Yale Upperclassmen Guiding Bulldogs in Best Stretch Since 2007

Four years ago, Yale women’s lacrosse’s incoming freshmen faced a difficult choice: take an unplanned gap year or head to New Haven despite uncertainties about what education and playing lacrosse would look like during COVID-19.

The Bulldogs’ entire incoming class chose to take a gap year. The high school classes of 2020 and 2021 combined, forming a standout group of players that are now helping the program to its best start since 2001.

“It feels like the Ivy League is finally back this year,” junior midfielder Taylor Lane said. “My class had a bit of an unconventional college experience with the pandemic and taking gap years and semesters. This year finally feels like we’re ready to go every day. That experience [during the pandemic] is something powering our team forward.”

Yale has had significant success in recent years, making appearances in the Ivy League tournament championship in 2022 and 2023. But the Bulldogs’ early season achievement in 2024 is unique amid their string of accomplishments. Their 7-0 record marks the most games the Bulldogs have won consecutively since 2007. It includes wins over ranked opponents like Princeton and Rutgers.

Coach Erica Bamford credited the program’s upperclassmen. On Yale’s 37-player roster, six players are seniors and 20 are juniors. The Bulldogs’ seniors are “excellent” leaders, Bamford said, and the juniors have been consistent in recent seasons.

But Bamford made clear it’s not just the upperclassmen; the whole team meshes.

“The team shows up to practice every single day, ready to compete,” Bamford said. “They’re a really intense group.”

Lane said players show up to practice each day aware of their flaws — even after strong wins. That “hungry mentality” has been important to Yale’s success, she said.

The Bulldogs have been especially sound on defense, ranking fourth nationally in scoring defense at just 7.29 goals per game.

Bamford said the unit has evolved over several seasons. Colleen Smith, the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator, has run the same system for a few years. There are a handful of notable changes, with Yale moving some midfielders on to defense.

“We’ve put some other players back on defense who we felt would be a great fit in our schemes,” Bamford said. “They’ve really thrived in those positions and have allowed us to be dynamic on the defensive end.”

During Yale’s latest victory against Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights scored just eight goals — their lowest total all season. Lane said the low number of shots allowed, discipline and defensive efficiency were key in the win.

A 7-0 record is a strong achievement, but the Bulldogs want to make one thing clear: they are far from done. Lane said Yale is “all business” after two straight losses in the Ivy League championship.

“No one is satisfied not winning those championships,” Lane said. “Everyone’s hungry and knows we have something to prove this year. We feel like we’ve been [shortchanged] the past few years: not winning the championship, not getting a bid into the NCAA tournament, which is where we know our program can be.”

The season isn’t even halfway over, and the schedule will be a battle from here on out. Bamford expects a challenge each weekend against Ivy League opponents, saying the conference has made a “ton of strides” this season.

But, in the day to day, the Bulldogs are just focused on what’s next.

“We’re really proud of our undefeated record this season,” Lane said. “That’s something that’s in the rearview mirror at this point. Our eyes are on the rest of our competitive schedule, and everybody knows that.”