Yale Athletics

Tied for fourth in the Ivy League, the Yale Women’s Soccer team (8–7–1, 2–4–1 Ivy) traveled to Cambridge, Mass. to battle Harvard (7–3–5, 3–3–1 Ivy) for the last spot in the Ivy League tournament. 

Historically, things have not fared well for the Bulldogs. The last time they beat the Crimson was in 2017, marking a five-game losing streak and a 1–14 record since 2008. On Saturday, they looked to squash that streak. 

At Jordan Field, it would be a fight to continue the season. Only one team could advance. 

Quickly into the first half, Ellie Rappole ’25, who has been hugely successful in her senior campaign, propelled her team’s momentum forward when she maneuvered past a Crimson defender and banked a shot at 11:33. 

Rappole continued to take shots soon after as Yale kept the ball on offense, but none could inch past Harvard’s goalie. 

About 20 minutes after the first goal of the game, Harvard equalized with a shot that curled around the goalpost and into the net. Then, just before the buzzer at the half sounded, a corner kick provided the Crimson with the right deflection to knock in one last goal before the last 18 seconds dwindled down.  

At the start of the second half, Harvard held the ball on their side, providing ample opportunity for first-year goalie Anna Shamgochian ’28 to work under pressure. Within the first third of the second half, Shamgochian had two saves.

At 63:39, however, the pressing Crimson would prove insurmountable. Harvard’s Áslaug Gunnlaugsdóttir, who had the corner kick that aided them in their second goal, won a penalty kick after a foul was called on Vienna Lundstedt ’28. Despite a dive from Shamgochian, a rifling shot from the leg of Gunnlaugsdóttir seared into the net. As the time wound down, the final score ached on the board: 1–3.

Despite the tough loss, Shamgochian had four saves, and Rappole had three shots on goal. 

The end had come for both the season and the collegiate careers of the 11 seniors who gave their hearts and souls to Yale Women’s Soccer.

“This senior class means a great deal to me,” Head Coach Sarah Martinez told Yale Athletics. “They were here my first season as head coach, and they have brought to life a great brand of soccer, leading with empathy, love and a player-centric philosophy. They have left this place better than they found it and I hope they all feel immense pride for what they did.”

Yale Women’s Soccer season ends with an overall record of 8–7–1, a winning percentage of .531.