NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's lacrosse team welcomes eight first years to the roster for 2025-26. The Class of 2029, announced today, represents six different states and includes six midfielders, one defender and one goalkeeper.
The newcomers bring impressive credentials to New Haven:

• Eight won championships at either the club, conference, county, district, region or state level
• Six were lacrosse team captains, and three captained other sports
• Five have been named All-Americans

The new Bulldogs have found multiple ways to contribute to their communities, including raising money for the local food bank and for families with children battling cancer. They have done volunteer work for Best Buddies International, the Boys and Girls Club, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, One Love, Richmond Food Delivery and Stand Up to ALS. Five have coached younger lacrosse players.

The newcomers join a Yale team that is enjoying a historic run of success. Yale was ranked No. 5 in the final national polls last year. The Bulldogs have advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals and won the Ivy League Tournament in each of the past two years. In 2024 they secured the first outright Ivy League Championship for the regular season in program history (Yale shared the Ivy title in 1980 and 2003). The Bulldogs' 17 overall wins in 2024 were a school record, and last year's win total (16) ranks second. 

The Bulldogs are entering their 11th year with Erica Bamford as the Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Women's Lacrosse. Associate head coach Colleen Smith and assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Molly Palella return for their 10th and ninth years, respectively. Assistant coach Brooklyn Neumen returns for her second year. 

For the 2026 season Yale returns five players who started at least nine games last year – including three defenders and a goalie who were part of helping the team rank No. 4 nationally in scoring defense.

Here is a look at the newest Bulldogs:

Meg Bohan
#21
Midfielder
5-5
Concord, N.H.
St. Paul's School
Granite State Elite

USA Lacrosse: National Tournament, New Hampshire Team 1 2022, 2023.

St. Paul's School: Team captain senior year… All-American 2024, 2025… Lakes Region All-Star 2022, 2023, 2024… All-NEPSAC 2024, 2025… Player's Choice Award 2025… Second on team in scoring (51) 2025... Led team in ground balls (41) 2025... Second on team in draw controls (57) 2025... Led team in assists (18) 2025... Led team in draw controls (44) 2024... St. Paul's School Excellence in Sport Award 2024… Honorable mention All-NEPSAC 2023… Co-MVP 2023… Team finished 2025 season ranked No. 7 in New England… Team won Lakes Region 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025… Soccer team captain as a senior… Won St. Paul's School Soccer Award… Completed Studio Art Seminar for ceramics at St. Paul's.

Notes: Under Armour All-American Team New England 2022, 2024… Mentor to an elementary school-aged girl through Boys and Girls Club in Concord… Coach for her old club team, Granite State Elite… Works at a Birkenstock store in her town… Reopened concession stand in school hockey rink and raised more than $500 for local food bank.

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because when I met the coaches and young women on the team, I knew it was a group I wanted to be a part of. The level of athletics and academics speaks for itself, but the community really stuck out to me."
 
Nell Ducey
#18
Midfielder
5-5
Summit, N.J.
Summit High School
STEPS Elite Lacrosse Club

Summit High School: USA Lacrosse All-American 2025… Team captain senior year… Finished career with 100 goals… First team all-county 2025... Union County MVP 2025... Second team all-county 2024... Hilltopper award 2024... Team was first in division 2025, second in division 2024… Team was North Group 3 State Champions 2025, Group 3 State Sectional Champions 2025, Group 2 State Champions 2022-2024, Group 2 State Sectional Champions 2022-2024, Union County Champions 2024 and 2025, Stars and Stripes Division Champions 2022-2024, TOC Champions 2022… Team was ranked No. 1 in New Jersey all four years… Soccer team captain senior year… Honorable mention all-state 2025 and second team all-county 2024, 2025 in soccer. 

STEPS Elite Lacrosse Club: National Champions 2022... Finished season ranked No. 7 nationally by Inside Lacrosse.

Notes: Avid potter, owns a pottery wheel… Deacon for her church… Grandfather attended Yale (David Roscoe, Class of 1965)... Great-great uncle attended Yale and played football (Jerome Roscoe, Class of 1936)... Father played football at Trinity… Played with current Yale teammates Lily Spinner and Lindsay Thomas at Summit.

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because of the combination of high academics, the competitive lacrosse program, and the coaching staff. I am positive that Yale is a place where I can thrive as a student, athlete and human!!"
 
