HAMDEN, Conn. – The Yale women's ice hockey team surrendered a late lead and fell to Quinnipiac University 4-3 in overtime on Saturday evening on the road. The Bulldogs led 3-1 in the final minute of regulation before the Bobcats scored twice to force overtime and netted the game-winner in the extra session.
Despite the setback, Yale clinched a share of the ECAC Hockey regular season title after Princeton University secured an overtime victory in its regular-season finale. The championship represents the second ECAC regular season title in program history and a significant milestone as the Bulldogs head into postseason play.
Yale holds the tiebreaker over Princeton and has clinched the No. 1 seed throughout the ECAC postseason. The Bulldogs have earned a first round bye and will host the quarterfinals of the conference tournament at Ingalls Rink.
With the victory, Quinnipiac improved to 24-7-3 with a 14-6-2 record in conference play. The Bulldogs lost their first game of 2026, dropping to 22-8 overall with a 16-6 mark in ECAC games.
Scoring Summary
• P1, 11:21 |
YALE GOAL! Gracie Gilkyson scored the game's opening goal on a wrist shot from the slot.
1-0 YALE
• P1, 12:27 |
YALE GOAL! Just over one minute later, the Bulldogs scored their second goal of the period.
Naomi Boucher forced a turnover behind Quinnipiac's net. The loose puck was scooped up by
Cami Bell, who delivered a pass to
Stephanie Stainton. The junior found the back of the net on a wrister.
2-0 YALE
• P2, 9:57 | Peyton Cormier scored for Quinnipiac to cut into Yale's lead.
2-1 YALE
• P3, 10:38 |
YALE GOAL! Jordan Ray added a goal for the Bulldogs to extend their lead back to two goals.
3-1 YALE
• P3, 18:58 | The Bobcats emptied the net, utilizing the extra attacker. The risk paid off, with Kahlen Lamarche scoring the team's second goal.
3-2 YALE
• P3, 19:36 | Less than a minute later, Quinnipiac tied the game on a goal by Aynsley D'Ottavio to force overtime.
3-3
• OT | Lamarche scored the game-winner in overtime.
4-3 QU
Game Note
• Yale won its second ECAC Hockey regular season title. The Bulldogs won their first championship during the 2022-23 season.
• Yale will host the quarterfinals of the ECAC playoffs for the first time since 2022-23.
• Yale finished the regular season with 22 wins, its third-most in program history.
• Quinnipiac snapped Yale's impressive 14-game winning streak. Prior to Saturday's loss, the Bulldogs had not lost since Dec. 6, 2025.
• Ray scored her 16th goal of the season and 54th career goal, passing former teammate
Anna Bargman for fifth-most in program history.
• Stainton tallied her 12th goal of the year, while Gilkyson netted her seventh.
Up Next
The Bulldogs have earned an opening-round bye in the ECAC Hockey tournament. Yale will host the quarterfinals at Ingalls Rink. The best-of-three series will run from Feb. 27 to March 1.