PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Yale field hockey team got Ivy League play off to a thrilling start Friday afternoon at Brown, rallying for a 3-2 victory over the Bears in overtime. A goal by sophomore forward
Ellie Barlow tied the game with 1:55 to play in regulation, and a goal by senior midfielder
Théodora Dillman 33 seconds into overtime won it.
Friday's win did not come easily, as Brown outshot Yale 15-7 and the Bulldogs had to rally twice on a chilly but sunny fall afternoon at Goldberger Family Field.
Brown (5-2, 0-1 Ivy League) took a 1-0 lead at 13:29 on a goal by forward Lexi Pellegrino. Dillman tied it on a penalty corner at 25:08, taking a straight shot off the insertion by junior midfielder
Maddy Wong.
The Bulldogs had a pair of chances by Dillman on a penalty corner late in the third quarter denied by Brown goalkeeper Jodie Brine, who finished with three saves. The Bears went back ahead on a penalty corner early in the fourth, with midfielder Lucy Adams deflecting in a shot by Pellegrino.
Yale had only one shot in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs made it count. Barlow inserted and then camped out at the near post, where senior midfielder
Alissa Wong found her with a pass. Barlow lifted the ball past Brine to tie the game.
Overtime was over quickly, with Barlow inserting to Dillman for a blast from the top of the circle past the outstretched left leg of Brine to touch off an emotional celebration.
Junior goalkeeper
Luanna Summer finished with four saves for the Bulldogs.
Yale (5-2, 1-0 Ivy League) is off to its best start since 1998, when the Bulldogs started the season 6-1. This was Yale's first Ivy League win under
Melissa Gonzalez, who is in her first season as the Caroline Ruth Thompson '02 Head Coach of Field Hockey.
"Brown did a great job capitalizing and challenging us," said Gonzalez. "Our team displayed great grit and resilience. Our corners today were a differentiator. We're looking forward to facing a talented Fairfield team on Sunday."
Yale visits Fairfield Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
