The Yale women’s lacrosse team secured a place in the Ivy League Tournament after defeating Penn 7-4 at Reese Stadium on April 11. Both teams entered the match undefeated in Ivy League play, but Yale’s strong defensive performance helped them claim sole possession of first place.
This result is significant as it not only advances Yale to the tournament but also marks a key victory against another top conference contender. The Bulldogs now hold an 11-2 overall record and are unbeaten at 5-0 in league play, while Penn drops to 6-6 overall and 4-1 in the Ivy League.
Penn scored three times early, taking a quick lead, but managed just one more goal for the rest of the game. Sophomore goalkeeper Niamh Pfaff recorded 11 saves—tying her career high—and senior defender Emmy Pascal led with six ground balls and four caused turnovers. “After Penn scored at 3:35 of the first to go ahead 3-1, the Bulldogs held the Quakers scoreless for the next 34:13 and took a 6-3 lead,” according to Yale Athletics.
First-year attacker Kate Gould led Yale with two goals, while junior attacker Ashley Kiernan had two assists and reached her milestone of earning her 100th career point during this game. The Bulldogs finished with a notable advantage in ground balls (19-9) and tied their season high with thirteen caused turnovers.
The win keeps Yale undefeated at home (7-1) this season. With two league games remaining for both teams, Yale stands alone atop the conference standings. Next up, they will host Harvard next Saturday at noon.