Whitney Froeb
#28
Midfielder
5-8
San Francisco, Calif.
San Francisco University High School
STEPS California 

USA Lacrosse: USA Lacrosse National Combine Invitee 2022, 2023, 2024… USA Select U18 Team 2023, 2024.

San Francisco University High School: USA Lacrosse All-American… Ranked as 4-star recruit by Inside Lacrosse… Team captain junior and senior years… Three-time first team all-league… Two-time BCL-West Tournament MVP… Led team in goals, assists, ground balls and caused turnovers… Female Athlete of the Year Award 2024… Team was league champions 2023… Also played field hockey and soccer.

STEPS California: Ranked by USA Lacrosse Magazine as No. 26 player in class of 2025… New Balance All-American Senior Game Selection 2025… Adrenaline All-American Game invitee… Three-time American Select California Team… First team American Select all-tournament team… American Select "Player that Impressed"... Juniors Open Attendee… Lax For The Cure "Player to Watch"... Two-time Player of the Game at Champions Cup… Team was Sandstorm Champions 2023.

Notes: Lacrosse coach for STEPS California 2032/2033 team… Via Richmond Food Delivery, helps those in her neighborhood unable to grocery shop for themselves… Enjoys traveling with family and baking… Multiple Ivy Leaguers in family – both older sisters attended Barnard of Columbia University.

Why Yale? "I chose Yale for the opportunity to be at such a special place that not only has stellar academics and athletics, but an incredible team culture that I cannot wait to join."
 
Kate Gould
#19
Midfielder
5-8
Nyack, N.Y.
Nyack
Prime Time

Nyack High School: Two-time All-American… Five-year varsity lacrosse player, three-time team captain… Four-time all-section… Five-time all-league… Career stats: 244 goals, 216 assists, 300+ draw controls, 100+ caused turnovers… Second in New York State Section 1 history for career assists… Spring Female Overall Rockland County Athlete 2025… Spring Female Nyack High School Athlete of the Season 2025… Section 1 and New York State recipient of NYSAAA Scholar Athlete Essay Award 2025… Team was New York State Section 1 Champions 2025… Team went undefeated in regular season (19-1 overall) 2025... Team was ranked No. 5 in spring 2025 final USA Lacrosse Magazine public high school rankings… Five-year varsity tennis player, two-time team captain (four-year No. 1 singles player, all-section honors)... Graduated third in class.

Prime Time: Final US Club Lacrosse national ranking No. 5.

Notes: One Love Youth Ambassador… Youth lacrosse coach… Father, Julian, played lacrosse at Princeton… Mother, Liz, played lacrosse at Columbia… Four younger sisters: Ella, Abby, Jane, Tess… Sister Ella is committed to play lacrosse at Michigan.

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because being surrounded by people with incredible determination and a drive for excellence both in the classroom and on the field will push me to reach my greatest potential."
 
Kaitlyn Roth
#14
Midfielder
5-3
Newtown Square, Pa.
Penncrest
Delco Lacrosse Club, Pennsylvania American Select (Team 1), U.S. National Tournament Philly Team 1, Under Armour 150

Penncrest High School: Two-year team captain; four-year starter... Media Area Sports Hall of Fame… Three-time first team All-Central League… Three-time all-county… Two-time USA Lacrosse Academic All-American… Second team All-PhillyLacrosse… Two-time USA Lacrosse high school girls notable player of the week… Penncrest Lacrosse leadership award 2025… Coaches Award for most continuous improvement 2023… 154 goals, 133 assists, 318 draw controls, 301 ground balls, 164 caused turnovers… Led team in assists sophomore, junior, and senior years... Led team in ground balls freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years...  Led team in draw controls senior year; second in draw controls sophomore and junior years... Led team in caused turnovers freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years... Team was state and district finalist… Team was USA Lacrosse preseason ranked top 25 2024... Three-year soccer starter… Lion Team Pride award in soccer 2025… Also competed in indoor track… Founder of Morgan's Message Chapter at Penncrest… Penncrest High School Ambassador Award… Member of national honors society and history honors society. 

Club Teams: Three-time Presidents Cup MVP… Nike Philly Girls All-Star… Team was Grind Tournament Champions.

