Courtesy of Sam Rubin '95

In its road trip to the Big Apple, the Yale field hockey team (5–7, 2–2 Ivy) seized a victory in its match against Columbia (6–5, 0–4 Ivy) on Friday. 

Coming off of four consecutive losses, the Bulldogs extended their winning record against the Lions to four games after a pair of goals by two first-years propelled them to a 4–2 victory. As the contest entered the midway point of the fourth period, both teams remained tied with two goals apiece. Soon after, unanswered goals by forwards Lily Ramsey ’25 and Ellie Barlow ’25 capped off the match and secured the Bulldog’s second conference win. 

“[Facing Columbia is] always a super intense and competitive game, which are always the most fun,” captain and midfielder Imogen Davies ’22 told the News on Thursday before the game. “The team energy is amazing right now.”

The Blue and White were pitted against a Columbia team that was hungry to put an end to its losing streak and capture its first Ivy League victory of the season. However, it was Yale that struck first with the contest’s first shot on goal eight minutes into the first period. Despite outshooting the Light Blue 4–2, both squads exited the first frame scoreless.

After a shot by forward and midfielder Kelly Dolan ’22 was blocked by Columbia’s goaltender Alexa Conomikes ten minutes after the second-period whistle, the senior leapt on the rebound to knock in her second attempt two seconds later. As Dolan put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard, the Lions were held shotless in the period. 

The latter half of the match featured an offensive push by the Lions. While a feed across the goal line by forward Lena Ansari ’24 was netted in by senior midfielder Iliana Cabral ’22, Columbia promptly cut into Yale’s lead one minute later. Following Cabral’s goal from open play, the Lions closed out the third frame after outshooting the Blue and White 7–3. 

“Our ability to score in open play tonight was great,” Yale field hockey head coach Pam Stuper told Yale Athletics. “That’s something we had worked hard on through spring ball. It’s starting to come together.”

In the fourth period, the Lions’ offensive core continued to come alive right out of the gate. Within a span of two minutes, the Light Blue delivered three shots, two of which were saved by Yale’s goalkeeper Luanna Summer ’24. Three minutes into the final frame, a shot by Columbia’s Lindsey Yu found its way into the back of the net and evened up the match. 

With seven minutes left in regulation time, Ramsey notched her first career goal off an assist from Dolan. Six minutes after Ramsey’s game-winning goal, fellow first-year Barlow knocked in an empty-net goal to extend the lead and seal victory for the Bulldogs.

With their win against Columbia, the Blue and White improved their overall conference record to 2–2 and currently sit tied for third in the Ancient Eight. The Bulldogs can now look forward to a busy two weeks as they are set to face four different teams over the course of 12 days. Their next match-up features a home contest against Sacred Heart University. 

“We’re all supporting each other through this stretch,” junior back Laine Garber ’23 wrote to the News. “We’re excited to have some tough competition coming up and are looking to win!”

The Yale field hockey team will take on Sacred Heart University this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Johnson Field.