“He is one of the happiest people I have ever met,” said teammate Andrew Stickel ’27. “He is always smiling and always seems to take the positives out of everything he does. He is a huge addition to our team culture.”

Yet, although his glass-half-full mentality has never seemed to waver, Lin and the team have definitely faced their fair share of adversity so far this season. In fact, they started off their 2025 campaign with two last-place finishes at The Prestige tournament in mid-February and at the All-American in Humble, Texas, the following month.

After a disappointing start to the season, the Bulldogs needed a significant mentality reset. After all, this is still largely the same uber-talented team that won the Ivy Tournament last year and recruits some of the top high-school prospects in the country. 

During their stay in Statesboro, Ga., while taking part in the Schenkel Invitational over the weekend of March 22, the Elis got that perspective shift from an unexpected source. 

“When we were in Statesboro, Ga., our host family’s warmth and generosity really stood out,” Lin told the News. “It reminded us to look beyond ourselves and give back. Honestly, that helped reset my mindset, and I think it put me in a better place heading into the next tournament.”

Indeed, it was the simple graciousness of the tournament assigned team hosts  — Bill and Andrea Howard — that helped the group put aside their on-course struggles. Since departing Statesboro, the Bulldogs have been a completely different team, and they are back to their winning ways in full force.  

In their final outing in the month of March at Rolling Green Golf Course in Springfield, Penn., the Elis vanquished the rest of the field. The team shot a combined +6 in Round 1 and then bettered that with an overall +1 in the second and final round to overcome 11 formidable opponents and secure the victory at the Columbia Spring Invitational.

“Anytime we tee it up, our goal is to win,” Head Coach Keith Tyburski said to the News. “That said, winning isn’t easy, and we’re very proud of this accomplishment. Securing a victory in the spring as we prepare for the Ivy League Championship is a big confidence boost for our group.”

The way the team stormed back in the last round to overcome a streaking Arkansas squad can, in part, be attributed to the resilience that early-season woes have imparted on this Yale squad. 

Leading the charge was Lin and his wide-eyed grin, as he finished tied for first-place among all golfers with an overall finish of 139, one under par.  

“Rolling Green was a challenge with the wind and punched greens, and I’m still a bit in shock that I came out on top,” Lin said. “Winning my first collegiate tournament was huge, but the real highlight was our team victory. It felt great to see all our hard work pay off.”

After his standout performance helped the Elis take home the trophy, Lin was recognized by the Ivy League as Golfer of the Month for March.

“Being named Ivy League Golfer of the Month was unexpected and, honestly, felt a little surreal,” he said. “I definitely wrestle with some imposter syndrome. Still, moments like this remind me how lucky I am to be playing college golf.”

After a couple of well-earned weeks of rest, the team packed their bags for New Jersey to compete in the Princeton Invitational, where they finished fourth in a field of fourteen teams. Junior Will Lodge ’26 played his best golf of this spring and finished fifth overall after posting two rounds of even-par 71.

Now, the team is squarely focused on defending their title in the Ivy League Championships on the weekend of April 25.

“We’re in a good position going into Ivy’s,” senior captain Ben Carpenter ’25 said. “Next week is the biggest week of our season, and after coming up short to Princeton, we’re fired up and motivated to give them our best.”

With the latter tournament slated to be held at the same venue in Springfield that the Bulldogs just played so well at, the Elis know that they are more than capable of going back-to-back.

“Rolling Green is an awesome venue,” senior Blake Brantley ’25 told the News. “It requires length off the tee and a lot of conviction with decisions. We all thought that it fits our games well before the tournament, and after winning there, we have a lot of confidence going back in a couple weeks.”

While the greens may play in the Elis’ favor, they will undoubtedly face some stiff competition from some familiar faces.

“Princeton has a strong team this year and will be a tough competitor.” Carpenter said. “During my time at Yale, we’ve gone back and forth with them and both teams have a rich history of success. I’m excited to see how the next three weeks unfold.”

Before Yale took the crown in 2024, the Tigers had won two of the previous three Ivy titles. 

The post MEN’S GOLF: Matthew Lin ’28, Bulldogs ride momentum into Ivy Tournament appeared first on Yale Daily News.

