PROVIDENCE, R.I. –  On the precipice of an appearance in their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's soccer championship game, Mount Ida College saw their tournament run cut short by a 1-0 defeat to Johnson & Wales University on Tuesday evening at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex. 

The fifth-seeded Mustangs fall to 9-9-1 on the season and bow out of the tournament after making their first appearance in the semifinals since 2008, while top seeded Johnson & Wales (14-5-1) will host Norwich University in Saturday afternoon's title game. 

Wildcats senior Ray Durski (Monroe, N.J.) scored in the 72^nd minute for the only scoring of the game, which sends the defending champions back to the GNAC championship for the 10^th time in school history.  

Mount Ida was unable to find a shot on goal against a Johnson & Wales defensive line, and though the hosts held a 7-2 edge in shots and an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks in the first half, the teams went to the break in a scoreless tie. 

Senior Mat Pils (Monroe, Conn.) had three saves in the setback for Mount Ida, including a leaping punch on a shot by Kyle Metz (St. James, N.Y.) with a half hour remaining in the first half. 

JWU again had several opportunities early in the second half, including a ten second stretch with three shots on goal, but couldn't find the back of the net as the game remained scoreless.  In the 72^nd minute, Metz a ball down the right sideline and sent a crossing pass to Durski who put a shot into the lower right corner of the net to give the Wildcats the 1-0 lead.  

JWU held on for the victory while outshooting Mount Ida by an 18-5 margin for the contest. 

Senior Ryan Dzierzawski (Oakland, Mich.) extended his scoreless streak to 562:59 to earn the shutout victory for the Wildcats. 

Mount Ida's record puts them in contention for a possible berth in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England tournament, in which the Mustangs made their first appearance last season.