CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's lacrosse earned a win over a ranked opponent for the second straight season this afternoon by defeating the No. 16 Yale Bulldogs, 10-9. After 17 lead changes, the Crimson (7-5, 3-2 Ivy) came away with the victory over their Ivy League rival Yale (9-4, 3-2 Ivy).
 
The Crimson also earned its fifth consecutive win with the result that was powered by a five-point effort from Caroline Mullahy (one goal, four assists) and a two-goal game from Callie Hem. The win boosted Harvard to fourth in the Ivy League standings with just two games to play in the regular season.

How It Happened

• Harvard met its Ivy League rival on Jordan Field in what was a beautiful day for lacrosse at Jordan Field.

• The Crimson started strong, notching a goal a little over a minute into play courtesy of Caroline Mullahy, who deposited the goal after a great feed from Callie Hem. After starting goalie, Chloe Provenzano made a save, the Bulldogs were able to slide a shot over the goal line to even the score at one goal apiece.
• Maddie Barkate had a great start in the draw control circle, winning each of the first three draws for the Crimson. Harvard registered several scoring chances throughout the quarter, but Yale would eventually take a 2-1 lead after finding the back of the net at 4:18.
• Hannah Shiels got on the score sheer late in the quarter to even the score at 2-2, where it would stay after the buzzer sounded to end the first frame.
• The Crimson defense gave the team a big boost early in the second, causing turnovers on each of Yale's first two possessions. Maggie McCarthy and Grace Taylor recorded the caused turnovers for Harvard.
• Barkate made the most of the opportunity the defense provided, scoring a goal to give Harvard a 3-2 lead at 11:40 in the quarter, its first lead of the game. Yale answered with a pair of goals to retake the lead, but Hem's first goal of the game leveled the score at 4-4 halfway through the quarter.
• The teams traded goals once again to close out the second quarter. Yale got the first goal on the board before Kate Gilliam evened the score at 5-5 right before the half. The Harvard defense continued its relentless pressure, causing three more turnovers in the second quarter, bringing its first half total to seven.
• Out of halftime, Shiels netted another goal to give the Crimson a 6-5 lead. The back-and-forth battle continued with Yale adding a pair of tallies before Charlotte Hodgson tied the game back up at seven with her first goal of the game. The same sequence happened later in the quarter, with Yale going ahead 8-7, before Ilana Kofman scored to level the score at 8-8. Provenzano kept the score at 8-8 with a save right at the end of the third quarter.
• Hodgson scored again to give the Crimson an 9-8 lead just 51 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Crimson forced two straight Yale turnovers on the ensuing Bulldog possession and then capitalized, going up by two goals after Hem scored her second of the game.
• Harvard's defense stepped up after Hem's goal, holding Yale scoreless for the next nine minutes of action, causing three turnovers in the stretch. The Bulldogs eventually were able to get a shot across the line late in the fourth quarter, making the score 10-9, still in favor of the Crimson. Harvard held it together, forcing another Yale turnover on the next Yale chance to retain possession with just under a minute remaining.
• The Crimson held onto the ball for the remainder of regulation, running out the clock to secure the victory of the No. 16 Bulldogs 

Harvard Highlights

• Caroline Mullahy led the charge with four points off a goal and four assists.
• Harvard emerged victorious after a back-and-forth battle that featured 17 lead changes.
• Seven different players registered caused turnovers for the Crimson.
• Harvard forced Yale to commit 16 turnovers overall.
• Callie Hem, Charlotte Hodgson and Hannah Shiels all contributed with two goals in the effort.
• Grace Taylor scooped up a game-high six ground balls followed by Mullahy who grabbed five.
• Maddie Barktae led the squad with five draw controls, including the first three of the game.

Up Next

Harvard has two games remaining on its regular season schedule. First, the team will go for six straight wins at home next weekend against Columbia (Apr. 22, NESN) before travelling to Princeton to close out the regular season on Sunday April 30 (ESPN+).