However, Head Coach Brian Hamm and the staff’s process-oriented approach means that they have never been overly focused on end results.

“Hitting 20 wins is not something that is on our radar as being important other than a reflection of how we’ve done the entire year and being rewarded for that,” said Coach Hamm. “If we get caught up in our overall record, then we lose sight of what we’re accomplishing. For us, to be able to continue to play consistently is what we’re taking pride in and is the measurable.”

The series against Columbia started a day early due to rainy weather predictions, so Senior Captain Colton Shaw ’25 took the mound on Friday morning instead of on Saturday. Although his game-day prep was moved up a day, the work he did early in the week with the coaching staff paid off in big ways. 

Hamm told the News that after a few rocky starts, Shaw made a concerted effort to get more “verticality” on his slider and changeup. By streamlining his motion and extending his throwing hand out front, he was able to do just that. With a couple of small adjustments, he produced his best start of the season — pitching eight scoreless innings. 

Yet, for Shaw, maintaining a positive and resilient mindset was just as crucial to his success as any changes to his mechanics. 

“I went through a rough stretch where I didn’t produce the results I wanted, but, throughout that time, I was still focused on just loving to compete with the team,” Shaw said. “Sticking to that mindset has allowed me to not be so focused on the results I’m getting but more so on the way I’m competing and who I have the opportunity to compete alongside every day.”

As Shaw was mowing down Columbia hitters, the Yale bats heated up in a major way, and the Bulldogs put seven on the board. Senior shortstop Jeff Pierantoni ’25 had a terrific game, going one for two and scoring twice. In the bottom of the sixth, he even stole home to push the lead to 7–0. 

“Coach Keane and I picked up on the fact the Columbia pitcher came set slowly in a way that wasn’t attentive to baserunners,” Pierantoni said. “Credit to Coach Keane for giving me the green light to take home in that situation — it was a fun moment that encapsulated one of the goals of our offense, to create chaos and take advantage of other teams when they’re on their heels.”

Pierantoni’s steal, along with two additional runs scored by bunting the runner home from third, highlighted the team’s commitment to playing fundamental baseball and their one-run-at-a-time approach. 

With junior slugger Davis Hanson ’26 out of the lineup due to ACL surgery, Hamm has stressed the importance of getting separation from opponents one run at a time instead of focusing on putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard.

“Situational baseball has become part of our brand offensively,” said Hamm. “It is partially because of the ballpark we play in, partially because of the personnel that we started with two years ago, and also due to losing thirty percent of our run production in Hanson.” 

After winning 7–3 in the first leg of the Friday doubleheader, Bulldog ace Jack Ohman ’28 then took the mound and pitched lights out. He went all nine innings without allowing a run, and he struck out six. At the plate, Kaiden Dossa ’27 — who has been a model of offensive consistency all season long — drove in two runs, and the game finished with a final score of 3–0. 

While Columbia was able to pull out the win in the final game on Sunday, the Bulldogs have much to remain positive about. After all, they are currently tied for second place in the Ivy League standings with Columbia, and they have already surpassed last year’s season win total. 

While the twentieth victory might not have been something that the team was focused on reaching, it certainly was a special mark to hit — particularly for four-year program veterans like Shaw. 

“As a team, we don’t really count how many wins we have, but already hitting 20 is definitely a big milestone to hit,” Shaw said. “It’s special for me since I’ve seen how this program and the culture has been changing for four years. To see the results start to speak for the work is just really encouraging. This is a special team that is going to do special things.” 

This week, the Elis will take the field in Hamden against Quinnipiac (19–4–1, 13–5 MAAC) on Tuesday at 3 p.m. They will then head south to Philadelphia for a weekend series versus a first-place UPenn squad (16–12, 10–2 Ivy).

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To kick the weekend off, the Bulldogs secured a gutsy 7–6 win on Friday in the first leg of their double-header that day.  

“That win was huge for us,” sophomore center fielder Kaiden Dossa ’27 told the News. “Coming off a tough, back-and-forth game against Fairfield, we knew we had to reset and come out strong this weekend.”

