The path to the elimination round got a lot tougher for the Bryant & Stratton College women?s soccer team after dropping their tournament opening game against Florida National, 2-0.

A pair of goals from Florida National in the final 15 minutes of the first half would be all the scoring seen on the day, as the Conquistadors weathered the storm for the entire second half and took the early lead in the Pool B standings.

Jurema Borini logged the first goal for FNU, slotting home in the 33rd minute. Her effort was followed by D?Yolanda Pineda who doubled FNU?s lead off a Donella Massola feed. The goals came during a fairly even first half of play that saw each side take six shots.

The Bobcats would put FNU on the back foot for most of the second half as they chased the two goal deficit. BSC threw seven shots on net and won six corners to FNU?s one. The Bobcats carried play throughout the match, winning 12 corners in total and conceding only three but FNU goalkeeper Savannah Laster was equal to the task, turning away all six shots on goal the Bobcats recorded.

The loss puts the Bobcats in a difficult position in a shallow, three-team pool. They?ll need SUNY Canton to pull an upset when they face FNU today and then the Bobcats will need to beat Canton themselves on Saturday. Saturday?s match, should Canton give BSC the help they need, will require more than an outright win, as the Bobcats will need to surpass the goal differential for both squads to ensure they win the pool.

BSC won?t be short of contributors come Saturday afternoon. Despite being shutout by FNU, forwards Cindy Jacquet, Lisette Rodriguez and Portia Davis each recorded multiple shots on goal on Thursday.

The trio was pivotal in BSC?s offensive control and they?ll be counted on again to put the Bobcats in a position to snag a spot in the final four.

Bryant & Stratton are back in action against SUNY Canton at 10:00 am on Saturday.