Courtesy of Yale Athletics

This past week, the Yale women’s soccer team (3–2, 0–0 Ivy) hosted opponents Stony Brook (2–2–1, 0–0 CAA) and Fordham (5–1–1, 0–0 A10) at Reese Stadium.  

On Thursday, the Stony Brook Seawolves ventured to New Haven to face the Bulldogs, hot off the road victory at Oregon State, where they bested the Beavers 2–0. 

The game began quietly. An excellent defensive strategy on both sides made scoring difficult, and as the half drew to a close, neither team managed to sneak past their opponent’s goalie.

After the half, however, it became clear the Bulldogs drew up a plan built for success. Holding the ball on offense allowed them to keep the momentum on their side and stay in control of the pace. This culminated in a goal in the 72nd minute, when Alanna Butcher ’25 took advantage of a corner and passed to Marz Akins ’25, who tapped the ball in for the goal.

That would be the one and only goal scored during the 90 minutes played at Reese that night, thanks to the defense of goalkeeper Anna Shamgochian ’28, who made her collegiate debut in the second half with two saves. Shamgochian took the place of goalie Kyla Holmes ’27, who aided the Bulldogs in their third-straight shutout.

Head Coach Sarah Martinez told Yale Athletics she was impressed with how her team played.

“[I’m] proud of our group for another shutout, another set piece goal, and their pride to defend Reese so well,” she said.

This victory marked the Bulldogs’ third in a row, though there was little time to celebrate. On Sunday, the team quickly turned around to face the Fordham Rams at Reese Stadium. 

The Rams wasted no time establishing their lead, scoring at 12 minutes in. The Elis, who have typically ramped up their play gradually over the course of a game, were now on their heels. Just two and a half minutes later, an assist from Meredith Phillips ’25 to Tanner Cahalan ’25 evened up the score to 1–1. 

However, this did not quiet the Rams, who scored again nine minutes after Cahalan’s goal.

Going into the second half, the Elis now trailed 2–1. Sixteen minutes after the second half began, the pressure applied by the Bulldogs began to crack the Rams’ defense. The Phillips-Cahalan team assisted forward Ashley Kirschner ’26 in her first goal of the season, tying the game once more. 

The game was now neck-and-neck.  The atmosphere in the stands was tense, as anxious fans held their breath. In the 70th minute, Fordham’s Julia Acosta sent her second goal of the night past the Eli goalkeeper into the net, securing a victory for the Rams. 

This marked Shamgochian’s first full game as goalkeeper. She had seven saves.

Coach Martinez told Yale Athletics she wanted her team to come out fighting.

“We have to find ways to start games stronger,” she said. “We’ve had multiple games now of not turning it on until the second half. We have a tough weekend ahead starting with UConn on the road that we need to shift our attention to.”

The Bulldogs will travel further upstate to Storrs and face their state rival, the University of Connecticut Huskies (4–1–1, 0–0 AAC), on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.