Bulldogs Dominate with Five Consecutive Wins to Start 2026

Yale’s women’s ice hockey team kicked off 2026 with a remarkable five-game winning streak, showcasing their prowess on the ice. The Bulldogs, currently holding a record of 14–7 and 9–5 in the ECAC, have re-entered the national rankings at No. 14 after previously falling out in late November.

The Bulldogs began the new year at Ingalls Rink on January 2, 2026, overcoming a daunting three-goal deficit to defeat the Union Garnet Chargers (8–13–3, 2–11–1 ECAC) with a score of 6-3. Yale dominated this match, registering a staggering 44 shots on goal compared to Union’s 15, marking a strong start to their conference play.

Just a day later, the Bulldogs continued their winning streak against the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers (6–19, 3–11 ECAC). Yale secured another commanding victory, finishing the game 7-2. The Bulldogs surged ahead with four consecutive goals before RPI managed to score, maintaining a comfortable lead throughout the match.

On the following Tuesday, Yale pulled off a significant upset against the No. 6-ranked Northeastern Huskies (16–5, 12–1 Hockey East). The Bulldogs not only claimed victory but did so with a decisive shutout, ending the game 3-0. Naomi Boucher ’26 opened the scoring with a power play goal just three minutes into the game, followed by another goal from Emma McGowan ’28 in the first period. Goaltender Samson Frey ’29 made a notable contribution, blocking all 22 shots from the Huskies, marking her second shutout of the season.

After their success against Northeastern, Yale traveled to face Ivy League rivals Dartmouth (4–13–3, 2–7–3 ECAC) and Harvard (9–8–1, 5–6–1 ECAC). The Bulldogs showcased their strength once again, defeating Dartmouth with a score of 3-0. This victory was characterized by their aggressive gameplay, as they outshot the Big Green by a two-to-one ratio, further solidifying their winning streak.

The following day, Yale faced Harvard in a highly anticipated rivalry matchup. In their previous encounter this season, Harvard had claimed victory. However, this time, the Bulldogs responded effectively after going down 0-1. They quickly scored two goals to take the lead and, despite Harvard leveling the score at 2-2, Yale netted the decisive goal in the third period to secure their fifth consecutive win.

This impressive run over the winter break has helped Yale maintain their position within the top 15 of national rankings and significantly improved their standing in the ECAC. They currently sit second behind No. 9 Princeton (15–4, 10–2 ECAC), ahead of No. 7 Quinnipiac (17–5–2, 7–4–1 ECAC), No. 10 Cornell (11–6–2, 7–4–1 ECAC), and No. 11 Clarkson (13–7–3, 6–3–2 ECAC).

Yale will return to Ingalls Rink on January 16, 2026, to host the No. 13 Colgate Raiders (12–10–1, 7–4–1 ECAC), looking to extend their winning streak and further enhance their national ranking.