This post was written by Hatchet reporter Scott Nover.

Women’s soccer slotted an easy 2-0 win Sunday against Delaware State to get back in the win column as conference play approaches.

Although back-to-back losses last week spoiled a perfect start to the season, GW (6-2-0) fought off the Hornets with two second-half goals supplied by midfielders Kate Elson and Brooke Stoller.

“I think we needed to go back to doing what we did best, and I think against Georgetown we played quite well,” head coach Sarah Barnes said. “But against Drexel, I thought we were a little off of our game. So that was really our focus, it was more about [getting] back to basics.”

For the first half of Sunday’s game, GW’s offensive woes continued. The Hornets’ offense was not threatening the Colonials, but their defense thwarted early attempts at GW attacks.

“In the second half, we talked a lot about playing simple, connecting and moving after the pass,” Barnes said. “I thought we did a significantly better job. We were a lot more focused, and because of that, we were able to generate a lot more attack.”

Stoller picked up her first goal of the season in the 57th minute, dribbling toward the goal and placing the ball just under the crossbar of the far corner – a ball hard for any goalkeeper to knock away.

Elson collected her first goal of the season in a similar fashion in the 78th minute of play.

“Kate’s [goal] was very reminiscent of the first goal,” Barnes said. “Again, a high ball to the high post corner.”

Overall, the Colonials’ attack was consistent and relentless. GW outshot Delaware State 17-5 and forced the Hornets goalkeeper to make nine saves.

Defensively, Barnes gave junior Ellen Conway the start in goal in place of Miranda Horn. Through 90 minutes of play, Conway was tested just once, tallying one save against Delaware State’s lone shot on goal.

While GW takes on its first A-10 opponent on Saturday in George Mason (2-6-0), the game technically counts as the last non-conference game of the Colonials’ schedule, Barnes said. Still perfect (3-0-0) at home, GW will look to simplify play and drive to the net when the team hosts the Patriots.

“I think it’s really fine tuning our defensive effort and on offense, continuing to work on being unpredictable,” Barnes said. “Sometimes we get caught playing one way, and that becomes very easy to defend. We’ve got to think of different ways to break teams down depending on different ways they defend us.”