STORRS, Conn. – Tied 7-7 with UConn entering the fourth quarter at Morrone Stadium Saturday afternoon, the No. 15 Yale women's lacrosse team reeled off three straight goals and seemingly took control of the game. But the Bulldogs' state rivals had a rally left in them. The Huskies scored the final three goals of regulation to send the game to overtime, then got the game-winner from attacker Kate Shaffer on a free position shot at 1:10 of OT for the 11-10 win. Sophomore attacker
Jenna Collignon, named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List two days earlier, led Yale with five goals.
Yale (4-2, 1-0 Ivy League) outshot UConn 16-12 in the first half but could only manage a 4-4 tie, as Huskies goalkeeper Landyn White made nine of her 14 saves for the game in the first half.
The Bulldogs scored two of the first three goals of the third quarter, including a creative backhander from sophomore attacker
Caroline Burt that gave Yale a 6-5 lead with 8:18 left in the quarter. But the Huskies outscored Yale 2-1 in the final 2:09 of the third, including a free position shot just before time expired.
The Bulldogs opened the fourth on fire, getting three goals in the opening 4:07 and also getting a pair of draw controls. But UConn (4-2, 0-0 Big East) weathered that storm. The Huskies got the draw control after Yale's 10th goal and started their own 3-0 run – this one in a span of 3:06 to tie the game 10-10 with 6:03 to play.
White made the final save of regulation, denying a shot by first-year midfielder
Bella Saviano with 3:09 to play. Turnovers ended the next three possessions and sent the game to overtime.
Yale celebrated momentarily when a shot by Collignon went in a minute into overtime, but the goal was waved off due a crease violation. Shaffer then earned the free position attempt that resulted in the game-winner.
Senior goalkeeper
Clare Boone finished with a season-high eight saves for Yale. In addition to Collignon's five goals, the Bulldogs got three from sophomore midfielder
Fallon Vaughn and one each from Burt and Saviano. Senior attacker
Olivia Penoyer had the Bulldogs' only assist.
The Bulldogs finished with a season-high 28 ground balls, including five from senior midfielder
Payton Vaughn. UConn's 17-7 advantage on draw controls marked the first time this season the Bulldogs have lost the draw control battle.
Yale plays at No. 13 Duke Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
