William McCormack, Contributing Photographer

ith a late goal from UConn (4–2–1, 0–0–0 Big East) on Friday and a pair of goals in the first half from Buffalo (6–1–0, 0–0–0 Mid-American) on Sunday, Yale (3–4–1, 0–0–0 Ivy) brought home two losses.

This weekend, the Bulldogs traveled closer to home, as they played in Storrs, Connecticut, on Friday night and in Buffalo, New York, on Sunday evening. Both games resulted in losses for the squad as the team gears up for Ivy League play.

“A tough one for us tonight,” head coach Sarah Martinez told Yale Athletics after the game against UConn. “We continue to show glimpses of very quality play, but our execution of the game plan needs to be a bit better from start to finish.”

Although they maintained a scoreboard of 0–0 during the first half, the Elis suffered a goal from the Huskies just five minutes into the second half. UConn defender Cara Elmendorf sent a left-foot shot into Maya Bellomo’s ’24 goal and scored. 

In the 59th minute, forward Ellery Winkler ’23 shot a deadly left-foot strike from the top of the box to the left goal post and was able to award the Bulldogs a momentary tie in the game.

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However, with only about six minutes left to end the game, UConn was able to take the lead and ultimately the game with a header from Husky Lucy Cappadona.

Both teams had six shots to goal, and Bellomo registered four saves. The Bulldogs are second in the Ivy League when it comes to saves.

“Ivy League play is a whole separate animal to out of conference play,” Ellie Rappole ’25 wrote. “I think despite the recent struggles, the whole team is extremely motivated and ready to fight for the next seven weeks to give ourselves the best opportunity of winning the ivy league and making the NCAA tournament.”

On Sunday, the Bulldogs did not score while the Bulls recorded their fourth shutout in a row. During the game, Bellomo registered six saves to the Buffalo goal keeper’s one. Buffalo had eight shots on goal to Yale’s one.

Buffalo’s first goal came in the first half with a penalty kick as Nana Yang ’25 fouled inside of the box. Also in the first half, Buffalo scored its second goal of the night with a header in the 43rd minute.

Although the Bulldogs registered a goal by Winkler in the 60th minute, it was wiped off due to being scored on an offside play. 

“The team is feeling positive,” the California native Alanna Butcher ’25 wrote to the News. “We have learned a lot from our out of conference games and are ready to move on to start conference play. We are excited to play for our school and each other.”

The Bulldogs’ next battle will be their first conference game against Princeton (5–3–0, 0–0–0 Ivy) at Reese Stadium. Historically, the Bulldogs have four wins to the Tigers’ eight, the last game ending in a 0–4 loss for Yale.

This season, Princeton fell to Hofstra (0–1), while Yale was able to tie against the Lions. Princeton has an away record of 1–2–0, and Yale has a record of no losses 3–0–1 at Reese Stadium.

This week, Princeton’s forward Pietra Tordin was named Women’s Soccer Athlete of the Week by the Ivy League. She scored the victory goal this weekend against Delaware for a win of (1–0) for Princeton with only two minutes left to play.

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Historically, Princeton has ten Ivy League championships to Yale’s two, the last one being in 2018 for the Tigers and in 2005 for the Bulldogs.

“We have learned a lot of lessons in the past two weeks and I think it has made the team stronger for whatever Princeton throws at us this weekend,” Rappole wrote.

The Bulldogs will play the Tigers at 7 p.m. in Reese Stadium this Saturday.

TOIA CONDE RODRIGUES DA CUNHA
Toia Conde Rodrigues da Cunha is the News' Instagram editor. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she is studying cognitive science as sophomore. Toia is also a staff reporter for the Sports desk and was a staff photographer.