Although Brown went up one in the bottom of the third, senior Alec Atkinson ’25 then reached on an error to score Max Imhoff ’25 and knot the game at three a piece. The lead then shifted hands multiple times before Dossa was able to bring home Hayden Sobecki ’25 on a sac fly to left to put Yale up 7–6 in the top of the ninth. 

“Being able to scratch across that run with Hayden’s speed at third base and come out on top helped start the momentum that carried into the rest of the weekend,” said Dossa. “As a team, we didn’t have any doubt, and that was a lot to do with a commitment to our consistent offense approach and having guys picking each other up when some guys are struggling.”

Apart from Dossa, the Bulldogs received significant offensive contributions from Garrett Larsen ’27 who had four hits in as many at-bats, plus another two from Atkinson himself. Despite being out of the lineup since March 22 with a broken hand, Atkinson was more than ready to get back in the batter’s box.

“Coming back for that first game felt similar to the first game of the season,” Atkinson told the News. “There were a lot of jitters … more so eager to see how my hand would feel. You just really don’t if you can be the same player as before, and those hits kind of validated the fact that I can.”

In the second game on Friday afternoon, first-year phenom Jack Ohman ’27 started on the mound for the Bulldogs. Three-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week, he showed once more that he is simply one of the most dominant pitchers right now in all of D1 baseball. He tossed eight innings, while only allowing one run and three hits. He also fanned 11 batters before being pulled out by head coach Brian Hamm and the staff with three outs remaining.

“I would’ve liked to go back out there for the ninth inning, but my pitch count was getting pretty high,” Ohman told the News. “In the moment, I definitely wanted to finish the game; I always want the ball in my hands. In retrospect, I think my coach made the right decision.”

While Ohman was able to completely shut down the Bears’ offense, senior catcher Imhoff and the rest of the Yale batters continued to find the barrel and helped secure a 6–2 victory. 

This season, Imhoff is batting a career-high 0.328, and he went four-for-eight with three runs batted in over the course of Friday’s doubleheader.  

“My approach has been to keep it simple, keeping my swing short and sweet,” Imhoff said.  “I always say I love hitting when there are runners in scoring position because you know what pitches you are going to get and all you have to do is hit a ball in play and you get a couple RBIs.”

After a day off on Saturday to recover, Yale bussed back to Providence to finish out the three-game series on Sunday. While Brown opened the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, Yale starting pitcher Daniel Cohen ’26 quickly settled into the game and pitched six stellar innings of two-run baseball. 

“Daniel Cohen pitching as well as he did today was huge for us,” said Imhoff. “The whole season, Danny has been an amazing competitor who has consistently delivered when he is given the ball and is a huge reason for the team’s success this season. Catching him is always a blast because I know that he is going to fill up the zone and make hitters miss.”

At the plate, Larsen continued his weekend hot streak with a triple to right-center in the third that scored two runs and put the Bulldogs ahead 3–2.  In the last two innings, sophomore pitcher Ben Winslow ’27 proved once again why Coach Hamm and the Yale staff can turn to him in big moments, as he came in and shut the door to seal a 7–4 win for the Bulldogs.

After two days of practice to start the week, Yale will head back north to face off against Holy Cross at Fitton Field in Worcester, MA. The first pitch is slated for 4 p.m. 

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On Friday, March 28, the Bulldogs fell by a score of 6–3 in Cambridge, but Yale bounced back on Saturday with two dominant victories in New Haven after weather concerns in Massachusetts moved the second-day doubleheader to Bush ’48 Field. Ultimately, after the initial defeat, the Elis returned home not just with added motivation but also with a change in mindset.

“My message to the team on Saturday morning was that we have gotten away from recognition of our identity, which is to be aggressive, to bring our energy, to be versatile, and to have proper preparation for everything that we do pitch by pitch,” Head Coach Brian Hamm told the News. “We got caught up on Friday worrying about needing to win that game because we were one and two in-conference, and Harvard had been coming off a slow start. We put pressure on ourselves. When we did that, we got rigid as a team.”

