Virginia Beach, VA - Johnson & Wales women's soccer opened USCAA National Championships pool play by falling to 2nd seeded SUNY-ESF 2-0. This result, coupled with ESF's win over Warren Wilson on Friday, eliminated the Wildcats from further contention.

The Mighty Oaks (13-2) opened the scoring in the 21st minute as Abby Thomas collected a ball in a scramble in front of the net, and slotted it over the goal line. JWU (6-7-2) stemmed the tide for much of the next forty minutes, creating several chances of their own, while largely cutting off any ESF attacks. ESF finally broke through again as Marissa Pimpeii scored in the fifty-eighth minute to give the Mighty Oaks an insurance goal. 

Jah'Asia Pernell stopped 8 of the 10 shots she faced to keep the Wildcats in the contest. Jaedan Smith had two shots for JWU.

The Wildcats will wrap up pool play with a match against EMAC rival Warren Wilson tomorrow at 12pm.