NEW HAVEN, Conn. – On a team heavy with first years and sophomores – 24 of them, to be exact – it's good to have a senior to count on in the big moments. For the Yale women's lacrosse team on Tuesday, that wound up being one of the biggest takeaways from a 13-12 victory at Reese Stadium over an upstart Quinnipiac squad. The Bobcats rallied from a 12-7 deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but ultimately senior attacker
Olivia Markert had the difference-making plays that earned the win for her team. In addition to a pair of critical draw controls late in the game, Markert scored the game-winning goal with 3:38 to play. She finished with seven goals and an assist.
Yale (3-0, 0-0 Ivy League) controlled the first half, outshooting the Bobcats 28-10 and winning nine of 12 draw controls en route to taking a 7-3 lead into the break.
Markert had a pair of goals in the first half and tacked on four more in the third quarter, including two on free positions. But Quinnipiac (2-1, 0-0 MAAC) began turning the tide in the draw circle – the Bobcats won nine of 17 draws in the second half – and also benefited from some big stops by goalie Kat Henselder (17 saves for the game). Yale's neighbors to the north went on an 8-1 run from the 5:16 mark of the third through the 5:03 mark of the fourth to tie the game.
That was when Markert asserted herself. She got the draw control after the game-tying goal, and on the ensuing Yale possession she got the ball just outside the top of the 12 meter fan. She drove left, cut back and slung a sidearm shot past Henselder for the go-ahead goal. Markert then got the ensuing draw control for good measure.
Quinnipiac had one final chance to tie, but junior goalkeeper
Clare Boone denied a shot by midfielder Liza Bailey with just over a minute to play. Junior defender
Emily Clorite got the ground ball – her second of the day, to go with five draw controls – and the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock.
Markert's efforts on the offensive end were matched by her classmate
Kenya Boston on the defensive end. Boston helped hold attacker Desiree Kleberg, Quinnipiac's leading scorer entering the game, to two goals on six shots.
The Bulldogs had a balanced attack behind Markert, as seven other players had points. Junior attacker
Olivia Penoyer (1-2-3) had the only other multiple-point outing, while Yale also got goals from first-year attacker
Caroline Burt, sophomore attacker
Bri Carrasquillo, first-year attacker
Jenna Collignon, first-year midfielder
Taylor Lane and first-year midfielder
Sophie Straka (her first career goal). Sophomore attacker
Chloe Conaghan had an assist.
First-year midfielder
Sky Carrasquillo tied Clorite for the team lead in draws with five. Boone finished with eight saves.
Yale has now won eight straight vs. Quinnipiac. The Bulldogs open Ivy League play at Dartmouth Saturday.
