MIDDLETOWN, CT. – Without worry of the rain that fell in buckets at Smith Field, the Wesleyan women's soccer team put on a show on Sunday afternoon, posting a 5-0 shutout of WestConn to close out the opening weekend as the dominant efforts were spearheaded once again by Maria Utz '27.

Utz, who finished the weekend with six total points, was the playmaker of the first half. While she would not score her own until the final minutes of regulation, Utz set up the first two goals in near identical fashion to dig the Wolves a deeper offensive hole.

The Cardinals' star-studded defense was yet another star of this afternoon's matchup. While the offense took care of business down in front of Wolves goalkeeper Gracen Regan, Tori Rideau-Winds '26 and Sheridan Snow '28 allowed just one total shot through 90 minutes. Goalkeepers Molly Brumbach '26 and Marley Hansard '29 did not see a shot on goal, each playing a full half.

With just 10 minutes underway from the opening kickoff, Meredith Feiner '28 was the first to the board. The Cardinals, bracing for a throw in to resume play, regained possession low on the near line with Utz waiting just outside the box. Utz's cross through found Feiner at the top of the goalie box. Wasting little time, Waverly Meyers '26 scored just five minutes later on an identical pass from Utz. Brought down into the attacking zone by Brianna Garcia '28, Utz rallied the ball into the penalty box for Meyers stationed out in front of Regan.

Unrelenting for the remainder of the half, the Cardinals' third scoring opportunity was Stefanie Stoj '26 in a last-ditch attempt to stay in bounds. Rachel Katz '28 passed the ball down into the middle from the near line where Payton Radosti '29 was able to get an initial step on. Meyer's shot was thwarted off target, but it was no matter for Stoj charging in from the left, setting it into the right corner. Kaitlyn Connors '29 closed the first 45 minutes with her first-career goal as a Cardinal, making a direct shot on Regan from the arch. Regan stopped the ball on the tips of her gloves but lost possession, the ball rolled over the line.

While quiet for most of the second half, the Cardinals did not allow the Wolves out of their own zone for very long. Hansard relieved Brumbach in goal, tasked with a few goal kicks to clear the zone. Utz's glory came in the 86^th minute on a breakaway at midfield. Utz faced little defense and struck with Katherine Pease caught high in the box.

The Cardinals totaled 25 shots on the Wolves, Feiner with four.

The Cardinals return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 10, when they travel to WPI for a 7 p.m. kickoff.