No. 13 Yale upends No. 6 Syracuse women’s lacrosse, avenges NCAA Tournament loss

A year ago, Yale’s season came to an end at the hands of Syracuse in the NCAA quarterfinals. But Wednesday, the 13th-ranked Bulldogs got their revenge on the sixth-ranked Bulldogs at Reese Stadium.

Syracuse scored four first-quarter goals, but then just six the rest of the way.

“With Syracuse having a really great offense, Emma Ward, anyone can score at will on that team, we had a really tall task ahead of us,” said Yale head coach Erica Bamford. “I’m really proud of how our defense played today.”

What turned the tide for the Bulldogs defensively? A switch in net. Freshman Niamh Pfaff came in and stopped eight of the Orange’s 14 shots after the first quarter.

“I think goalies give shooters a different look,” Bamford said. “If attackers are planning for one goalie, we can kind of switch it up. It had nothing to with how [starter Cami Donadio] played, it just was giving the Syracuse shooters a different look.”

The result snaps a four-game winning streak for Syracuse and a three-game losing streak for Yale.

Next up for the Orange is a west coast trip to battle California on Saturday. Opening draw is set for 6 p.m.