In the matchup at O’Donnell Field in Cambridge, Harvard got on the board first with a two-run home run by senior George Cooper. While Eli senior catcher Max Imhoff ’25 responded with a solo shot in the top of the fourth to cut the lead in half, Harvard was quickly able to tally two more runs in consecutive innings. In the end, the early lead proved insurmountable even for a Yale offense that is currently batting a collective .278 and has now put up at least six runs in 14 of 22 games. 

The Bulldogs seemed to undergo a complete mentality change on the bus ride southbound down Interstate 95 back to their home field. Although the pressure to win would appear even greater after dropping the first game, Coach Hamm stressed that it was an opportunity to be seized. In an interview with the News, Hamm recanted his pre-game locker-room speech to the team.

“This is what we worked so hard for throughout the course of the year to compete against our rival with the opportunity to do it at home,” he said. “This is it. Everything that you worked for basically in your baseball life, right? As a kid and youth, playing baseball through high school and getting recruited and shooting to go to Yale; all of that, ultimately, works toward the pinnacle of moments like Saturday against Harvard at home and two must-win games.”

On Saturday, the first pitch was at 2 p.m., and the Bulldogs’ bats were lively right from the start. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the first and five runs in the second. Senior Tommy Martin ’25 launched a two-run homer to right field and continued his stellar 2025 season – one in which he has already surpassed his previous season-high of 11 runs batted in.

“As far as the homer, I was in a 2-strike count, so I was trying to let the ball get to me and not do too much,” Martin said to the News. “I saw it out of the hand well and just let my instincts work for me. I think a lot of the success this year has come from understanding what makes me good and not stepping away from that or trying to be someone I’m not.”

On the mound, first year Jack Ohman ’28 added to his sensational debut season as he tossed a scoreless five innings, and his start was followed by impressive outings from sophomores Ben Winslow ’27 and Chace Chaplin ’27.

Not only did Chaplin pitch a scoreless ninth inning for the Bulldogs, but he also recorded two hits and scored twice in the 17–1 win. For Chaplin, staying ready to be called upon to contribute as both a hitter and pitcher is all about preparation and keeping himself concentrated on the task at hand. 

“Baseball is a mental game, just as much as a physical one,” Chaplin said to the News. “The game of baseball is like taking a test; if you’re focused and locked in on the preparation, the more confident you will be when called upon. The best way to stay locked in is by bringing the energy. As a team, we thrive off momentum – focusing on every pitch being thrown in all nine innings without taking a pitch off.”

While Chaplin was able to contribute to the team’s momentum in a variety of ways on Saturday, sophomore Kaiden Dossa ’27 kept Yale’s energetic juices flowing between the two games. In the first game, Dossa reached base five times but had to exit late after being hit by a pitch in the head. Yet, he bounced right back for the second game and had a leadoff walk in the top of the first to keep the Bulldog offense rolling.

Despite cold and rainy weather conditions throughout Saturday night, the Bulldogs were able to put up nine runs, and Jack Dauer ’28 kept right on track in his terrific first-year campaign with three hits and two runs batted in during the second of the two games in New Haven.

“At the plate, I’m just thinking about being on time for the fastball and hitting the ball hard and low,” Dauer said. “I’m trying to keep it pretty simple and slow the game down.”

Meanwhile, junior Daniel Cohen ’26 threw six and a third innings of one-run ball, and he struck out nine. Facing subpar weather conditions, Cohen maintained consistency in his approach and that helped him find success.

“My approach on Saturday night was the same as it has been for all my previous starts: attack each hitter, throw strikes, and be efficient,” said Cohen. “The weather wasn’t ideal, but as Coach Hamm always says, it was an elements day, and that doesn’t change what I can control. I focus on keeping my routine consistent, regardless of the weather, and avoid letting outside factors influence my approach and performance.”

Next Tuesday, April 4, Yale will look to extend their win streak to three games as they face off against Fairfield University (19–7) at home at 3 p.m. They will then return to Ivy League action with a weekend series at Brown (4–16, 1–5) on Saturday and Sunday.

