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In its first weekend on home ice, the No. 6 Yale women’s hockey team (4–0–0, 4–0–0 ECAC) swept local rival No. 6 Quinnipiac University (10–1–0, 4–1–0) and Ivy League opponent Princeton University (1–3–0, 1–3–0). 

The two wins this weekend propelled the Bulldogs into first place in the ECAC and bumped their national ranking up to No. 6 from No. 8. Prior to this weekend’s competitions, Quinnipiac was undefeated and ranked fourth in the nation. On Friday, Yale showed up to play and fought hard for the 4–2 victory.

“We knew that they were gonna be tough competition. We just wanted to play fast and physical, because they’re big and strong,” Anna Bargman ’25 said. “They’re obviously super skilled, so we just wanted to make sure we were disciplined and make sure everyone did their job.”

The Bulldogs got off to an early start against the Bobcats. Less than eight minutes into the game, Bargman muscled her way into the crease to capitalize on the rebound from a shot by Elle Hartje  ’24. Bargman managed to sweep the puck into the net as she was knocked down and onto her stomach.

Four minutes after Bargman’s goal, Yale increased their lead to 2–0. Naomi Boucher ’26 collected the deflection from Kaitlyn Rippon’s ’23 shot and ripped a shot top-shelf, scoring her first regular-season goal as a Bulldog. 

Quinnipiac bounced back by scoring a goal with four minutes remaining in the first period. Halfway through the second frame, Bobcat Sadie Peart tied the game at two with her second goal of the night. 

Just 17 seconds later, Charlotte Welch ’23 and Carina DiAntonio ’26 entered the offensive zone on a two-on-one. Welch centered the puck to DiAntonio, who buried one top-shelf.

Late in the third period, a penalty was called against Bargman, and Quinnipiac went on the power play with an empty net. On the six-on-four penalty kill, Welch managed to get past the Bobcats to score the final goal of the game. 

“You never want that to happen, but when it happens and then we execute it’s fantastic,” head coach Mark Bolding said after the win. “It’s a good character build.”

Yale beat Quinnipiac 4–2, ending the Bobcats nine-game win streak. The Bulldogs demonstrated the depth of their bench as players from three different lines scored for the team on Friday.The home opener also marked the 100th career game for both Emma Seitz ’23 and captain Claire Dalton ’23.

After their exciting win on Friday night, Yale hosted Princeton on Saturday at Ingalls Rink. 

The Tigers proved to be tough competition. Despite Yale outshooting Princeton 33–18 in the first two periods, the game remained scoreless going into the third frame. As the final buzzer rang, the Bulldogs outshot the Tigers 46–21.

The Elis’ intensity and poise with the puck increased at the start of the third period, helping them earn the win.

“In between the second and third period, we just had a lot of energy in the locker room,” rookie Jordan Ray ’26 said. “We knew we’d have to battle hard and then after we killed off that penalty, we just got momentum and couldn’t be stopped.”

Bargman put the Bulldogs on the board seven minutes into the third period off of a rebound from Ray’s initial shot. Later in the third period, Ray helped Yale solidify its lead by scoring off of a centering pass from Bargman on a two-on-one rush up ice. Bargman has notched a point in all four games this season.

Saturday’s 2–0 win against Princeton marked goaltender Pia Dukaric’s ’25 first shutout of the season.

The Bulldogs do not play next weekend as they gear up to play two games against Penn State on Nov. 18 and Nov. 19 at Ingalls Rink.