Click Here For NEC Tournament Headquarters
Click Here For Boxscore

Washington, D.C. -- After a dominant regular season on the pitch, Howard sealed a historic campaign in front of its home fans on Sunday.

The top-seeded Bison captured their first NEC women's soccer title in style at Greene Stadium, posting a 2-1 win over third-seeded FDU to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Howard (11-4-5) will learn its NCAA fate on Monday, November 11 at 4:00 pm during the selection show on NCAA.com. First round NCAA action begins later this week.

Senior striker Melea Earley (La Mirada, CA/La Serna), who scored twice in Howard's semifinal win over Stonehill, was named the NEC Tournament MVP.

With a counter-attack based team in Howard facing a possesion-based team in FDU (8-6-6), the title tilt little room to dissapoint.

Both sides tried to take any opportunity that arose, but it wasn't until the 42nd minute that an eventual chance would turn into a goal.

Howard struck first when NEC Midfielder of the Year Samantha James (Herndon, VA/Oakton HS) broke the deadlock. As the Bison entered into the Knights' defensive half, Zoe Moore (Lutz, FL/Academy at the Lakes) whipped in a first time cross from the right side of the field, roughly 30 yards out. Melea Earley (La Mirada, CA/La Serna HS) took a loose touch that passed through the FDU defense and found the feet of James. Making no mistake, James' first time finish beat FDU's goalkeeper Rosemarie Leblanc (Repentigny, Québec, Canada École Saint-Gabriel), finding the bottom right corner of the net.

Competing in its third NEC final in the last four years, FDU had an answer.

Just minutes after the break, FDU equalized off the back of a Marina Burzaco (Madrid, Spain San Ignacio de Loyola) rocket in the 53rd minute. A defensice clearance from the Bison quickly turned into an attacking opportunity as the ball fell at the feet of Burzaco, just 10 yard out from goal. Standing on the left-hand side of the box, the freshman ferociously unleashed a first-time finish that curved into the top right corner of the net, leaving NEC Goalkeeper of the Year Trinity Knox (Atlanta, GA Woodward Academy) with absolutely no chance.

Howard refused to back down, immediately responding with a goal just 20 seconds later. Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal, Kyra Bolden (McLean, VA McLean HS) drove down the left wing. She cut inside with a large touch to beat her defender. The senior finished off her solo effort by releashing a shot that found the right-hand side netting past the outstretched Leblanc. 

Despite opportunities for both teams, that would be the final scoring of the match in a back-and-forth second half.

FDU posted a 10-7 edge in shots and 9-1 advantage in corners.

Knox and Leblanc both made three saves in the final.

Howard moves on to NCAA play for the first time since 2018, when the Bison won the SWAC Tournament and met North Carolinia in the first round.

All-Tournament Team (Graphic)
Melea Earley, HU (MVP)
Kyra Bolden, HU
Savannah Hersh, HU
Trinity Knox, HU
Marina Burzaco, FDU
Laura Martinez, FDU
Mona Schlegl, FDU
Emma Dumareaq, STO
Yara Fawaz, STO
Kayla Barbosa, WC
Kylie McNally, WC