MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – In their first game since a record-setting 2021 campaign, the No. 4 nationally-ranked Wesleyan women's soccer team took down the visiting WPI Engineers, 2-0, from Smith Field on Wednesday night. Coming off an 18-win season and trip to the Final Four, Wesleyan (1-0) showed early signs that last season's success is no fluke.
 
The game started with the Cardinals holding the ball and having most of the possession, with the Engineers pressing high up the field to stop the attacking build up. In the opening minute, WPI's pressure nearly paid dividends but Sarah Hammond '22 came up with a stop on an Ashleigh Matsis attempt on-target.
 
Wesleyan's heavy possession dominance bore fruit for the first time in the 16^th minutes as a shot from Audrey Lavey '23 went just over the frame of the goal. The Cardinals continued to look for holes in the WPI defense to no avail as the half went on, managing an 8-3 edge in shots in the opening 45 minutes.
 
All the pressure sustained throughout a majority of the opening half paid off early in the second half as Kate Hausladen '23 took her defender on with the ball at her feet. She then played a cross into Andrea Chiappetti '24 who nudged the ball enough to Grace Devanny '23 behind her inside the box. Devanny jumped off the turf, brought the ball down to her feet and nudged a shot past Kelsey Leach in goal to put the Cardinals out in front.
 
Devanny nearly made it 2-0 just over 10 minutes later as she was left open just inside the box. With time to line up her shot, she picked the lower right post to shoot at and it took a sprawling save from Leach to deny another Cardinal goal.
 
Wesleyan put the game away in the 78^th minute as Serena Sink '24 possessed in the WPI defensive zone. Her attempted shot from distance was blocked but landed right to Devanny on the right wing. Spotting an opening at the far post, Devanny lofted a perfect cross to Catherine Gallagher '26 waiting to nudge the ball past Leach, providing a crucial insurance marker that proved enough for the 2-0 win.
 
Devanny registered one goal and one assist on the night, upping her career totals to 23 goals and 12 assists in 38 games. Hausladen tallied an assist while Gallagher scored in her collegiate debut for the Cardinals who outshot WPI 21-5 and 15-3 in shots-on-goal for the contest.
 
Hammond made two saves while playing the entire first half while Molly Brumbach '26 entered for the second half, made one save and picked up the victory in her first career game.
 
Up next for the Cardinals is the start of NESCAC play as Wesleyan welcomes Colby for an 11:00 AM start on Saturday from Jackson Field.