On Saturday, the Yale Women’s Soccer team (7–3–1, 1–0–1 Ivy) battled the University of Pennsylvania (1–6–4, 0–1–1 Ivy) on home turf but ultimately ended the game in a draw, 2–2.

This is the second game in a row against Penn that has finished in a tie. Historically, the Bulldogs have not proved a tough match for the Quakers, winning only three of 16 games since 2008.

The Saturday game at Reese Stadium celebrated Pride Night and Alumni Night. Packed with fans, the crowd looked for the Bulldogs to extend their four-game winning streak.

In the first half, Yale’s offense looked to flip the script and dominate Penn early. 

The game’s first corner kick was granted to the Bulldog offense, who took the opportunity and ran with it. Assisted by Ellie Rappole ’25, Belle Golden ’26 weaved in between Penn defenders and snuck the inaugural goal of the game past the Quaker goalie.

Soon after, Rappole would take an approach much like the one she took in the game-winning goal against Dartmouth and secure the game’s second goal for the Bulldogs. Receiving a pass from a speedy Alanna Butcher ’25, Rappole sailed a shot over the head of the leaping goalkeeper and into the top corner of the net. 

Within 10 minutes of each other, Rappole and Golden had tacked a 2–0 lead onto the scoreboard going into the half. 

Head Coach Sarah Martinez told Yale Athletics that her team came out “strong, composed, and clinical in the first half.”

After the first 45-minute period, the second began with what looked like a completely different Yale team. The ball, normally controlled by the Bulldog offense, seemed to stay almost entirely on the Quakers’ side. Despite save efforts from goalkeeper Kyla Holmes ’27, back-to-back corner kicks allowed the Penn offense to break their zero and score a goal. 

After this goal, Yale had multiple opportunities to score on three corner kicks within four minutes of each other. Only Marz Akins ’25 was able to manage a shot during the chaos.

At 78:31 in the second half, Penn’s fifth corner kick allowed Quaker forward Isobel Glass to tie the game, firing a shot past Holmes. The score held even with just under 12 minutes left in the game.

As time dwindled, so did momentum. Despite other opportunities for Yale to score, Penn’s defense ensured nothing came of it.

The game ended in a 2–2 draw.

“Disappointing to drop points after what I felt was a very good first half for us,” Martinez told Yale Athletics. “Unfortunately, it was a tale of two halves and we lost our identity a bit in the second, conceding two goals off set pieces and never could settle the game down.” 

The Bulldogs travel to face Brown University (4–3–3, 1–1–0 Ivy) on Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.