NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's ice hockey team flexed its offensive muscles, routing Union 6-1 on Saturday afternoon at Ingalls Rink in the second game of the ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals. The top-seeded Bulldogs defeated the 12th-seeded Garnet Chargers to earn a two-game sweep in the best-of-three series and advance to the semifinal round.
Yale advanced to the ECAC Hockey Semifinals for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2023-24. The Bulldogs will head to Lake Placid, N.Y., for the conclusion of the conference tournament. The final four women's teams will meet in the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena for the semifinal and championship games, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament and the ECAC Hockey Championship on the line.
The Bulldogs improved to 24-8 overall and have won 16 of their last 17 games. Union dropped to 11-22-3.
Scoring Summary
- P1, 3:55 | YALE GOAL! Naomi Boucher won a faceoff in the attacking zone. She passed through the slot to Stephanie Stainton, who finished the play with a far-post wrister. 1-0 YALE
- P1, 9:32 | YALE GOAL! Gracie Gilkyson dug the puck from the boards in the Bulldogs' defensive zone and passed to Kennedy Walker, who immediately dished it to Jordan Ray. Ray skated up ice and passed back to Walker, who converted a low wrister from the slot. 2-0 YALE
- P1, 11:52 | YALE GOAL! After penalties were assessed to both teams, the Bulldogs and Garnet Chargers played four-on-four. Molly Boyle scored off an assist from Gilkyson. 3-0 YALE
- P1, 13:18 | YALE GOAL! Still on the four-on-four, Yale scored another goal. Boyle set up Gilkyson at the far post. Gilkyson delivered a pass through the slot to Carina DiAntonio at the near post. The captain converted giving the Bulldogs their fourth goal of the period. 4-0 YALE
- P2, 16:26 | YALE GOAL! Boyle added her second goal of the game on the power play. 5-0 YALE
- P2, 18:19 | Union scored a power-play goal of its own to get on the scoreboard later in the second. 5-1 YALE
- P3, 18:59 | YALE GOAL! Ray scored an empty-net goal to seal the victory for Yale. 6-1 YALE
Game Notes
- The Bulldogs have reached the ECAC Hockey Semifinals for the fourth time in program history. Yale previously accomplished the feat in 2004-05, 2021-22, and 2022-23.
- Yale improved to 44-3-2 all-time against Union and 4-0 in the ECAC Tournament.
- The Bulldogs have won 18 straight against the Garnet Chargers and have not been beaten since 2017.
- The Elis are 15-1 in 2026 and likely concluded their last home game with a record of 15-2 at Ingalls Rink, the best in program history.
- Stainton scored her second goal of the series and 14th of the season.
- Walker netted her first collegiate goal in the opening period.
- DiAntonio scored her 24th goal of the year, tying Maria Dennis (1984-85) for the Bulldogs' second-most in a single season.
- DiAntonio tallied her 61st career goal, passing Anne Bingham (1982-86) for second in program history.
- Ray also moved into the history books with three assists. She now sits alone in third place in career assists with 86.
- Boyle registered her ninth and 10th goals and added an assist, bringing her season points total to 32.
- Gilkyson recorded four assists. She has 18 this season and ranks fifth on the team in that category.
Up Next
Yale will travel to Lake Placid, N.Y. for the conference semifinals against an opponent to be determined.
