WORCESTER -- Waverly Meyers (Stamford, CT) netted the only goal of the match 30 minutes in as the visiting Cardinals began their season with a 1-0 shutout of WPI in a non-conference women's soccer matchup on a warm and humid Tuesday evening in H.Carr Stadium.  Wesleyan is 1-0 in 2023 while the Crimson and Gray fall to 1-2 on the season.
 
On the goal, the guests worked the ball from their defensive end with precision passing that saw sophomore Stefanie Stoj (Vernon, CT) feed her classmate Meyers just outside the box. The Connecticut native made a nifty spin move towards the left post and shot the ball into the far corner at 29:39 for the game-winner.
 
WPI's two best chances in the opening half were their first two shots, but Madisyn Bagby's (Aurora, CO) bids were turned away by Wesleyan netminder Julliette Vemmer (Cumberland, RI).  Audrey Lavey (Newton, MA) nearly put one in late in the 12th minute but floated her shot just over the crossbar.  The Cardinals best chance before their goal came nearly seven minutes later as Kerenza Leahey (Exeter, RI) belted a rocket towards the left post but was cleared off the line by WPI back Bailey Allmon (Woodbine, ND).
 
The second half was evenly matched with neither team generating significant scoring opportunities. WPI received second stanza shots from Hannah Wolfgang (Holliston, MA), Lily Guiliano (North Salem, NY), Lottie McLeod (Newton, MA) and Fiona Prendergast (Sudbury, MA) with only Prendergast's requiring a Vemmer save.
 
Vemmer was credited with four stops en route to registering the Wesleyan shutout while WPI goalkeeper Lili Hellerman (Ashland, MA) made three saves in her 2023 debut.
 
Wesleyan outshot the Engineers 18-10 on the night and enjoyed a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
 
WPI turns its attention to a busy weekend, traveling to Union Saturday for a 2pm match before entertaining local rival Worcester State on Sunday at 1pm.  Wesleyan begins NEWMAC play on Saturday heading to Colby for an 11am kickoff.