ROCKLIN, Calif. – With a week of rest and practice taking place since Jessup last stepped on the pitch, the Warriors resumed action Friday night under the lights at UC Merced. The Warriors found a late equalizer in the opening half, but ultimately, they finished on the wrong end of a 3-1 finish.
 
Post-match, head coach David Nolan spoke about the things he liked Friday evening. "A lot of positives from the game. We controlled the game comfortably in the first half, only to gift them a goal. But the girls showed great character to hit back quick."
 
That aforementioned opening goal came in the 41st minute when the Bobcats found the net thanks to an unassisted strike from Stephanie Medina.
 
Less than 120-seconds later, the Warriors found the net themselves when Nadia Vazquez placed a shot over the keeper's reach to knot the score at 1-1. The goal was the first of the season for this Jessup squad, playing in their second official contest of the campaign.
 
The Bobcats would take the lead early in the second half after Jenn Salinger's 51st-minute tally set the score at 2-1. In the 87^th minute, the Warriors' comeback bid was put to rest as Haylee Heffner scored off an assist from Jocelyne Garcia, placing the score at its eventual 3-1 finish.
 
Nolan spoke about the second-half start, adding, "The first ten minutes of the second half we piled the pressure on and should have been rewarded with a goal, but the crossbar and poor finishing prevented that."
 
One noticeable change for Jessup on Friday was at goalkeeper. Getting the start in her Warriors debut was Olivia Foulk. Foulk recently changed positions and made an excellent showing in her debut, totaling seven shots.
 
The loss pushes the Warriors to 0-2 on the season.
 
In closing remarks, Nolan spoke to the opportunities for Jessup, stating, "Each game there is an improvement, but we need to be able to put a performance together for 90-minutes."
 
The next chance to improve comes in eight days when the Warriors welcome Bushnell University to Rocklin. The home opener will start at 11 a.m.
   
William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter and Instagram).