MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The No. 14 Wesleyan women's soccer team continued their torrid start to the 2021 season with a 4-0 win over Coast Guard on Tuesday night from Smith Field. The Cardinals (4-0, 2-0 NESCAC) are off to their second-best start to a season in program history, second only to the 1993 season when Wesleyan rattled off six straight wins to open the year. Through four matches, Wesleyan has outscored opponents 14-0 and officially set a new program record for longest shutout streak at 360 minutes.

Production came from all across the Wesleyan lineup as the Cardinals had four different players scored a goal in a match that saw nine players tally at least one point. Grace Devanny '23 scored in the 10^th minute while Kate Hausladen '23, Ally Stanton '24 and Gianna Argento '21, P'22 also found the scoresheet.
 
HIGHLIGHTS:

• Wesleyan took play to the Bears right from the jump Audrey Lavey '23 lofted a cross from the far sideline deep into the box for Devanny who slipped in front of the Coast Guard defender and put her head on the ball which found the back of the net, slipping past Sarah Schollenberger in net to make it 1-0 Wesleyan just under 10 minutes into play
• Coast Guard nearly had an answer just about 12 minutes later as Brielle Pearce took a shot from just outside the 18 that dipped over Sarah Hammond '22 in net but range off the crossbar as the lead remained with Wesleyan
• A second Cardinal goal came in the 28^th minute as the ball deflected to Melissa Wilhelm '22 towards the top of the box and the senior midfielder slipped a pass to Hausladen who was cutting in towards the net. All Hausladen needed was a little flick with her left foot as the keeper Schollenberger was left guessing and suddenly it was 2-0 Cardinals
• Less than 10 minutes later, Wesleyan's third goal of the opening half came off the head of Stanton as Caty Clements '25 came tearing down the left wing, carrying towards the end line and crossing into the box where Stanton was waiting with a header that found the back of the net as the third Cardinal goal represented Stanton's first career tally and Clement's first career assist
• With a host of new players stepping onto the field for Wesleyan at the start of the second half, it was more of the same in terms of the action as the Cardinals continued to dominate possession which led to a fourth goal, this time from Argento. The play started with Lina Rodriguez '24 winning the ball at the near side, passing up field to Emily Ribatt '21, P'22 who sent a through ball to Saige Rovero '24. The sophomore beat her defender to the ball, carried to the end line and centered to Argento who made a good run inside the Coast Guard defender to poke the shot past the diving keeper

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Through four matches, Wesleyan has 14 goals scored by 11 different Cardinals
• Devanny and Argento both scored their second goals of the season in tonight's win, tied for the team-lead
• This is the second straight match in which Devanny scored the game-winning goal
• Wilhelm dished out her second assist of 2021, tied with Andi Wiley '22 for tops on the team
• Hammond made one save while Erin Dailey '23 came on at the start of the second half as the Cardinal duo put together their second combined shutout of the season
• The shot total favored Wesleyan 24-4 (12-2 in shots on-target) while the Cardinals had a 7-1 edge in corner kicks
• Wesleyan held a 61%-39% edge in time of possession for the match
• Wesleyan is 5-1 all-time against Coast Guard and have won three straight in the series history

NEXT UP:
Wesleyan shifts their focus back to conference play as the Cardinals play host to Bowdoin on Saturday, Sept. 25 for a 2 PM start from Jackson Field.