Yale Athletics

On Friday, the No. 6 Yale Bulldogs (11–3, 4–2 Ivy) traveled to Cambridge to take on the No. 22 Harvard Crimson (7–6, 2–4 Ivy) and secured their fourth straight win. After coming out on top in a quadruple OT versus the University of Pennsylvania last weekend, the Bulldogs were ready to go. This game against Ivy League rivals was sure to be crucial for their postseason success. 

After their win against the Quakers, Joel E. Smilow ’54 Head Coach of Women’s Lacrosse Erica Bamford told the News, “With two important regular season games remaining, we need to continue to grow as a group to finish the season strong so we can earn the opportunity to make a postseason run in May.”

So far, the Bulldogs managed to stick to their goal and came away with a decisive win against Harvard, their second-to-last regular-season game. 

Harvard has had a shaky season this year, winning just over half of their games. Going into Friday’s match-up, the Crimson were coming off a one-goal loss to Cornell, which surely impacted their confidence. 

The first period started quietly on the scoreboard, with Fallon Vaughn ’25 putting up the first point of the game in the period’s last three minutes. She then scored her second goal less than a minute later, which the Crimson answered in the final 15 seconds before the whistle blew.

Starting with a one-goal lead going into the second quarter, 2–1, the Bulldogs turned up the heat. The team went on a massive scoring streak, putting up 6 points in the first nine minutes of the quarter. Sky Carrasquillo ’25 scored four goals, emphasizing why she’s sitting on that Tewaaraton Watch List. 

The Crimson were finally able to halt the Bulldogs’ momentum, scoring two of their own goals, before Vaughn and Taylor Lane ’25 closed out the first half, 10–4, putting up a point each.

The second half started with the Bulldogs up by a decisive six goals, making the Crimsons’ job increasingly difficult. However, Harvard didn’t give up just yet and put up four goals during this period, their highest of the game. 

The Crimson managed to gain a little ground, going into the fourth quarter 12–8; however, they just couldn’t capitalize on that momentum. Megan Kitagawa ’26 put up her first point of the day, which was followed by a Crimson goal, before Vaughn closed out the game, putting up her fourth and final point in the last two minutes. 

Three of this year’s seniors ended the game with four points on the board. Lane, Carrasquillo and Vaughn have been pillars on this team’s offense, and today was no different. 

The strength of the senior class was on full display in Friday’s game, and it comes as no surprise that three of the class’s players sat on the Tewaaraton Watch List, which annually honors the top female college lacrosse player in the United States, at some point this season. 

Last Thursday, Vaughn was nominated to the list of 25 players still in contention as a Tewaarton nominee, and she surely took that momentum with her on Friday.

The Bulldogs will take on their final regular-season opponent, the Cornell Big Red, next weekend at home. With both teams vying for the final spot in the Ivy League tournament, this game will decide whose season will continue in tournament play and whose will be finished. 

The game will begin at 12 p.m. at Reese Stadium and will be streamed live on ESPN+.