MELBOURNE, Fla. - An amazing 2014 season came to an abrupt end on Tuesday for the Harford women's soccer team. Just one day after earning an opening-day victory, the ninth-seeded Fighting Owls (15-4-1) fell to No. 5 Navarro (15-4-1), 2-0, and were eliminated from the 2014 NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament.

Harford and Navarro battled to a scoreless tie in the opening frame but Trudi Carter gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead early in the second half on a through ball and a chip to the upper corner. The Fighting Owls were still in good shape but struggled to get anything going offensively while Navarro packed the box to limit scoring chances.

After a modest Harford chance was twarted, Shanise Foster sent another ball quickly to a streaking Nicole Broderick for a 2-0 lead in the 66th minute and the Fighting Owls had their backs against the wall.

With the two-goal defecit, Harford needed to net one goal and hope for an Otero win on Wednesday to stay alive in Pool D. The Bulldogs stopped every Harford opportunity in the final 24 minutes to eliminate the Fighting Owls with a negative-one goal differential. No matter the result of tomorrow's contest, Harford's magical 2014 campaign is over.

Head coach Jason Muffoletto guided the Fighting Owls to their fourth National Tournament appearance since 2006. This year's group won the MD JUCO Championship, the Region XX Championship and the District L Championship behind a stingy defense and prolific offensive attack. Only three team's in school history have won more that 15 matches in a season (2011 - 16, 2006 - 16, 2009 - 19).

Sophomore Karley Bush (27 G, 6 A, 60 P), Nicole Wojcik (19 G, 11 A, 49 P) and Savannah Humphreys (18 G, 8 A, 44 P) ranked in the top three in the region and conference in scoring. Freshman Brooke Nigrin's 14 assists led the conference and region and ranked 13th in the nation. Classmate Ashley King's 1.06 goals-against average ranked second in the conference and first in the region.

NJCAA Championship Central