Senior Gaelen Clayton attempts to beat an Illinois Wesleyan defender in a win last week. (Brandon Juarez-Ramos | Student Life)

Last time the No. 1 Washington University women’s soccer team faced off against No. 17 Calvin University, the Bears won 4-1 in the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. In their eight previous matchups, WashU beat the Knights each time. On Sept. 23, WashU faced off against Calvin once again. Despite outshooting Calvin 29-7, the Bears could not find the back of the net. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, the first for WashU this season.

With the draw, the Bears remain undefeated with a record of 8-0-1, including a decisive 5-0 victory over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Sept. 21.

“Calvin is a very, very talented team,” head coach Jim Conlon said. “I think they rushed us into a couple shots. I think we couldn’t get a hit with the timing of them. Even though we’re getting shots, their keeper played very well. I thought our team was absolutely tremendous in moving the ball today. We just couldn’t find that one in the back of the net.”

Though the scoreline against the Bears’ first-ranked opponent of the 2024 season might not show it, WashU’s dominant offense was on display once again against Calvin. Led by sophomore Sophie Viscovich, who recorded nine shots, and junior Grace Ehlert, who recorded four, the Bears tested Knights goalkeeper Kalex Dodge, but she was up to the test, recording 11 saves to hold the Bears scoreless for the first time this season.

The Bears defense, led by graduate student Ally Hacket, senior Olivia Foster, and sophomore Regan Cannon kept a clean sheet against the Knights and only allowed two shots, both of which were saved by graduate student goalkeeper Sidney Connor. WashU’s defense, which allowed no goals through 15 games in the 2023 season, has kept six consecutive clean sheets and only allowed three goals so far this season.

“I think at the end of the day, it really comes down to team defense,” All-UAA senior defender Emma Riley McGahan said. “Although I sit on the backline with some great defenders, it really starts up top with the forwards, goes through to the midfielder, to backline and then our goalkeepers. So it’s really just everyone putting in the effort and making sure they’re willing to win their one v. one battles to put a bunch of zeros on the board for the other team.”

Sophomore Alexandra Karolak passes the ball against Illinois Wesleyan. (Anna Calvo | Student Life)

In Saturday’s match against Rose-Hulman, the Bears dominated all corners of play, outshooting their opponent 26-2 and recording 12 shots on goal to Rose-Hulman’s one. While the match featured scoring by regular scorers for the Bears, including first-year forward Olivia Clemons and sophomore forward Madi Foley, new faces also contributed to the Bears scoring.

McGahan, who has been a stalwart of the Bears back line, scored the Bears’ first goal against Rose-Hulman, the first goal of her collegiate career. 

“It’s really nice to see all the hard work come to fruition in the form of a goal,” McGahan said. “At the end of the day, I’m really happy that, historically, I’ve been able to fill my role on the defensive side. So seeing a little bit of a change on the attacking side is always really fun and extra exciting.”

In addition, first-year midfielder Cami Colpitts notched two goals in the 65th and 85th minutes to seal the match for the Bears and put her total goal count in her first collegiate season to three.

The Bears, who are now 8-0-1, have two more non-conference games against Webster University and Greenville University on Sept. 25 and Oct. 1, before beginning UAA play in Atlanta against No. 13 Emory University on Oct. 5.

The UAA, which the Bears won last season, is one of the most competitive conferences in Division III for women’s soccer; all eight teams are currently nationally ranked. In 2023, the UAA sent seven of its eight teams to the NCAA tournament, with three, including WashU, making it to the Sweet 16. 

Going into UAA play, the Bears are looking to continue taking the season one game at a time as they gear up to face some of the best teams in the country.

“The UAA is a great conference,” Conlon said. “We know it’s gonna be a battle day in and day out. I think we’re trying to learn week by week who we are and make sure we’re ready when October rolls around.”

Update: WashU played Webster University on Wednesday, Sept. 25. The Bears returned to the winning column with a 3-0 win, their seventh straight shutout. Ehlert scored two goals, both of which were assisted by Clemons. Clemons scored the Bears’ third and final goal in the win.