NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's lacrosse team welcomes nine first-years to the roster for 2026-27. The Class of 2030, announced today, represents six different states and includes five midfielders and four attackers.
The newcomers bring impressive credentials to New Haven:

• All nine were lacrosse team captains, and five captained other sports
• Seven won championships at either the conference, county, district, region or state level
• Five have been named All-Americans

The new Bulldogs have found multiple ways to contribute to their communities, including coaching youth lacrosse, working with children who have learning disabilities, serving as an ambassador for Morgan's Message, volunteering at a hospital and serving as outreach coordinator for I A.M. Hope NJ.  

The newcomers join a Yale team that is enjoying an extended run of success. The Bulldogs are coming off a 2026 season in which they won the Ivy League regular season championship for the second time in three years, advanced to the Ivy League Tournament championship game for the fifth straight year and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season. 

Yale is entering its 12th year with Erica Bamford as the Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Women's Lacrosse. Associate head coach Colleen Smith and assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Molly Palella return for their 11th and 10th years, respectively. Assistant coach Brooklyn Neumen returns for her third year. 

For the 2027 season Yale returns 23 players from the 2026 roster – including 10 who started 10 or more games. 

Here is a look at the newest Bulldogs:
 
Maria Anaya
#20
Midfielder
5-5
Coronado, Calif.
Coronado
Outlaw Lacrosse Club

USA Lacrosse: USA U19 Women's National Team.
 
Coronado High School: Captained lacrosse team sophomore, junior and senior years… USA Lacrosse All American 2025, 2026... USA Lacrosse All-Academic 2025, 2026... Recipient of USA Lacrosse's Jackie Pitts Award 2026... All-Academic Team for SD City Conference… First team all-conference 2025, 2026... First team all-league 2025, 2026... Midfielder of the Year for Coronado High School 2023... Islander Award Recipient 2024, 2026... Team was Open Division Champions 2025, 2026... Undefeated season (19-0) 2025... California Army National Guard Team of the Month… Team ranked No. 25 among public schools by USA Lacrosse Magazine 2026... Team Ranked No. 23 among public schools by USA Lacrosse Magazine 2025 ... Team finished ranked No. 2 in California… Captained tennis team junior and senior years… Tennis team MVP as a junior... Also played basketball… Honorable mention all-conference in basketball… Ranked No. 2 in her school basketball team's history for most steals in a game (17).      
 
Notes: Youth tennis and youth lacrosse coach.
 
Why Yale? "I chose Yale because of its exceptional academics and the incredible coaching staff who I believe will help me reach my full potential both on and off the field."   
 
Giselle DiPietro
#10
Attacker
5-1
Cos Cob, Conn.
Greenwich
Prime Time Lacrosse Club

Greenwich High School: Captained lacrosse team senior year… USA Lacrosse All-American 2026... First team all-state 2025, 2026... First team all-conference 2026... Second team all-conference 2024, 2025... Two-time team MVP…160 career goals, 150 career assists… Also played field hockey. 

Prime Time Lacrosse Club: Earned four-star rating from Inside Lacrosse Magazine… Team ranked in top 10 nationally.
 
Notes: Named to ILWomen's Top 100 first-year rankings August 2026… Twin sister (Sophia DiPietro) plays lacrosse at Denison. 

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because of its welcoming team culture, dedicated coaching staff and commitment to excellence in both the classroom and competition. I know it's the ideal place for me to continue to grow as a student, player and individual."
 
Allison Haag
#6
Midfielder
5-2
McLean, Va.
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
Capital Lacrosse Club

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart: Captained lacrosse team senior year… USA Lacrosse All-American 2026... USA Lacrosse All-Academic 2025... All-ISL 2025, 2026… Team leader in assists (36)... Team was Independent School League (ISL) tournament champions -- first time in program history 2023, 2024, 2025... Team was ISL regular season champions (first time in program history) and went undefeated in regular season 2026... Team consistently ranked in top 20 nationally…Captained basketball team senior year… All-ISL in basketball senior year… Basketball team was ISL regular season champions, ISL tournament champions, and had an undefeated season 2025-26... Captained soccer team senior year.
 
Notes: Volunteer at Arc Montgomery County, a public school for children with and without learning disabilities... Brother, Alex, plays Division III lacrosse at Kenyon College.
 
Why Yale? "I chose Yale because it gives me the opportunity to compete at the highest level academically and athletically in a community that will challenge and support me."
 
 
Lila Kubrich
#17
Midfielder and Draw Specialist
5-6
Victor, N.Y.
Victor
Monster Elite Lacrosse Club

Victor High School: Captained lacrosse team as a senior… Section V Class B All-Tournament Team 2025, 2026… Chris Barnes Senior All-Star Game selection 2026… NYSPHAA All-Tournament Team 2024, 2025, 2026… First team All-Greater Rochester 2026… Second team All-Greater Rochester 2025… First team Monroe County all-league 2025, 2026… Second team Monroe County all-league 2024… Team MVP 2026… Team Defensive MVP 2025… Scholar Athlete 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026… Led team in ground balls 2024, 2025, 2026… Led team in draw controls 2026 (183)... Team was New York State Class B Champions 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026… Team was regional champions 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026… Team was Section V Champions 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026… USA Lacrosse Magazine ranked No. 6 among public schools… Also played soccer… Soccer team MVP 2026… First team all-league in soccer 2026… Soccer all-star game selection… Victor Athletics Barney Lynaugh Senior Female Athlete of Year 2026 (lacrosse and soccer).
 
