NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's soccer team capped a strong first weekend with a 4-1 win over Quinnipiac on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at Reese Stadium.
 
Ellie Rappole scored a pair of goals to lead the Bulldogs. Belle Golden and Zia Makhathini also scored, the first career goal for both.
 
Yale had opened the season by playing a scoreless tie with a Hofstra team that had reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Quinnipiac had won its first two games of the season, is the preseason favorite in the MAAC and reached the championship game of the MAAC Tournament last year.
 
"Winning games at this level is always hard, and we are happy as a staff to come away from our opening weekend with two results," said Sarah Martinez, The Loring Family Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "The work and foundation have been set in over the last year, and I'm so proud of our group for grinding through a chippy and physical game after a quick turnaround from Hofstra."
 
Golden got the Bulldogs on the board first at 22:33 off an assist from Rappole.
 
Meredith Phillips started the second scoring play with a pass to the wing to Golden, who one-timed a cross that Rappole finished at 36:30.
 
Yale scored again early in the second half when Rappole took a long feed from Rebeka Róth, took a few dribbles forward and fired a shot that beat Quinnipiac goalkeeper Sofia Lospinoso at 47:16.
 
Makhathini's goal at 84:54 capped the scoring for the Bulldogs.
 
"I do want to give a special shoutout to Zia for scoring her first career goal," Martinez said. "She is a quiet, loyal worker who deserves every bit of that goal."
 
Quinnipiac's Rebecca Cooke spoiled Yale's shutout bid when she scored with 26 seconds remaining.
 
The Bulldogs continue their season-opening four-game homestand when they host Boston University on Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
"We'll shift to BU after enjoying this win a little today," Martinez said.