Sophomore Olivia Clemons scored a hat trick against Rochester and the game-winning goal against Emory. (Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor)

697 days ago, the WashU women’s soccer team lost the Division III national championship to California Lutheran University.

The Bears have not lost since.

In the 41 games since their 1-0 defeat on Dec. 2, 2023, the WashU women’s soccer team has won or drawn every game, holding a 38-0-3 record. The Bears have shut out their opponents in 30 of them and scored more than four times in 15 games. Last season, WashU set a program record with a 25-game unbeaten streak — they have extended it to 41 games through the 2025 campaign. Their 5-0 victory over the No. 16 University of Rochester on Oct. 24 marked number 40 in the streak. 

To head coach Jim Conlon, the milestone victory was just another game. 

“[I] didn’t even know [about the streak],” Conlon said. “We’re just trying to get better each day. We know the UAA [University Athletic Association] has eight great teams in it. We’re gonna have to play seven great opponents.”

The Bears faced two of the UAA’s best on Oct. 24 and Oct. 26, getting crucial road wins over Rochester and No. 1 Emory University. With the victory, WashU returns to the No. 1 ranking in Division III — a spot it has held in 11 of the 17 United Soccer Coaches polls taken since the start of the 2024 season. 

WashU started the weekend hot in Rochester, dominating a Yellowjackets team that has given the Bears issues in the past few seasons. In the 24th minute, senior forward Ella Koleno broke the ice with her sixth goal of the season. Sophomore midfielder Cami Colpitts scored in the 35th minute to extend the WashU lead. The Bears wore out Rochester in the first half with their physical play style, committing 10 fouls while not allowing a single shot on goal. 

From then on, the game became the Olivia Clemons show. Despite coming off the bench and playing just 41 minutes, the sophomore striker scored her second collegiate hat trick. Clemons’ three goals brought the score to 5-0. 

“Gosh, it just makes every one of us so proud to be her teammate,” junior defense Regan Cannon said of Clemons. “We’re so proud of her and all that she’s done. She is the most humble person about it, and she will never brag about it herself.” 

Despite the significance of the Bears’ win over Rochester, Sunday’s game at Emory was more important for WashU. The Bears, defending national champions and ranked No. 2 in the nation, faced No. 1 Emory University. Entering play, neither team had lost in 2025.

In the 23rd minute, the Bears struck first. Senior forward Grace Ehlert shot a bullet from the top of the box into the far-right corner to end the Eagles’ seven-game shutout streak. 

While WashU led on the scoresheet, Emory outplayed the Bears in the first half. By halftime, the Eagles had six shots, four corners, and possession of the ball for 66% of the game — 68% of which was in their attacking half.

Less than two minutes into the second half, the Eagles evened the score. Emory forward Kaitlyn Nimmer received a leading pass and got a rare shot off sophomore goalie Kassidy Lanthier, who came off her line too late in an attempt to make a save. Nimmer’s goal was just the third that Lanthier had conceded this year, and just the fourth team goal conceded all season. 

However, the tied score did not put a damper on the Bears. After Emory’s goal, WashU quickly refocused after a team huddle. In the next five minutes, WashU took three shots, two of which were on goal. 

“We all like to get together and remind ourselves that we’re on the same page and we’re all going to lock in, and we don’t have to be phased by that,” Cannon said. “[In the huddle, we discussed] how can we come together, take a quick reset, and then come out with energy firing.”

With just 10 minutes remaining, Lanthier made a crucial save. After the save, Emory headed Lanthier’s goal kick to a dangerous area, where the ball found its way to WashU’s speedy Clemons. In her classic fashion, Clemons beat three Emory players to the ball and deposited it into the low left corner of the goal to put the Bears up 2-1. 

Emory pushed hard late in the second half, but could not find the back of the net. With their 2-1 win, WashU handed Emory its first loss of the 2025 season, while extending its own unbeaten streak to 41 games.

Conlon credited the team’s success this weekend to a team effort. 

“I thought the [midfield] did a really good job all weekend,” Conlon said. “[Junior] Sophie Viscovich and [sophomore] Kate Martin really did a wonderful job of setting the tempo of play for the entire team. So I think those two were critical in what we were doing this weekend.” 

After a weekend of two games on the road, WashU will focus on recovery before preparing for its next match, which will be against conference rivals No. 24 New York University (NYU) at home on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 1:30 p.m. If the Bears win their next game, WashU will win their third consecutive UAA championship. 

“The transition is: get home, get a good night’s sleep, study a little bit, and we’ll get back to work on Tuesday,” Conlon said. “But right now, after a four-day travel trip, it is, get back to St. Louis and get in our beds and rest up. We’ll worry about NYU in a couple of days.”