Yale Athletics

Over Yale’s spring break, the women’s lacrosse team (7–2, 1–1 Ivy) continued competing and came out with two wins and two losses. The team started off strong, beating the Columbia Lions (3–6, 0–2 Ivy) 17-6 and the University of Connecticut Huskies (6–4, 0–1 Big East) 17-8 before losing to Stanford (9–3, 3–2 Atlantic Coast) 10-11 and Brown (6–2, 1–1 Ivy) 11-14. 

With Columbia sitting at eighth in the Ivy League and Yale currently at third, the Bulldogs confidently entered this match-up and came out on top.

Yale was ahead from the start, putting up six goals before Columbia scored their first. The Bulldogs carried this lead until the end, never letting the Lions come close to overtaking them. 

The Bulldogs’ next game against UConn saw a similar match up, with the Huskies currently ranked 21 spots lower than the Bulldogs in the NCAA Division I rankings. The Bulldogs could keep their composure and come out with a solid win, putting up the same number of points as they had the weekend prior. 

The spotlight for the Bulldogs landed on Jenna Collignon ’25, who walked away with six goals and Fallon Vaughn ’25, who scored four. These two names should be no surprise as they have been instrumental players since joining the team. These two players consistently score high stats and prove their relentless ambition each time they step on the field. 

Things started to get tricky for the Bulldogs when they took on Stanford across the country in California. Yale came into this game ranked No. 4 in the country, significantly higher than their opponent; however, they just couldn’t clinch the win. 

The team got off many shots, but they just weren’t landing. Stanford’s goalkeeper, Lucy Pierson, achieved her career high saves at 15, showing that Yale wasn’t making those shots precise enough on such a sharp keeper. 

Yale’s team is known for their skilled attackmen and determination around the cage, but the Bulldogs were trailing and couldn’t win back the lead in those final moments. 

Stanford won this game through their defense, a wall that was just strong enough to hold off Yale until that final buzzer rang. The Bulldogs fell 10-11 in an incredibly close game. This loss resulted in the team dropping out of the top five to No. 7. 

The last game the Bulldogs played over break was against Brown. Coming off a close loss like that is always tricky, and the team couldn’t convert against the Bears. 

Yale led the game 6-4 in the first quarter, but by halftime, the game was tied 8-8. In the second half, the Bears kept their momentum and led the Bulldogs 11-10 in the 3rd. Brown kept their composure and widened that gap to 14-11 by the time the clock ran out. 

This loss dropped Yale down to No. 10 and allowed Brown to move into the national rankings for the first time this season at No. 21. 

Although this was a rough way for the Bulldogs to come out of break, the team had a stellar start to the season and showed us all their capabilities. Yale just needs to get back to landing those shots in the back of the net as consistently as we know they can, and the team will be right back where they belong in the top five. 

This Saturday, the Bulldogs will face the Princeton Tigers at home at 12 p.m. Yale is currently ranked No. 3 in the Ivy League, and Princeton is ranked No. 1.