WOMEN’S SOCCER: Bulldogs earn first victory of the season over St. John’s
The women’s soccer team defeated the Red Storm thanks to a first-half goal.
Steve Musco
On Wednesday night, the Yale women’s soccer team (1–1, 0–0 Ivy) secured its first victory of the 2024–25 season against Saint John’s (1–1–1, 0–0 Big East) with a final score of 1-0. It was the team’s second match of the year and the first one at home, at Reese Stadium.
Last Sunday, the Elis traveled to Hofstra University on Long Island for their season opener. Despite a late goal from Meredith Phillips ’25 to cut the deficit in half and boost morale, the team fell to the Pride 2–1. With the home opener on Wednesday night, the team looked to shift the momentum back to their side against the Red Storm.
Much of the action occurred in the first half, including the only goal.
At nine minutes in, first-year Reagan Exley ’28 forced the opposing Red Storm to tackle her, relinquishing a corner kick, the first of the game for the Bulldogs. This corner kick was exactly what seniors Ellie Rappole ’25 and Tina Teik ’25 capitalized on. An assist from Rappole was followed by a header from Teik, cementing a lead for the Bulldogs that would not waiver in the game.
Exley was one of three first years to get time on the field against St. John’s. Alicia So ’28 and Phebe Ryan ’28 both secured some time on the grass as well.
In the 21st minute, St. John’s inched extremely close to tying the game. Red Storm player Lauryn Tran assisted her teammate Jailene DeJesus, who shot the ball off the goalpost, just missing the net. Though St. John’s continued to strike, their shots never got much closer than that, thanks to the performance from goalkeeper Kyla Holmes ’27.
Holmes scratched her first career shutout in the scorecard with this game. She stopped a formidable St. John’s team, which held an overall winning record the previous year and was named sixth in the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll of 11 teams.
Head coach Sarah Martinez was proud of how the team improved since the Hofstra match.
“I thought we got back to our brand of soccer. We challenged our group after our last game, and they rose to that,” Martinez said to Yale Athletics. “Winning is tough to do, but we encourage our group to enjoy each one.”
The Bulldogs look to continue their winning streak when they face the Oregon State Beavers on Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. at Paul Lorenz Field.