WATERVILLE, Me. – Trailing 1-0 after the first quarter, the Wesleyan field hockey team scored three unanswered and five of the next six goals to defeat the Mules 6-3 on Saturday afternoon from Alfond Field. Wesleyan moves to 2-0 (1-0 NESCAC) on the season while Colby falls in their season opener.
 
A landmark achievement sees the Cardinals score their second-highest goal total in a NESCAC game in program history. The single-game record for most goals in a NESCAC game came back in a 7-1 win over Bates on Oct 8, 2011. The Cardinals have scored 6+ just one other time, a 6-0 win at Amherst on Oct. 22, 2005.
 
Kenzie Mauro '27 continues to impress in her first week of collegiate action, scoring twice for her first career multi-goal game and upping her season total to three in just two games. Georgia Adams '26 found the back of the net twice for her first career multi-goal game. Imani Ochieng '25 tallied two assists for her first career multi-assist game.
 
Colby took a 1-0 lead after the first quarter being outshot 8-3 and seeing Wesleyan generate four penalty corners compared to just one for the Mules.
 
The comeback started at the midway point in the second quarter where Ochieng sent a shot from the near side towards the cage with plenty of traffic in front of goal. A loose ball found its way to Mauro's stick who fired home the equalizer.
 
Just over four minutes later, off another penalty corner, a lofted shot sent in from Mauro was initially dealt with by the Colby goalkeeper but the ball continued towards the cage until it hit the shoe of a Mule defender. The denial of what would have been a goal gave the Cardinals a penalty stroke, which was buried by Mauro to the left side of the cage.
 
Now leading 2-1 at the break, Wesleyan continued on its scoring run as Annabel Cincotta '25 worked her way around a Colby defender before sliding a perfect pass towards Adams. Receiving the ball and immediately deeking out her defender, it put Adams one-on-one with the keeper and the sophomore forward made no mistake, making it 3-1 Cardinals.
 
Colby got one back with 4:43 left in the third quarter but an immediate response just 41 seconds later restored the two-goal lead for Wesleyan. Helen Deretchin '25 lined up a backhanded pass to Adams who deftly handled the rocket pass in-stride. Going to her left, Adams caught the Colby goalkeeper off-guard with a backhanded shot that found the back of the cage.
 
Deretchin later made it 5-2 with just 1:10 left in the 3^rd quarter as she landed perfect contact on a backhand shot from distance, with the shot finding its way past several players in front before eventually sliding home at the far post.
 
Colby pressed for goals in the 4^th quarter but could only manage one with 8:24 remaining. Wesleyan shut the door with style, as Ochieng inserted to Kenzie Kelly '25 at the top of the arc. Kelly then ran to her right, beating the Mule defender to her spot, and finishing with her first goal of the season.
 
Audrey Pace '26 made 10 saves, picking up her second win of the season. Emily Loeb made 19 saves for the Mules.
 
Next up for the Cardinals is a busy week with three non-conference games, starting on Tuesday with a trip to Clark for a 7 PM start.