Exactly one year ago, campus was quiet: there were no tailgates, no prime-time games and fall sports were stunted. Fast forward to present day and everything is different: athletics are ramping up, preseason rankings are out, the lights are on and the mighty Chargers are ready to take the field.

The blue and gold returned to DellaCamera Stadium, picked as the preseason favorites in the Coaches Poll, and opened up their season hosting Franklin Pierce on Saturday. The team returns to action on Sept. 18, when they will host Bowie State with kickoff at 1 p.m.

While the traditional sports are back, one takes the headlines, and that is the inaugural season for the new varsity women’s rugby team. Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger announced in February the addition of women’s rugby as the 18th varsity sport at the university. Just six months later, the team took the field at DellaCamera Stadium. Rugby opened their season with an afternoon match on Sept. 6 when they hosted Manhattanville.

Women’s soccer returned to action at Kathy Zolad Stadium hosting Post University in the opening weekend tournament in front of their home crowd. The Chargers walked away with a win in overtime when midfielder Mackenzie Myers netted a penalty kick to give the Chargers the 3-2 victory. They return to action on Sept. 5 when they host Georgian Court University at Kathy Zolad with kickoff at 4 p.m.

On the other side of the pitch, the men’s soccer team took to the road to open up their season, taking on Bridgeport University. The men captured their first win of the season defeating Bridgeport 4-3. They will open up their home campaign Sept. 8, where they will host Bloomfield College with kickoff at 4 p.m. at Kathy Zolad Stadium.

Following up the rugby team, the field hockey team opened up their fall campaign, hosting Adelphi University under the lights at DellaCamera Stadium. The Chargers dropped a tough one losing 2-1 in extra time. They return to the field on Sept. 5 where they will host Saint Anselm College starting at 3:30 p.m.

Volleyball hit the hardwood Friday at the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament in Clarion Pennsylvania. (Game results and stats). They return to Connecticut to attend the Post Eagles Tournament, which kicks off on Sept. 10 to face off against Bridgeport in the first matchup.

Fall sports are back at the university and all teams’ full schedules and home game live streams on the Charger Sports Network can be found on the athletics website.