The Bison faced the George Mason University Patriots on Thursday, Aug. 22 at Greene Stadium, which resulted in a tie after a 90-minute battle.
The Bison are coming off a season in which they secured multiple wins with a conference record of 6-3-1. They were dominant on the green, securing wins with blowout scores such as 7-0 against Hampton University.
The success during the season resulted in the team making the Northeast Conference (NEC) tournament, where they reached the semifinals but fell to Central Connecticut State University 1-2 in double overtime.
The last time the Bison were in a conference championship tournament was in 2019, when the team was a part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Here, they fell to Prairie View A&M University 0-1 in the final.
Going into Thursday’s matchup, the team sported a record of 1-0-1, with a 4-2 win against Saint Peter’s and a 0-0 tie with Hampton University. The Bison came into the game looking to put the win total above all else.
The win against St. Peter’s had the team’s spirits high as they started their season, but the physical nature of the Hampton rivalry truly tested the Bison.
“Our last game was a bit hectic. I feel like we weren’t really in the right mindset,” said Melea Earley, a senior forward for the Bison. “We didn’t really have the mental tenacity to finish the game, which is why we ended up in a tie versus Hampton.”
The Bison were not satisfied with the outcome of their game before the matchup against George Mason. They were, however, determined to use it as fuel to secure the win against the Patriots.
Mimi Richards is a sophomore sports medicine major from Silver Spring, Maryland, and a forward for the Bison. She opened the game by swiftly gliding around defenders, scoring a goal down the center and putting the Bison on the board 1-0.
“I’m happy that I can be able to score for my team,” she said.
As the game progressed, more fans filed into the stands one by one, and the atmosphere became more tense as the Bison looked to hold on to the lead.
As the second half began, the Bison continued to play tough defense, with defenders actively protecting the box and goalie Nya-Grace Young accruing one save after another. Young spent the entire 90 minutes in the net of her debut game in the absence of Trinity “Fort” Knox, facing 17 shots and recording seven saves.
The on-field intensity heightened as the Bison fought for another goal and the Patriots attempted to get on the board. The Bison were determined, as they got 11 shots off in the second half.
Frustration could be seen on the Bison’s faces as they were up against the physicality of George Mason and calls that went against them by the refs.
With four minutes on the clock, the crowd was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see who would score the next goal.
George Mason’s Madyson Taylor, with a 15-yard shot, got the Patriots on the board as the goal was out of the Bison keeper’s reach, tying the score at 1-1.
As the clock reached the final minute, there was one thing on both teams’ minds: score. The teams fought until the last second before the clock reached zero and the game concluded in a draw — the Bison’s second of the season.
Howard outshot the Patriots 16-12, utilizing six corners compared to George Mason’s two.
The season has just begun for the Bison, and they know how strong they are as a team. Now, they plan to show everyone else.
“We want to be the best in this conference, and we believe that we are,” said Brent Leiba, the women’s soccer head coach. “And that’s for us now to go and prove.”
The Bison will host the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Chesapeake Bay Retrievers at Greene Stadium on Sept. 1 at 1 p.m.
Samone Knight is a junior mechanical engineering major and plays defense for the women’s soccer team at Howard. (Cymphani Hargrave/The Hilltop) 
Freshman goalkeeper Nya Grace-Young defends the Howard Bison against the George Mason Patriots. (Cymphani Hargrave/The Hilltop) 
Samone Knight passes the ball from the sidelines. (Cymphani Hargrave/The Hilltop) 
A George Mason and Howard player clash for possession of the ball. (Cymphani Hargrave/The Hilltop) 
Samantha James, a sophomore forward and midfielder for Howard’s women’s soccer team, raises her hand, signaling her teammates. (Cymphani Hargrave/The Hilltop) 
Freshman political science major, Maya Blackston, is a midfielder for the team and stands on the sidelines, watching the game while resting her hands on her hips. (Cymphani Hargrave/The Hilltop)
Copy edited by Jalyn Lovelady
