The women's soccer team saw its successful 2011 season come to a close after narrowly falling to Yale 1-0 in New Haven Saturday. The Bears (10-5-2, 3-3-1 Ivy League) could not find an equalizing goal after a first-half strike from the Bulldogs (9-5-3, 4-2-1), marking only the second game this season in which Bruno was kept off the scoreboard. The loss ends an otherwise positive season for the Bears, whose 10 victories, the team's most since 2003, were good enough for a fourth place league finish.
"We accomplished quite a bit," said Head Coach Phil Pincince. "I thought we had strong leadership. That was a goal. We wanted commitment from every player, and we had that. And we finished in the top half of the league, so it was a very rewarding season for us."
The Bulldogs controlled the game early, dominating the midfield by corralling loose balls and holding possession. Yale held a commanding 12-5 advantage in shots in the first half, forcing Bears keeper MC Barrett '14 to make four saves.
The Bulldogs eventually solved Bruno's defense in the 39th minute. Yale midfielder Emma Mullo beat three Bears and fired a laser that deflected off both posts and went in for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
"It's not that we didn't do a good job in the first half," Pincince said. "I just think that we didn't win enough first and second balls in the middle-third of the field, and we let them dictate the tempo. And the kid that scored hit a rocket. Great shot. Nothing MC could do on that one."
Bruno settled into the game in the second half and was able to repeatedly test the Yale back line. The Bears dominated the shot advantage 11-3 but could not beat Bulldog keeper Elise Wilcox, who made eight saves to preserve her clean sheet and the win.
"I thought we dominated the second half," Pincince said. "But we just couldn't get the equalizer. It was a very strong Ivy battle."
The loss does little to detract from Bruno's winning season, but it does signify the end of the road for some. Bruno's six seniors will be leaving the program upon graduation this spring, and Pincince was quick to praise their achievements.
"When you consider what they've accomplished as a senior class — three winning seasons out of four — their contributions to this program have been the most we've seen in many, many years," Pincince said. "My hat is off to all of them. They will be sadly missed, and they've been a dynamic group of young ladies."
