NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 16 Yale women's lacrosse team had three players named USA Lacrosse All-America on Thursday.
Yale's honorees were:
- First Team
- Honorable Mention
Yale's honorees have led the Bulldogs to a memorable season that included the fourth overall and second outright Ivy League Championship in program history (the Bulldogs shared the Ivy title in 1980 and 2003, then won it outright in 2024 and this season). The team went 6-1 in Ivy League play. The Bulldogs' 13 overall wins are tied for eighth-most in school history.
The Bulldogs have been ranked as high as No. 5 in the ILWomen national poll, and they have earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. They will play No. 12 Boston College in the first round Friday at 4:00 p.m. at Stony Brook's LaValle Stadium.
All-Americans were chosen by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff with input from coaches and conferences across the country.
Here is a look at Yale's honorees:
Kate Gould
Gould became the first Yale women's lacrosse player to earn Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors since
Katie Sargent '05 in 2002. Her other honors this season include selection to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List and being named third team ILWomen Midseason All-America. She was named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week Feb. 23, 2026 and Mar. 16, 2026.
Gould is fourth in the Ivy League in draw controls (77), tied for fourth in the Ivy League in points (63), tied for seventh in the Ivy League in assists (26) and is eighth in the Ivy League in goals (36). Gould leads the team in shooting percentage (.462) and has at least one point in every game this season.
Gould is a graduate of Nyack High School. She played for Prime Time.
Emmy Pascal
Pascal has a long list of honors already this season. She became the first Bulldog to earn Ivy League Defender of the Year (the award debuted in 2013). She has earned All-Ivy League honors for three straight seasons (first team this year and in 2024; second team in 2025).
Yale's captain, Pascal was a Tewaaraton Award nominee (best college women's lacrosse player; one of 25 nominees). She has been on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List for two seasons. So far this season she has been named second team ILWomen Midseason All-America, third team ILWomen Preseason All-America and third team USA Lacrosse Preseason All-America. She was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week Mar. 23, 2026.
Pascal has started all 17 games for a Yale defense that currently ranks No. 4 nationally in scoring defense (7.47 goals allowed per game). She is second in the Ivy League in caused turnovers (34) and ground balls (40). Pascal is also a critical part of Yale's clears; the Bulldogs currently rank sixth nationally and first in the Ivy League in clears (.933).
Last season Pascal was an honorable mention USA Lacrosse All-America selection. She was first team IWLCA All-Northeast Region and second team All-Ivy League. An economics major, she earned IWLCA Academic Honor Roll selection.
In 2024 Pascal was third team IWLCA All-America and first team IWLCA All-Northeast Region.
Pascal has appeared in 73 games, all starts, in her career.
Pascal is a graduate of St Stephen's & St. Agnes School. She played for 22 Blue, Sky Walkers.
Niamh Pfaff
Pfaff adds this All-America recognition to the second team All-Ivy League honor that she received last month. She has started all 17 games this season, achieving significant improvements from year-to-year in both her goals-against average (from 8.73 last year to 8.05 this year) and her save percentage (from .419 last year to .485 this year). She has earned multiple honors this season, including a spot on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List. She was named second team ILWomen Midseason All-America. Her weekly honors include IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week (Mar. 3) and Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week (twice – Mar. 2, and Apr. 13).
Pfaff leads the Ivy League and is 11th nationally in goals-against average. She is second in the Ivy League and 13th nationally in save percentage.
Pfaff is a graduate of Garden City High School. She played for Long Island Liberty Lacrosse.
