First-year Olivia Clemons scored two goals in her college debut against Trine. (Bri Nitsberg | Student Life)

Last year, the No. 2 Washington University women’s soccer team went 15 straight games without giving up a goal. The 2024 season got off to a different start, with the Bears finding themselves in an unfamiliar position, trailing both opponents — Trine University and Centre College — during the opening weekend of the regular season.

However, in both matches, the Bears showed their resilience, bouncing back to defeat Trine 8-1 — the team’s largest margin of victory in a season opener since 2013 — and besting Centre 2-1, opening their season with two decisive wins on Aug. 30 and Sept. 1.

“I think the players have shown great resolve in both games,” head coach Jim Conlon said after Sunday’s 2-1 victory. “They didn’t panic when we got down a goal. They stuck to their principles, which allowed us to come back and win both of them.”

The Bears’ offensive charge over the weekend was led by junior Grace Ehlert, who recorded three goals: two against Trine and the go-ahead goal against Centre. Fellow junior Ella Koleno and first-year Olivia Clemons, who made her collegiate debut, each tallied two goals against the Thunder. Sophomore Madi Foley also tallied two goals over the weekend — rounding out Friday’s 8-1 victory and leveling the score 1-1 against Centre — and senior Meryl McKenna added one.

Ehlert, who was named the University Athletic Association (UAA) Athlete of the Week, said that winning Friday’s game by a wide margin provided the team with a confidence boost going into the season.

“It was definitely good for everyone’s confidence,” she said on Friday. “We had a lot of new people, [and] a lot of people score[d] a lot of different goals today … we have a lot of threats all over the field, so [that] just really [helped] with [our confidence]. And seeing the ball go in the back of the goal a lot of times is great.”

Grace Ehlert scored three goals, including this penalty against Trine. (Bri Nitsberg | Student Life)

Friday’s game provided an opportunity for first-years to gain valuable on-field experience, and sent the message for new players, including Clemons and first-year goalkeeper Suzie Green, to “play to [their] capabilities,” according to Conlon.

Foley also recorded a strong performance, scoring two goals in two games, including the equalizer against the Colonels. For Foley, whose 2023 season was cut short by an injury, this weekend’s performances were especially meaningful.

“This year, I just wanted to be able to really emphasize taking advantage of every second I have on the field,” she said. “I think just making sure that, whenever I’m out there, I’m able to make an impact in any way possible has just been a bit of a mentality switch for me after coming off of my first major injury of my career.” 

Sunday’s game also marked Senior Day, where all 10 seniors and graduate students were recognized and started against the Colonels. The seniors, who were recruited during the height of COVID, have left a lasting impact on the team, according to Conlon.

“I think this senior class has tremendous leadership, and I believe that they’re kind of setting a great foundation for this program,” he said. “They’ve allowed us to embrace new people into the family that aren’t just incoming freshmen. So I think their leadership, coupled with their talent, is going to leave a fantastic legacy.

The seniors, according to Foley, were a source of motivation for the team throughout the match.

“I think [that], especially yesterday, we obviously wanted a win for our seniors, but I think that [with] the competitive nature of this team, we’re able to fight back from adversity and have each other’s backs and have the trust and belief in each other that we’re going to get the job done,” she said.

Coming out of their first weekend of regular-season play 2-0, WashU will continue its slate of non-conference games at home against North Central College on Sept. 6, before kicking off a road campaign at Westminster College (MO) and DePauw University on Sept. 10 and 13.

As they approach UAA play, the WashU squad has one goal: to get better every game.

“I think that we’re ready to just keep competing, keep bettering ourselves, and just kind of continuing to find our rhythm, find our stride … we’re not taking any one game for granted, because every single one of these games is going to have an impact on us.” Foley said.