundel CC and Howard CC.  The Howard Dragon Invitational could not have a better setting.  The weather was perfect and the field was a Bermuda grass dream. 
    
To start the weekend adventure the team played the Anne Arundel Riverhawks.  The game started out very even, the tiger's defense was under pressure from the Riverhawk attack, but it was the tigers midfield, led by Tabitha Sloane, and Anna Vidakovic, that allowed the tigers to quickly transition against the opponents back line.  It was a back and forth game for most of the first half despite injuries that the Tigers were pushing through.  Unfortunately, about half way through the first half, center mid-midfielder Anna Vidakovic was on a breakaway down the right side of the field when a very careless and late challenge from a Anne Arundel defender took out Vidakovic, tearing her ACL.  This was really the ear mark of where the game turned from an even back and forth between the teams to the tigers literally falling apart.  

From this point on the Riverhawks pressed their attack and seemed to bring an unrelenting amount of shots on the tiger's goal.  Stephanie Roberts once again was up to the challenge.  Although allowing 2 goals in the first half Roberts made 5 huge saves to keep the game within reach.  However luck was not on the side of the tigers.  Deep into the first half, the same defender that took out Vidakovic, once again made a very sloppy and ill-timed tackle and took out Tabitha Sloane, resulting in another knee injury.  With an already limited roster, this was a devastating blow.

Into the second half, the team looked rough, the injuries, only got worse.   Because of available players the Tigers had to play a much more defensive game. Our defense played strong, but lost one of our strong outside defenders, Halie Retterath, to another leg injury. Unfortunately, the loss of two players with additional minor injuries, the Tigers were unable to put a score on the board and the final ended as 4-0.

"Losing Anna and Tab, really hurt us, but to see my players coming up from each challenge with an injury was honestly too much to handle.  Halie's pulled a muscle, Sehej got hit in the eye, Catherine pulled a muscle, Steph got her arm stepped on, it was just out of control.  We come to these non-region games to get some more time on the field, but to come here and lose almost half of my roster… that was just not the plan." Coach David Bevivino lamented after the game.


    After all day treatments by the team Trainer Yusuke Shirakata. The team was able to suit up 13 girls to play a very strong Howard team.  However overnight, the news of the incidents that took place close to the FIT campus, had made its way to the team and you could see the girls were rattled.  

"I met with the Howard CC coach before the game, just to let her know that my team was both battling physical injuries, but also some emotional distress, she told me of their own teams recent adversity and said she understood." Coach Bevivino said after the game.  After taking a moment he went on to say, "what she had her team do, was honestly, the reason I love athletics.  When their team came over to our half I was blown away."

As both teams were taking the field, the tigers saw the dragons walking towards them and crossing the half before the whistle.  The dragons came over to each player on the field and on the bench to wish each player the best and to let them know that even though they were about to go head to head, they wanted to show their support for our campus events.

"That show of class and sportsmanship was really touching, and to a lot of the girls, I could see how much it meant to them" Said Coach Briana Marquit.

The Tigers, with uplifted spirits came out in the first half to show what NYC strong means.  The tigers looked like a different team.  Even though they were down on players, they played an amazing first half.  The girls played well, and were able to transition the ball through to our centers, played by Tabitha Sloane, Katie Prinz and Katie Amato, who were able to get it to our forwards to create some offensive opportunities. Although each team had opportunities on goal, the first half ended with no score.  But the tigers had once again suffered more injuries.  Katie Prinz, went down with a knock to the head, Nicole Saade fell ill due to the heat, and Monica Gutierrez suffered an ankle injury.  This left the Tigers with 0 subs and Catherine Drasdo pushed through a muscle pull to give the team a full 11 players on the field.

Entering the second half, the Tigers were really feeling the impact of all of the injuries, and unfortunately with a lack of substitutes, the Dragons were able to capitalize and find the net three times, before the coaches decided to end the game early, in order to preserve their players' health.

The weekend was very disappointing.  The losses were tough to accept, but losing as many players to injuries as we did, will really impact the teams capabilities going forward.  The tigers now sitting with an overall record of 0-5 and a regional record of 0-1 can be seen playing their next match versus Suffolk CC Saturday at 3:00 pm at their Seldon Campus.