BEL AIR, Md. – A pair of early goals by visiting Jefferson proved to be the difference as the No. 5 Harford Fighting Owls dropped a 10-8 decision on Saturday morning at Harford Stadium.  It was the season opener for both teams and the debut of new Harford head coach Nikki Murphy.

Jefferson tallied the two opening scores in the first 3:22 before freshman Katie Spence registered the first Harford goal of the season at the 5:57 mark.  Jefferson extended its lead to 4-1 before back-to-back Owl tallies by frosh Maddie Hewitt and sophomore Sara Lebrun drew the home team to within a goal, 4-3, midway through the first half.  But the Cannoneers  scored three of the last four goals of the first half to lead 7-4 at intermission.  Brooke Poore, a freshman, had the lone Harford tally in that span.

Jefferson got its largest lead of the day, 8-4, on a goal by Jenna Flath just 1:08 into the second stanza.  Then Harford began a valiant comeback, scoring four of the next five goals to pull within one again at 9-8 with 6:24 remaining.  Sophomore Rebecca Kuhn found the net on the first two Owl tallies of that stretch, followed by goals off the sticks of freshmen Amanda Jones and Haleigh Fulco.  It was Flath, however, who scored the clincher for Jefferson with 1:53 to go.

The Fighting Owls return to action when another New York squad visits this Friday, March 16, when Onondaga comes to Harford Stadium for a 4:00 p.m. contest.