NEW HAVEN, Conn. – For the third time in program history, the Yale women's ice hockey team has qualified for the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament. The Bulldogs earned the No. 8 seed and will face ninth-seeded Minnesota Duluth on Thursday, March 12, in Columbus, Ohio, at Ohio State University.
The matchup will feature an all-Bulldogs regional semifinal, with the winner advancing to face No. 1 seed Ohio State in the regional final. The NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament features 11 teams competing in regional sites, with winners advancing to the Frozen Four.
Yale earned an at-large bid following a standout season. The Bulldogs were ECAC Hockey Co-Regular Season Champions after finishing the regular season with a 22–8 overall record and a 16–6 mark in conference play. Yale secured the top seed in the ECAC Hockey Tournament, defeating Union in the quarterfinals and Cornell in the semifinals. The Bulldogs advanced to their second conference championship game in program history but fell to Quinnipiac 5–1 in the final.
"We are very excited for this matchup with the other Bulldogs, and the team is thrilled to be heading to the NCAA Tournament," said Mark Bolding, the Susan Cavanagh Head Coach of Women's Hockey. "This gives us an opportunity to rebound and compete in the tournament, which we have been working toward all year."
Yale is led by Bolding, the ECAC Coach of the Year, who has guided the program to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in his six seasons as head coach. The Bulldogs had never reached the national championship tournament prior to Bolding's arrival in 2019. Yale made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022 and advanced to the Frozen Four. In 2023, the Bulldogs earned a first-round bye before falling to Northeastern in the regional final. Six current Yale players appeared in that game: Jordan Ray, Carina DiAntonio, Naomi Boucher, Sylvia Bojarski, Gracie Gilkyson, and Claire Sedgewick.
Yale's offense is powered by the dynamic senior duo of Ray and DiAntonio. The first-line pair has combined for 43 goals and 55 assists this season. Both players have also enjoyed remarkable collegiate careers, ranking among the program's top five in goals, assists, and points.
First year standout Molly Boyle, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and ECAC Hockey Defender of the Year, has been a highly impactful two-way defender, recording 11 goals and 23 assists this season. Classmate Samson Frey has also been strong in net for the Bulldogs, posting a 14–2 record since taking over as the starting goaltender in January.
Minnesota Duluth will make its sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs carry a 20–14–3 overall record and compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). UMD is 22–11 all-time in NCAA postseason play, including a 10–5 mark in first-round, quarterfinal, and regional semifinal games. This season marks the program's 17th NCAA Tournament appearance, the second-most in NCAA Division I women's hockey history.
Thursday's matchup marks the first time the two Bulldogs squads have competed against each other in program history. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m.
Columbus Region Schedule
- No. 8 Yale vs. No. 9 Minnesota Duluth
- Thursday, March 12 at 6 p.m.
- No. 1 Ohio State vs. Winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9
- Saturday, March 14 at 6 p.m.
