NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's soccer team opened the 2024 season with a 6-0 victory over the University of Saint Joseph on Tuesday afternoon at Freeman Field.

Ella Gazo (Colchester, Vt.) paved the way for the Camels with two goals and an assist. Conn held a 37-1 shot advantage for the contest and pressured the USJ back line from the opening whistle. 

The Camels produced several good scoring chances in the early going before breaking through in the 13th minute. Katelyn Hardwick (Milton, Ga.) set up the first goal of the season by chipping a pass ahead to Gazo for a right-footed strike and a 1-0 lead. 

Just over five minutes later, the Camels doubled the margin on a tally by Ella Davidyock (Newtown, Pa.). Gazo initiated the play with a ball from the far touchline that Davidyock tracked down at the top of the penalty area. With a defender on her left hip, Davidyock took a touch to advance the ball into the six-yard box before ripping a shot past USJ keeper Madison Corcoran.

Conn's third goal came in the 25th minute off a corner kick won by Sarah Hobbs (Montclair, N.J.). Una McCorry (Bronxville, N.Y.) served the ball into traffic at the near post, and Chloe Koubel (Westbury, N.Y.) drove a header across the box that slipped inside the far post for her first collegiate goal.

The Camels made it 4-0 before intermission on a goal by Maya Griffin (Madison, Wis.) in the 31st minute. Conn played a ball into the box that USJ failed to clear away, and Griffin outworked her defender to finish off the loose ball into the upper-left corner. 

Conn continued its dominance in the second half and added a pair of scores to the final stat line. Gazo netted her second of the day in the 58th minute, flicking home a feed from Hardwick from the top of the 18. Lilla Kate Tucker (Marietta, Ga.) tacked on the final marker in the 65th minute, deflecting a potential clear on the right sideline to keep the ball in the Camels' offensive end. She then beat the defender to the ball and dribbled in for an open look from in front for her first career goal.  

Ella Kahrl (Wellesley, Mass.) got the starting nod in goal for the Camels and didn't face a shot in 57 minutes. Riley Schlick-Trask (Bradenton, Fla.), Emily McBride (Alexandria, Va.) and Maia Kafer (Philadelphia, Pa.) all saw action off the bench in the combined shutout. McBride recorded the lone save in the 74th minute on an attempt by USJ's Ella Khongkham. 

Corcoran finished with 11 saves for the Blue Jays, who dropped to 0-3-0 on the season.

Conn (1-0-0 overall) will open NESCAC play at Amherst College on Saturday, September 7 at noon.