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“The game plan was still the same for us and our mindset didn’t waiver after dropping those games to Citadel,” captain Colton Shaw ’25 told the News. “They were a good club that played clean baseball and we played some good baseball too but just came up a little short from a couple of mistakes. I think we showed up with a little more attitude after losing that series since we knew that wasn’t our standard of play.”

Against Siena, the Bulldogs scored six runs in the first two innings and sophomore Ben Winslow ’27 earned his first collegiate victory in a three inning shutout performance. Kaiden Dossa ’27 got Yale on the board first when he capitalized on a misplay by the Siena center fielder and turned a hard hit single into an inside the park home run. That type of aggressiveness — coupled with staying focused on the little details that lead to success — have been two of the key areas of focus for Yale baseball head coach Brian Hamm.

“We know our identity as a team and embrace it: aggressive in everything that we do pitching, offensively and defensively,” Hamm said. “One of our strengths is our preparation for everything that we do whether in practice, pre-game, or all aspects of competition. We have outstanding routines, centering practices and mistake rituals that we consistently apply, which have led to performing at our best abilities more often than not.”

Following the game against Siena on March 4, the Elis headed south to Houston to face off against Rice University (6–20) in a three-game series. On Friday night, the Bulldogs defeated the Rice Owls 8-4 and reliever Tate Evans ’26 got the win after pitching three and a third innings and allowing only one run. Yale then put up 18 runs over the weekend games to complete the sweep.

In the Sunday game, first-year Jack Ohman ’28 threw seven innings and allowed zero earned runs in just his third collegiate start. So far this season, he has not been responsible for any runs over the course of 25.1 innings. For Ohman, the winning mentality instilled by both Hamm’s staff and the older players on the team has played a large part in helping him succeed in these first collegiate outings.

“The upperclassmen and coaches here know how to breed a culture that uplifts players and calls them to be the best version of themselves,” said Ohman. “This culture allowed me to deal with failure during the offseason and still push forward and improve so that I could be ready by the time we started playing games. I think having that feeling is extremely important for young players adjusting because adjusting to life in college as an athlete, especially at Yale, is not easy. The people around you make it fun.”

After the Rice series, the Bulldogs traveled back to New Haven to take the field against Sacred Heart (11–11) on Wednesday, March 12. The Eli offense powered the team to a victory, putting up nine runs. Dossa had a monster game, and he again got the offense rolling with a triple down the right field line in the bottom of the first. Once more, the aggressive approach that Hamm has cultivated paid dividends.

“I have an approach at the plate that we’ve developed as a team that is to drive the ball hard and low the other way and to not take a single pitch off,” said Dossa. “This fall, I really focused on developing my strength and speed to elevate my game even further. Trusting this offensive approach has helped our team’s offensive identity we have built and it has heavily contributed to our early success so far this year.”

Following the midweek game against Sacred Heart, the Bulldogs had a three game series at Bush Field against Virginia Military Institute (16–9). Senior Max Imhoff ’25 tallied four runs batted in over the course of a Saturday doubleheader to help secure the first two wins.  

In the early afternoon game, Shaw pitched five innings and allowed only one run. With the team in the midst of a prolonged hot streak, it was critical for Shaw and the rest of the team to remain level headed.

“We were still focused on doing the little things right during the win streak,” Shaw said. “Our mindset was always that our record was 0-0 and that we wanted to start a new win streak even when we were in the thick of a pretty long one. As a team we know complacency will be our enemy this year so getting away from that content mentality was and will be our focus moving forward.”

On Sunday, the Bulldogs walked it off to extend the win streak to eight games. In the end, Alec Atkinson ’25 clinched the victory with a double in the bottom of the ninth that drove in both Dossa and Jake Williams ’25. While this was the tightest game of the bunch, the Bulldogs’ comeback proved that they can win a multitude of ways.

“We find different ways to win because we have a cohesive group of men with a strong team culture that cares deeply about each other, the team, and Yale,” Hamm told the News. “We take a lot of pride in the way that we play, which is very different than most teams. Our aggressive style of play is a lot of fun and puts other teams’ defenses under pressure presenting different ways to score runs.”

On Wednesday, March 19, the Bulldogs won in a 8-2 blowout of Quinnipiac (12–10–1), and the nine straight victories tied Yale’s best winning streak since 2017. They kicked off their Ivy League games the following weekend against Cornell. 

