Senior forward Julia Moore charges down the field for the ball. (Sykes Carlson | Contributing Photographer)

Entering their games on Saturday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 20, both the WashU women’s and men’s soccer teams held undefeated season records. However, only one team left the weekend undefeated.

No. 1 women’s soccer

WashU women’s soccer has not ceded a single goal in the 2026 season. Last weekend proved no different as the Bears defeated the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) and Rhodes College 4-0 and 3-0, respectively.

The Bears took early control against UCSC, with junior forward Olivia Clemons scoring in the 22nd minute, finishing a pass from junior midfielder Emily Fox. WashU continued to build this lead after halftime, as senior forwards Julia Moore and Madi Foley extended the Bears’ advantage 15 minutes apart to make it 3-0. First-year midfielder Muriel Gamble capped the scoring with her first collegiate goal in the 75th minute. 

WashU dominated offensively, outshooting the Banana Slugs 25-1, recording nine shots on goal and five corner kicks. 

“Part of [our team’s defense strategy] is to try and keep the ball in our offensive third and part of it is to value the ball,” Head Coach Jim Conlon said. “The more we possess the ball, the less the other team has it. The less the other team has it, the [fewer] opportunities they have to score goals.”

On Sunday, Sept. 20, the Bears took on Rhodes, pushing their season’s record to 7-0. Not only did WashU win 3-0, but they did not let Rhodes have a single shot on goal. This stat has not been reached since the Bears’ season opener against Greenville University, reflecting WashU’s ability to control possession and limit opportunities throughout the game.

“I feel like [strong defense] starts up top,” Conlon said. “I think our forward line, our midfields, make the play very predictable for our backs, and then the backs are doing a good job winning the first ball or the second ball.”

Assisted by Fox, Clemons scored the first goal of the game by sinking the ball into the lower right corner. The second goal came in the 53rd minute: Senior midfielder Sophie Viscovich launched a 20-yard free kick over the Rhodes wall and into the net, giving WashU a 2-0 lead. 

The final goal came from another Clemons-Fox connection. Clemons dribbled around the goalkeeper, who had charged well off her line, and fired a cross to Fox. Fox buried the ball in the back of the net, cementing the Bears’ 3-0 win. 

The Bears will be looking to extend their undefeated record at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, on Francis Olympic Field against Millikin University. 

Junior defender Quentin Wallace passes the ball down the sideline. (Brayden Weigelt | Contributing Photographer)

Men’s soccer 

Heading into a heavily anticipated Senior Day matchup against the DePauw University Tigers on Sept. 19, WashU men’s soccer had always found a way to win. However, the Bears’ luck seemed to run out, as the team fell to the Tigers 1-0, suffering their first loss of the season. 

DePauw struck early in the ninth minute, heading the ball into the left side of WashU’s net. The Bears tried to equalize but failed to convert on any of their six shots on goal in the first half.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, the Bears came out aggressive in the second half, outshooting DePauw 14-1, compared to their six shots in the first half. Though the Bears couldn’t find the back of the net on any of these attempts, Head Coach Andrew Bordelon liked what he saw from his team in the second half.

“If we [continue to] put on a performance like that second half, we’re gonna win a lot more games,” Bordelon said.

WashU’s offense outshot the Tigers 20-7. The duo of senior forward Ethan Wirtschafter and sophomore forward Wole Adeoye together put up 11 shots, five of which were on target. As a team, the Tigers only had four shots on target. 

Looking ahead to conference play in the University Athletic Association (UAA), which begins on the road versus Brandeis University on Oct. 3, Bordelon remains optimistic about the rest of the season.

“I’m really encouraged about the UAA season, and hopefully we can continue to do very well there,” Bordelon said. “I know we’ve got a target on our back, but I think these guys are ready for it.” 

WashU will have another chance to improve before UAA play when they take on a nonconference opponent, Centre College, at home on Sept. 26.