Notes: Future Business Leaders of America member and two-time regional finalist… Volunteer coach for Optimist Youth lacrosse program… Delco Lacrosse Club coach… Media Youth Center volunteer and tutor… Junior Optimist Member… Mini-THON member: raised money and support for children and families battling childhood cancer… The founder of her local club team played lacrosse at Yale (graduated 1970)... Former high school and club teammate Marissa Kamin is an incoming first-year at Cornell… Club teammate Annie Dignazio is an incoming freshman at Brown… High school teammate Kate Stanton is a rising sophomore at Penn… Great-grandfather attended Dartmouth… Father played collegiate baseball and stepfather played collegiate lacrosse… Grandmother played collegiate lacrosse and was member of USA team.

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because of the exceptional balance between academics and athletics paired with such a supportive community. The outstanding staff, positive team culture, and the high level of play made Yale the perfect fit for me!"
 
Maddy Ryder
#2
Midfielder
5-4
Camillus, N.Y.
West Genesee
Salt City Snipers

West Genesee High School: Team captain senior year… Second team all-league 2025… Led team in assists 2025… Second-most draw controls on team 2025… Second team All-Central New York 2024… First team all-league 2024… Injured freshman season… Team was Section III runners-up 2025, New York State runners-up 2024, New York State regional champion 2024, New York State Section III Champions 2024, New York State semi-finalists 2023, New York State Regional Champions 2023, New York State Section III Champions 2023… Played JV soccer freshman year.

Salt City Snipers: Starting midfielder for American Select Upstate NY Team 2023… US Club Lax "Girl Who Impressed," American Select Tournament 2023… Starting midfielder for American Select Upstate NY Team 2021… US Club Lax "Girl Who Impressed," American Select Tournament 2021.
 
Notes: Youth lacrosse coach for local clinics… Volunteer for Stand Up to ALS fundraiser… Volunteer for John Pepper Memorial Lacrosse tournament… In free time enjoys hiking, traveling with family, being with friends, listening to music and exercising. 

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because of the academic rigor and the opportunity to play the sport I love. The positive cultures of both the campus and the lacrosse team were exactly what I was hoping to find in a college experience."
 
Avery Saviano
#16
Defender
5-7
Severna Park, Md.
Severna Park
M&D Black

Severna Park High School: USA Lacrosse All-American 2025… New Balance All-American Senior Game Selection 2025… Team captain senior year… Ranked as 5-star recruit by Inside Lacrosse 2024, 2025… First team all-county 2024, 2025… Led team in caused turnovers and ground balls 2025… New Balance All-American Team selection 2022, 2023, 2024 – Team Baltimore (Highlight/Command)... Nike Select and Under Armour 150 Selections…  First team Baltimore Sun All-Metro 2025.. Team was Maryland state champions 2023, 2024; county champions 2023, 2024... Also played field hockey… NFHCA All-Academic Team 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025... Field hockey team was Maryland state champions 2025. 

M&D Black: No. 2 national ranking 2024 (Inside Lacrosse and US Club Lacrosse)... Club team won numerous national tournaments, including Lax for the Cure, Summer Genesis, and more.

Notes: Enjoys spending time with friends, yoga and exercising… Volunteer for Best Buddies International, an organization that works to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities… Sister, Bella Saviano, is a senior on the Yale lacrosse team.

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because it offered the perfect blend of amazing academics, a supportive/welcoming team culture and a beautiful campus – plus, it gave me a chance to play alongside my sister."
 
Olivia Smit
#33
Goalkeeper
5-11
Annapolis, Md.
Deerfield Academy
Mass Elite

Deerfield Academy: Three-year starter… Also played volleyball… Swimming team captain… High honors on honor roll for all four years… Head tour guide… Deerfield eco-representative. 

Mass Elite: Under Armour 150 invitee… Juniors Open invitee… American Select Massachusetts player… Chosen for NILLY Draft… Shot for Life invitee… IWLCA player of the game 2024… Team was ranked No. 9 nationally,  two-time Lake Placid champions, Winter Summit Classic Champions 2024. 

Notes: Chesapeake Bay Foundation intern -- spent summer of 2024 researching oysters in Chesapeake Bay, experimenting with different concrete oyster forms to help increase Bay's oyster population, and volunteering with Chesapeake Bay Foundation… Starbucks barista summer 2024… Father is a former Navy SEAL, USNA varsity sailing captain, national collegiate champion and two-time 505 world sailing champion… Cousin was a rower at Stanford and part of the Olympic rowing team. 

Why Yale? "I chose Yale because it is a place that will challenge me academically and athletically. The incredible coaching staff and positive team culture only make me excited for my time there."