NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore forward
Lily Ramsey has a knack for scoring big goals for the Yale field hockey team, and Sunday's game against Lafayette at Johnson Field provided the latest example. Amidst a scrum in front of the Leopards' goal during a Yale penalty corner at 25:28, she knocked in her third goal of the season – and it wound up being her second game-winning goal. Junior goalkeeper
Luanna Summer and the Yale defense shut down Lafayette the rest of the way, earning a 1-0 win for the Bulldogs.
Lafayette (5-11, 1-3 Patriot League) had shown how dangerous it was earlier this year with a 3-2 overtime win at Princeton Sept. 25, back when the Tigers were ranked No. 7 in the country. But the Leopards have most often come up on the wrong end of one-goal games, and Sunday would prove to be no different. Twelve of their last 13 games have been decided by one goal, and they are now 3-9 in those games.
Yale (7-7, 1-3 Ivy League) peppered Lafayette keeper Raffi Fragomeni with seven shots in the second quarter, and Ramsey's proved to be critical. After a pair of Bulldog shots were denied, she poked in the rebound for a 1-0 lead.
Lafayette's best chance to tie the game came with 6:30 remaining. A long pass found Leopards forward Molly McAndrew just inside the circle with only one defender back. But Summer came out aggressively to deny McAndrew's shot and then kick away the loose ball. That was one of five saves for her.
This was Yale's second shutout of the season, and the third time in the last five games that the Bulldogs have held their opponent to one goal or fewer.
Yale finished with a 19-13 shot advantage. Both teams had seven penalty corners.
Ramsey also scored a pair of game-winning goals last season, and four of her six career goals have been game-winners.
Yale hosts Penn next Saturday at noon. It is Senior Day, and the Bulldogs will honor midfielder
Théodora Dillman, back
Laine Garber, midfielder
April Kim, back
Katie Pieterse and midfielder
Alissa Wong.
