NEW LONDON, Conn. - Nine months removed from winning the NCAA Division III Championship, the men's soccer team returned to the pitch to begin the 2022 season. The Camels routed Mitchell 9-0 on a rainy Tuesday afternoon at Silfen field. Senior Steve Yeonas (McLean, Va.) led the way with a pair of goals in the first 18 minutes to set the tone for the home team. 

Connecticut College (1-0) started out hot right out of the gates and never looked back. The Camels got on the board early when junior Sam Boehm (Lexington, Mass.) crossed a line drive pass into the box. Yeonas was able to collect the ball, and with his left foot and put in past the Mitchell goalkeeper, Dylan Kinsella, to give his team a 1-0 lead just 5:25 minutes in. Less than 12 minutes later, the senior fielded a slick lead pass from first year Gaven Vanden Berg (Lake Forest Park, Wash.) and beat the remaining to defenders in a foot race to score an easy goal by Kinsella.

In the 21^st minute, it was Vanden Berg who found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal. After Roman Dutkewych (Ellington, Conn.) crossed a beautiful ball from near midfield into the left side of the box to Yeonas, the captain found his wide open first year teammate, who rocketed home a shot from about eight yards out to give the Camels a 3-0 lead with 24 minutes to go in the first half.

Conn would add one more before the break, when in the 39^th minute, Alessandro Horvath Diano (New Haven, Conn.) crossed a corner kick into the box in front of Kinsella. The 2021 NESCAC Player of the year, Augie Djerdjaj (Mahopac, N.Y.), rose above the Mitchell defenders to score a header inside the right post. 

Leading 4-0 at halftime, the Camels did not let off the gas to begin the second frame. Just three minutes into the half, Oury Diane (West Haven, Conn.) scored an improbable goal. The sophomore dribbled up the Mitchell defensive end as he was forced to his left by a Mariner defender. Nearly about to cross the end line, Diane unleashed a shot with his left foot, at a near parallel angle to the goalkeeper. The ball bounced through the hands of Kinsella and into the back of the net to give the hosts a five-goal lead.

More improbability ensued less than five minutes later. First year Maurice Pigola (Gorlitz, Germany) belted a corner kick from the left side that miraculously curved directly into the goal without being touched by another offensive player. The rare "Olimpico" resulted in the first collegiate goal for Pigola and extended the Conn lead to 6-0.

With the game well in hand, the Camels offensive attack still found ways to make plays. Luke Cibelli (New York, N.Y.), Dylan Zane (Montego Bay, Jamaica) and Alex Robles (Reston, Va.) all tallied goals in the final 23 minutes to end the rout in a decisive 9-0 victory for the hosts.

While the offense was relentless all game, the defensive efforts proved to be just as dominant. Conn did not allow a single shot on goal during the 90 minutes of play and hardly allowed any offensive pressure from Mitchell. 

Connecticut College will travel to No. 6 Tufts on Saturday, September 10 in a rematch of last season's National Quarterfinal, in which the Camels won 5-4. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.