After three straight losses, Yale women’s lacrosse will seek to end the losing streak this weekend.
The Bulldogs (1–7) will face No. 32 Colgate (6–4) on Friday at home and then travel to face No. 17 Georgetown (2–5) on Sunday. Following a decisive loss at Harvard last weekend, 19–3, Yale hopes that wins at this weekend’s games will build momentum going into its four game stretch against Ivy League opponents beginning next week.
Yale has not seen a win since an 11–8 victory against Marist on March 5 and has failed to earn a victory against any team ranked within the top 60 in the nation. Yale’s closest loss has also been at home, where the Bulldogs lost to No. 18 Dartmouth on March 5.
Since last Saturday’s game against the Crimson, the team has focused on draw controls and ground balls. The Elis struggled in both categories against Harvard, winning just nine of 14 draws and three of 21 ground balls.
Last season, the Bulldogs lost its game against the Hoyas, 15–4. Jordy Kirr, a second team All-Big East selection, leads the Georgetown attack. In last year’s game, she helped Georgetown to their large win over the Bulldogs with a goal and an assist. Sophomore midfielder Sophia Thomas currently leads the Hoyas in goals and ground balls, with 14 and 13 respectively.
The Bulldogs have not played Colgate since 2006, when Yale won 13–11 in overtime, but Yale holds a 6–1 all time record against the Raiders. Colgate is currently on a three game winning streak and is led by midfielder Colleen Bubnack who has 34 goals this season.
“The Colgate team is good, with a strong midfield, but if we play tomorrow like we know how we will beat them,” attackman Caroline Crow ’12 said. “Georgetown is a team that is very good every year, but if we come out strong and win the ground balls and draws and play to our strengths, we will win.”
Midfielder Devon Rhodes ’13 and attacker Crow currently lead the Bulldogs in goals, with Rhodes scoring 10 goals in the last five games. Crow is just one goal away from matching her career high. Rhodes led the team last year with 27 goals as a freshman.
The Elis will play Colgate at Reese Stadium today at 4 p.m. and travel to Georgetown for a 2 p.m. game on Sunday.