NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's lacrosse team honored three players with team awards following the conclusion of the season. Senior defender Emmy Pascal (Lorton, Va.) received the Bowditch Award as the team's most valuable player, senior defender Bella Saviano (Severna Park, Md.) received the Bulldog Award and senior attacker Ashley Newman (Manhasset, N.Y.) won the Holgate Award. 

All three award winners were selected by a team vote. They helped Yale to a historic season that included a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, fifth straight Ivy League Tournament championship game appearance and an Ivy League regular season championship. 

The Bulldogs were ranked as high as No. 5 in the ILWomen national poll.
 
Bowditch Award
Emmy Pascal
The Barbara Bowditch Award, named after Yale's first women's lacrosse head coach, is one of many major honors for Pascal. At Commencement she received Yale's Nellie Pratt Elliot Award, given annually to the top senior female student-athlete. 

Yale's captain, Pascal was named second team IWLCA All-America, having earlier earned her third straight first team IWLCA All-Northeast Region selection. Her awards this season also include a first team All-America honor from USA Lacrosse and a second team All-America honor from ILWomen. She became the first Bulldog to earn Ivy League Defender of the Year. She has earned All-Ivy League honors for three straight seasons (first team this year and in 2024; second team in 2025). 

Pascal also was named one of 25 nominees for the Tewaaraton Award as the best college women's lacrosse player. She was on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List for two seasons. This season she has also been named second team ILWomen Midseason All-America, third team ILWomen Preseason All-America and third team USA Lacrosse Preseason All-America. 

Pascal started all 18 games for a Yale defense that ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense (7.61 goals allowed per game). She was second in the Ivy League in caused turnovers (35) and ground balls (40). Pascal was also a critical part of Yale's clears; the Bulldogs ranked fifth nationally and first in the Ivy League in clears (.931).

Pascal is a graduate of St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School.
 
Bulldog Award
Bella Saviano
The Bulldog Award is presented to the player "who exemplifies consistent passion for the game, is fiercely competitive, and makes their teammates better." 

Saviano started all 18 games this past season, her second straight season starting every game. She was fourth on the team in caused turnovers with a career-high 23, and she added 17 ground balls. Saviano had three caused turnovers in a game three times, tying her career high in that category.   

Saviano is a graduate of Archbishop Spalding High School.
 
Holgate Award
Ashley Newman
The Holgate Award is given to the player who most exemplifies leadership and a team-first mentality in advancing the Yale women's lacrosse program. It is named after James G. "Gib" Holgate, a member of the Yale athletic administration from 1954 to 1985. 

Newman,an economics major, was named Academic All-Ivy League. She finished tied for third on the team in assists (15), fourth on the team in goals (30) and fourth on the team in points. All of those numbers represented career highs. She appeared in all 18 games and started 17, establishing career highs in those categories as well.  

Newman is a graduate of Manhasset High School.