NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A series of one-goal games have tested the Yale field hockey team throughout the early part of the 2021 season. After losing the first three such contests, on Saturday afternoon at Johnson Field the Bulldogs pulled out a victory in one at an opportune time -- the Ivy League opener against Brown. Junior midfielder Théodora Dillman's goal on a penalty corner with 4:04 left provided the winning margin in the 2-1 triumph.
 
Offense was tough to come by on a hot, cloudless day at Johnson Field. Brown (3-4, 0-1 Ivy League) scored the lone goal of the first half, going up 1-0 10 minutes in on a tally by midfielder/forward Danielle van Rootselaar. 
 
After managing only four shots in the first half, Yale (3-3, 1-0 Ivy League) then got five in the third quarter alone. One of those wound up being the game-tying goal, as first year forward Ellie Barlow deflected in Dillman's shot on a corner at 42:15. 
 
That was the first career goal for Barlow, part of a talented first-year class that has already produced a pair of starters. Classmate Keely Comizio, a back, made her first career start Saturday to join Barlow in that group.
 
With time winding down and the Bulldogs locked in another close battle, Yale earned a penalty corner. Off the always reliable insert from senior midfielder Imogen Davies, senior midfielder Sarah King made the stick stop and then took a pass from Dillman. King then fed the ball right back to Dillman for what turned out to be the game-winner. 
 
"Théodora is our primary corner hitter, and someone we go to when we call penalty corners," said Pam Stuper, Yale's Caroline Ruth Thompson '02 Head Coach of Field Hockey. "We called a few for her today, knowing we'd get good opportunities."
 
The Bulldogs did not allow any solid chances for Brown in the final minutes, as sophomore goalkeeper Luanna Summer finished with four saves for the win. The Bulldogs held the Bears scoreless on all three of their penalty corners. 
 
"This was a tribute to the team, Team 50," said Stuper, referring to the fact that this is the 50th varsity team in the Yale field hockey program's history. "It took the effort of the entire team, even though we are a little banged up and had to make some adjustments right before the game. Everyone stepped up."
 
Yale returns to action Sunday for its fourth game in nine days at Johnson Field, hosting Drexel at 2:00 p.m.
 
 

????2-1 Yale! We score on a penalty corner late in the 4th. #ThisIsYale pic.twitter.com/aWEIcRfjt1

— Yale Field Hockey (@YaleFieldHockey) September 25, 2021