With temperatures dipping into the low 30s, the Pam Pack laced up their boots and hit the pavement-like pitch to take on J.H. Rose in the season opener.

Braving the elements, the Washington girls soccer team battled for all 80 minutes with a composed defense and organized offensive attack, but failed to put the ball in the back of the net, losing to Rose, 1-0.

“For the first game of the season with very little practice, I was pleased,” said head coach Ed Rodriguez. “We had some chances to score and the defense did very well. I think it was a good performance, and I’m pleased with what I saw.”

The Pam Pack were without their captain, last season’s leading scorer and future Queens University center midfielder Alana Jefferson for most of the preseason practices due to the basketball team’s appearance in the state tournament last week. A dual-sport athlete, Jefferson is also the starting point guard for head coach Allison Jones.

On Friday, the complete team came together for the first time and put up a fight. As the mercury dipped, Washington spread the field and strung together a few good opportunities at the net. Just minutes into the game, junior midfielder Caitlyn Scott ripped a shot at the Rose goalie, but came up short.

Rose answered with immense offensive pressure, as striker Virginia Adams fired off shot after shot at goalie Emily Alligood. The Pam Pack keeper came up big in the first half and kept her squad in the game.

With just one sub and limited practice time this week, Washington’s endurance did not fluster.

“I think our offensive tempo was pretty good,” said Jefferson. “It’s definitely a struggle because we get tired and only have one sub, but I think we played pretty good so far.”

In the second half, Adams remained poised, firing off shot after shot from about 20 yards out. Still, the Washington net remained impermeable.

Then, in the 30th minute, senior midfielder Rebecca Omonde deposited one in the back of the net just seconds after Rodriguez had subbed her in. However, the referees overturned the goal due to a foul just before the shot outside the box. Just 10 minutes later, the momentum would shift.

In the 20th minute, Rose senior Lyda Sypawka struck one from just outside the box and over the head of an outstretched Alligood for the first and only goal of the match. Washington desperately tried to press in the final minutes, but failed to net a goal.

Jefferson and the Pam Pack will try to pick up win No. 1 against Holmes Monday at 6 p.m.