Men's Lacrosse: Brown Bears Fall Short Against Yale Bulldogs in Ivy League Clash
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Brown Bears (3-6, 0-2 Ivy League) faced a tough challenge on Saturday afternoon at Reese Stadium, falling to the Yale Bulldogs (2-5, 1-2 Ivy League) in a heated Ivy League matchup. Despite an impressive effort, the Bears couldn’t cover the distance, with the final score reading 15-12 in favor of Yale.
Dominant Performers and Thrilling Plays
Leading the Bears was Jeremy Hopsicker, who showcased his scoring prowess yet again, recording his third consecutive hat trick. His ability to find the back of the net under pressure kept the Bears in the game. Aidan McLane made his return to the lineup and was instrumental as well, contributing two goals and two assists. Adding to the offensive efforts, Wells Bligh marked his presence with a two-goal performance, achieving his fifth career multi-point game.
Head coach Jon Torpey reflected on the game, stating, “I honestly feel like at certain points we played our best lacrosse of the year, but it wasn’t a consistent effort for 60 minutes.” He noted, “We pride ourselves on winning all three phases of the game—defense, offense, and the middle third. Today, our middle third presence was lacking.” With #1 Cornell set to visit Providence next week, Coach Torpey is eager to see his team respond and tighten their gameplay.
Game Recap: Back-and-Forth Action
The contest began on a high note for Brown, with Ben Scandone contributing an assist to Hopsicker’s first goal before scoring his own, quickly putting the Bears ahead 2-0. However, Yale responded with vigor: as the first quarter unfolded, McLane’s 14th goal of the season came sandwiched between two goals from Yale’s Leo Johnson and David Anderson, allowing Brown to hold a tenuous 3-2 lead at the end of the first frame.
The game intensified in the second quarter as Johnson leveled the score at 3-3. In a rapid exchange of goals, Bligh and Anderson mirrored each other's scoring attempts, pushing the score to 4-4. Yale's Cole Cashion then took charge, scoring back-to-back goals that shifted the momentum as the Bulldogs seized a 6-4 lead.
Brown wasn't ready to back down, with McLane netting his second goal off a assist from Brady O’Kane. However, Yale quickly regained their two-goal edge with Carson Kuhl’s score, further heightening the stakes. The closing moments of the second quarter saw Hopsicker launch an impressive shot from just inside midfield, beating Yale goalie Hugh Conrad to bring the score to 8-6 at halftime.
Second Half Shake-Up
The Bears opened the second half strong, as Dash Sachs struck early, leveling the scores at 7-7. Yet, Yale retaliated with quick goals from Brad Sharp and Anderson, pushing the Bulldogs ahead 9-7. The lead widened as Cashion and Johnson each completed their hat tricks, marking a significant gap at 12-9 with Yale’s biggest lead of the match.
Brown’s fighting spirit came through again, with Bligh and Spencer Hughes getting on the scoreboard, but Yale held firm. The Bulldogs managed to extend their lead to 15-12, fixing the game's outcome and leaving Brown to regroup ahead of their next showdown.
Game Statistics and Notes
Connor Foley impressed in goal with 11 saves, while the Bears faced a shooting disadvantage, trailing 47-52 overall.
Yale capitalized on their man-up scenarios, finishing 1-for-4, while Brown struggled at 0-for-4 on man-up situations.
Looking Ahead
The Bears are set to return to Stevenson-Pincince Field next Saturday to host the #1 Cornell Big Red (7-1, 3-0 Ivy League) for what promises to be an electrifying encounter. The Salute to Service and Alumni Game is slated to start at noon. Buy your tickets here.
By following @BrownU_Bears on Twitter and Instagram, fans can keep up with the latest highlights and news related to Brown Athletics. Join the Bears' journey as they continue to battle and progress through a challenging season!
