Virginia Beach, VA - The Johnson & Wales Charlotte men's soccer team opened pool play at the USCAA National Championships on Saturday evening against top seed and defending national champion Penn State-Brandywine. The Wildcats, seeded 4th, defeated the Lions, 4-3 on penalty kicks after the game ended in a 3-3 tie following double overtime.

Penn State Brandywine struck first, just under five minutes into the game, as Jayden Barragan collected a rebound and sent it past JWU keeper Benjamin Burger. The Wildcats equalized just short of ten minutes later as Lucas Lesh ran onto the end of a Antonino Terranova pass, and slotted it into the net.

Brandywine's Chris Manful scored twice in a four minute span in the middle of the half to push the Lions ahead 3-1. JWU's Yomar Peguero pulled one back five minutes before halftime, as the Wildcats entered the break down 3-2.

The pace in the second half slowed somewhat from the first, as the teams combined for just 12 shots, as compared with 19 in the first half. With 15 minutes left to play, Peguero struck again off an assist from Lesh to knot the score at 3.

Two ten minute overtime periods did nothing to settle manners, and penalty kicks were necessary. The teams each converted three of their initial five kicks from the spot. In the first sudden death set of kicks, Burger saved Zach Bardwell's effort. Louis Bosi scored the subsequent kick for the Wildcats to claim the victory.

JWU continues pool play on Sunday afternoon at 2:15pm when they take on fifth seeded Five Towns College.