Yale Athletics

The 2023 Ivy Champion Bulldogs looked to continue last year’s momentum and start the season strong with their matchups against Marquette and Indiana in two out of conference match-ups. The first two games, however, were not what the Elis had envisioned. 

The Yale men’s soccer team (0–2–0, 0–0–0) dropped their first away game of the 2024 season to Indiana (1–1–1) in a 2–0 defeat on Sunday night after falling to Marquette (3–1–0) earlier in the same weekend on Friday night. 

When asked about how the opening losses will prepare them for the remainder of the season, goalie Chris Edwards ’25 told the News, “We’ve deliberately scheduled tough non-conference opponents this year. Facing strong competition early on allows us to learn quickly and adapt, so we can apply those lessons when it matters most during conference play and the Ivy League tournament.” 

The Elis started off strong defending tightly against Marquette at the outset of the first game. 

Edwards blocked Marquette’s first shot on goal in a triumphant save, and the Bulldogs had their offensive turn, keeping the ball for a good portion of the first half. 

Although the Bulldogs outshot Marquette 7–5 in the first half and 4–1 in the second half, the Golden Eagles keeper Marten Brink successfully saved all of the Elis’ attempts on goal.

The sole goal scored in the competition happened during the 21st minute of the game, with Edwards just missing the ball as it soared into the net. 

Looking towards their game against Indiana, the team knew they were up against stiff competition. 

“It was a great experience for us, and we appreciate the opportunity to play these types of games,” Head Coach Kylie Stannard told Yale Athletics about the game. “It also says a lot that Indiana has huge respect for our program to invite us here and to have the crowd and intensity they brought tonight.”

Like Yale, Indiana also came into the game looking to bounce back after going winless in their first two of the new season against Saint Louis (1–1–1) and Notre Dame (0–0–2). On top of that, pressure was already mounting as the Hoosiers came into the year with big expectations after making an NCAA quarterfinals appearance last season and finishing with a top five national ranking.  

In the 18th minute, it was Indiana that kicked off the scoring as senior forward Tommy Mihalic fired a penalty shot just past the outstretched arm of Yale goalie Edwards. Just under 15 minutes later, the Bulldogs came close to evening up the score as junior midfielder Diego Zaffanella ’26 raced past multiple Indiana defenders and received a beautiful through-ball from first-year Sven Meacham ’28 in Indiana’s box. 

After juking one Hoosier, Zaffanella fired a shot that the Indiana goalie was fortunate to deflect away. 

In the second half, Indiana notched a second tally, and once again it was Mihalic with the conversion. Senior forward and 2023 All-American Samuel Sarver had charged down the right sideline, and he fed a pass back to Mihalic who was streaking through the center and redirected it into the bottom corner. 

In the end, Indiana finished with 16 total shots, five of which were on goal, with two finding the back of the net. For the Hoosiers, the strong home performance was nothing out of the ordinary. In their last 14 home games at Bill Armstrong Stadium, they hold an impressive 11–0–3 record. 

Now, Yale will look to get back on track as they head home to New Haven and square up against a University of Massachusetts (1–1–1) squad on Saturday that the Elis fell to 3–0 last year. 

As they prepare for Saturday night’s home matchup, Yale is looking to capitalize on the strengths exhibited within these first two games. 

“We don’t concede too many clear-cut chances and we’re looking to build on our defensive discipline and resilience going forward,” junior midfielder Andrew Seidman ’26 told the News.  

The Elis will need to keep the strong defensive play going and keep an eye on the Minutemen’s prolific goal scorer, Alec Hughes. After scoring his 36th career tally against Providence College on Monday, Hughes is now tied for fourth in their program history in All-Time goals.   

The Bulldogs must keep their confidence high; they can look to last year’s success as Ivy League Champions for all the inspiration they need. 

“We’re all motivated to achieve even more this year. No Yale team has ever won back-to-back Ivy League championships, so this is a big opportunity for us. Our focus on hard work, trust, and continuous growth will be key as we navigate the season ahead,” Edwards said. 

Last year, the Bulldogs also fell in their first two games before only losing one in the following nine. 

The team will face UMass on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Reese Stadium.