NEW HAVEN, Conn. – It was a storybook ending on Senior Day for the No. 25 Yale women's lacrosse team against Columbia Saturday afternoon at Reese Stadium. Every available member of that class, which has proved so crucial in the team's recent run of success, was on the field to celebrate at the end of the game as the Bulldogs beat the Lions 24-14. The victory improved the Bulldogs' league record to 6-0, tying the school record for Ivy wins. It also sets up a showdown next Saturday at No. 12 Princeton with the Ivy League title and the No. 1 seed in the Ivy League Tournament at stake.
Yale (10-3, 6-0 Ivy League) held the Senior Day ceremony after the game, honoring the 10 members of the class of 2022: defender
Ali Anderson, defender
Kenya Boston, defender
Emily Clorite, defender
Shannon Coughlan, defender
Kelsey Dunn (the team captain), defender
Zoe Durham, midfielder
Jill Gollob, attacker
Olivia Markert, defender
Emma Reilly and attacker
Isabelle Webster. By that time there was plenty to celebrate, as the Bulldogs took an early lead on the Lions and never let them get closer than within five goals after the first quarter.
The game featured contributions from everyone, starting with three goals in just over six minutes at the start of the game from first-year midfielder
Fallon Vaughn. Markert and junior attacker
Olivia Penoyer then scored four of Yale's next five goals, and goals from sophomore attackers
Bri Carrasquillo and
Chloe Conaghan got the score to 12-2 at 13:46 of the second.
While Yale showcased its depth, Columbia (2-11, 0-5 Ivy League) hung tough. From midway through the second quarter through the end of the third, the Lions outscored Yale 10-5. But when the Bulldogs opened the fourth quarter with their starters back on the field, momentum shifted quickly. Three goals in a span of less than 90 seconds from first-year attacker
Taylor Everson – all assisted by Penoyer – gave the Bulldogs plenty of breathing room.
All of Yale's healthy seniors (Gollob is out with an injury) were on the field to celebrate as time expired. It was a fitting tribute to the group that has led the program through the challenges of the pandemic to a 2022 season that has been filled with memorable moments and accomplishments. The week had started with Yale earning a national ranking, No. 25 in the poll, adding to the team's growing list of milestones.
Prior to this season no Yale team had started the Ivy portion of the schedule with more than four straight league wins. The only seasons in which Yale finished with six Ivy wins were 2003 (6-1) and 2007 (6-1).
This was Yale's most goals in a game since a 25-3 win vs. Fairfield Mar. 31, 2004. Penoyer led Yale in points with eight (2-6-8), one shy of her career high. Everson and Vaughn led the team in goals with four each, and Markert also had a hat trick. The 13 players who had a point also included Carrasquillo (2-1-3), Conaghan (2-1-3), Webster (2-0-2), junior attacker
Rachel Anderson (1-1-2), first-year midfielder
Taylor Lane (1-0-1), first-year midfielder
Sky Carrasquillo (1-0-1, plus a game-high 15 draw controls), first-year midfielder
Becca Gill (1-0-1), sophomore attacker
Delaney Vu (1-0-1) and first-year attacker
Caroline Burt (0-1-1). That was Vu's first career goal.
Junior
Clare Boone (four saves) and first year
Cami Donadio (three) split time in goal.
Ali Anderson and sophomore midfielder
Anna Vetsch led the team with three caused turnovers. Durham and Vetsch had a team-best three ground balls.
The win gives Yale double-digit victories for the first time since 2008. The Bulldogs have clinched a spot in the Ivy League Tournament (May 6-8 at the site of the highest seed). Their game at No. 12 Princeton will decide the Ivy League title. The Tigers will have to play Columbia in between now and then (Wednesday).
Yale will now shift its focus to the quick turnaround for a home game Monday at 3:30 p.m. against No. 6 Stony Brook.
