The No. 16 Yale women’s lacrosse team lost to No. 20 Princeton 12-8 in the Ivy League Tournament championship game at Reese Stadium on May 3. The Bulldogs led by two goals entering the fourth quarter, but Princeton scored six unanswered goals to secure the victory.
This result ends Yale’s hopes for a third consecutive Ivy League Tournament title. The Bulldogs finished their season with a record of 13-4 overall and a conference record of 6-1, while Princeton improved to an overall record of 11-6 and remained undefeated in league play at 5-0.
First-year attackers Whitney Froeb and Kate Gould each scored two goals for Yale, while junior attacker Ashley Kiernan contributed two assists. Gould also led the team with five draw controls, and senior defender Emmy Pascal had three caused turnovers. Junior defender Sydney Grogan picked up four ground balls, and sophomore goalkeeper Niamh Pfaff made nine saves during the match.
After trailing early by three goals, Yale rallied to take an 8-6 lead with just two seconds left in the third quarter on a goal from senior attacker Ashley Newman. However, Princeton controlled possession in the final period with a significant advantage in draw controls (16-5) and outscored Yale six to zero over the last fifteen minutes.
Yale now holds a record of three wins and two losses in Ivy League Tournament championship games. Three Bulldogs—Gould, Pascal, and Pfaff—were named to the All-Tournament Team following their performances.
The next step for Yale will be waiting for possible selection into postseason play as the NCAA Tournament Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on ESPNU.