Notes: Does DECA and extensive volunteer work… Helps with community Turkey Trot (Thanksgiving 5K) held every year. 
 
Why Yale? "I chose Yale because the opportunities to strive are endless. I believe Yale will equip me not only to succeed athletically but also in the real world and in my future. The lacrosse community of Yale reminded me most of my time at Victor, a family that buys into culture and relationships."
 
Emma Mohn
#26
Attacker
5-9
Sykesville, Md.
Maryvale Preparatory School
M&D Lacrosse Club 

Maryvale Preparatory School:  Captained lacrosse team junior and senior years… IAAM All Conference 2024, 2025, 2026... Baltimore Sun All Metro First Team 2025...  Baltimore Sun All Metro Second Team 2024, 2026... Lions Award 2025... 50+ goals 2024… 50 points 2025... 40+ points 2026... Team was IAAM A Conference Champions 2025, 2026… Team went undefeated (19-0) 2026… Team was ranked No. 1 high school team in country 2026… Also played basketball freshman and sophomore years.
 
Notes: Named to ILWomen's Top 100 first-year rankings August 2026.
 
M&D Lacrosse Club: Ranked No. 2 club team in country.
 
Why Yale? "I chose Yale over the other schools I considered because it felt like home and surrounded me with the people who shared my mindset." 
 
Lucia Nash
#55
Midfielder
5-4
Denville, N.J.
Morris Knolls
BBL 

USA Lacrosse: Member of U-16 National Team 2024 and U-19 National team 2025. 

Puerto Rico Lacrosse: Played for Puerto Rico Women's National Team at World Championships in Tokyo 2026… Played for Puerto Rico U20 team at World Championships in Hong Kong 2024 (player of the game against China)... Played for Puerto Rico at PALA Championships in Florida and PALA Sixes in Puerto Rico 2025… At 2024 U20 World Championships, was teammates with Yale player Karina Herrera… At 2025 PALA Championships, was teammates with former Yale players Bri Carrasquillo '24 and Sky Carrasquillo '25.  

Morris Knolls High School: Captained lacrosse team… USA Lacrosse All-American… USA Lacrosse All-Academic… First team all-division… First team all-county… First team all-group NJ… Led team in goals (76), points (105), ground balls (67), draw controls (114) and caused turnovers (28)... Set school single-game record with 10 goals… First or second in school history in career points (331), goals (214), assists (117), ground balls (213), draw controls (323) and caused turnovers (105)… Team Offensive Player of the Year 2024, 2025 and MVP 2026... Also captained basketball team and soccer teams… Basketball team was state section champion… Soccer team was state section champion… 12 letter varsity athlete (basketball, lacrosse, soccer)... Morris County Athletic Directors Scholar Athlete Award… Harold Quinn Memorial Award for most all-around senior athlete... CSE All-America NJ 2023, 2024, 2025… CSE All-America all-tournament team 2023, 2024, 2025... Selected as NJSIAA Ambassador for Morris County.

Notes: Named to ILWomen's Top 100 first-year rankings August 2026… Outreach Coordinator for I A.M. Hope NJ, a non-profit organization that helps women and children in need… Father is an Ivy Leaguer; played basketball at Cornell. 

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because the coaching staff and team culture made me feel extremely welcomed and excited to get to campus."
 
Claire Shannon
#22
Attacker
5-7
Alexandria, Va.
St. John's College
Capital Lacrosse Club

St. John's College High School: Captained lacrosse team…Two-time USA Lacrosse All-American… Four-year starter… Two-time state player of the year (DCSAA)... Two-time first team all-state (DCSAA) … First team Washington Post All-Met… Two-time first team all-conference (WCAC)... Two-time lacrosse team MVP… Four-time lacrosse team leader in points… Team was 2025 state champions (she was named MVP) (DCSAA)... Captained field hockey team… Two-time second team all-conference (WCAC) in field hockey… Field hockey team MVP… Field hockey team was WCAC Champions 2023, 2024, 2025.

Notes: Morgan's Message High School Ambassador… High school teammate of current Yale player Olivia Weston.

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because I wanted to challenge myself athletically and academically."
 
Averie Smith
#13
Attacker
5-9
Garden City, N.Y.
Garden City
Long Island Top Guns

Garden City High School: Captained lacrosse team senior year… All-American…Academic All-American… Two-time all-county… Team Most Outstanding Player… Led team with 41 assists… Team was three-time New York State finalists… Team was three-time Long Island Champions… Team was four-time Nassau County Champions… Captained field hockey team senior year… Participated in several leadership discussions and programs within her high school athletics department.
 
Long Island Top Guns Black: Ranked No. 1 in country.
 
Notes: Very active in community, training younger generation of lacrosse players and helping them develop. 
 
Why Yale? "I chose Yale for its balance of prestigious academics and exceptional athletics. Yale's competitive atmosphere is something that drew me to the school." 
 
 
 
Francesca Tofano
#25
Midfielder
5-3
West Islip, N.Y.
West Islip
Jesters 2026 Black  

West Islip High School: Captained lacrosse team… Four-time all-county… Four-year starter… Team was Long Island Champions 2023, 2024… Team was county champions 2023, 2024… Team was ranked No. 6 in nation… Four-year starter for soccer team… Also played basketball.
 
Notes: Volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital… Head Boating Counselor at OBYG Camp… Lacrosse trainer/coach.
 
Why Yale? "I chose Yale because it offers me the opportunity to compete at the highest level athletically while challenging me to reach my full potential academically. Beyond that, I am drawn to the sense of community at Yale and the chance to become part of a family that will support and inspire me throughout my journey."