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Now, after a senior year where Dineen posted a team-leading 12 assists in 30 games, he signed a professional tryout contract with the Montreal Canadiens’ American Hockey League affiliate — the Laval Rocket (41–16–3–1) — on March 13.

“Laval had some injuries the past couple of weeks, and they approached me after we lost out in the playoffs,” Dineen told the News. “Spring break had just started and I was still at school because I didn’t have any plans. They approached me … and I met the team in Utica the next day. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to keep playing”

Dineen, a native of Lake George, NY, has deep roots in pro hockey. His father, Kevin, played almost 1,200 NHL games during 21 seasons, and he tallied 760 points before retiring in 2002 and turning to bench duties. Moreover, Kevin’s father — Will’s grandfather — was an AHL Hall of Famer who won two Calder Cups before turning to the coaching ranks himself.

Before coming to Yale, Dineen played 80 games for the Sioux Fall Stampede in the United States Hockey League, and he recorded 37 points while captaining the team in his second season. In 2021, he won the Curt Hammer award as the USHL’s Gentleman of the Year. 

Over the course of his four years at Yale, Dineen has continued to exemplify the type of leadership, both on and off of the ice, that bodes well for a professional career in the hockey world.

“I don’t think anyone on the team was surprised when we saw that (Will) signed that PTO,” first-year standout Zach Wagnon ’28 said to the News. “He’s such a great leader and player [and] we all knew he deserved it. For us freshmen, it was so easy to look at him as a role model with the way he carries himself on and off the ice. Everyone around the rink loves him, and seeing how hard he works every day is so motivating. He really embodies what it means to be a Yale hockey player.”

Wagnon also detailed to the News how Dineen reached out to the first-year class this past summer in an effort to help them with the transition to Yale and Division 1 hockey. In addition, Dineen invited the entire team to his house in Lake George to build camaraderie before the start of the school year.  

Aside from steady contributions on the scoresheet, Dineen received the Malcom G. Chace award for outstanding sportsmanship, spirit and ability after his sophomore year. Then, in his junior year, Dineen was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team. This year, Dineen notched a personal high of 18 points in 30 games and was solid defensively all season long.

“[He]was a huge part of our team all year,” said sophomore Will Richter ’27. “I’ve played with him for two years now, and he’s one of those guys who always leads by example both on and off the ice. This season he was a rock for us; every time he stepped on the ice he would give 100% and would give everything for Yale hockey. I definitely look up to Will, as he is someone I try to model my game after.”

Joining Laval means that Dineen has stepped right into the best team in the entire AHL. Currently, the Rocket have the best winning percentage (.705) in the league. For Dineen, the team’s success was a major draw.

“Laval has a great coaching staff and the team is ranked first in the league currently. The opportunity to learn from the people and players in the organization was a no-brainer for me,” Dineen continued.

After signing on March 13, Dineen jumped right into the team’s practices — which meant adjusting to a faster game where there is “way less time” to make plays than in the NCAA. Just eight days after signing, Dineen took the ice in his first professional hockey game as Laval faced off against the Cleveland Monsters (30–21–5–5), the affiliate team of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“I had my first two games this weekend,” Dineen said. “It was great to get some pro experience and play in a sold-out building. The fans in Montreal are so passionate about hockey and it makes the energy in the building amazing.”

With just 11 games in a 72-game season for Laval, the team has added Dineen in the hopes that he can provide some depth for a potentially lengthy playoff run. Against Cleveland, Dineen played right wing on the team’s fourth line, and his ability to slot in as both a centerman and winger will be a useful asset for the Laval coaching staff. In addition, his 6-foot-2,194-pound frame, combined with his high-end skating ability make him a forward that can fit in anywhere on the line chart.

“I think [Will’s] game will translate very well professionally because he will be utilized in so many ways. He can score, he’s a great puck carrier and playmaker, great at faceoffs, play power-play or penalty-kill, and so much more,” said Yale forward David Chen ’26. “Will is the exact player and teammate that every team would want. He plays a 200 ft game on the ice, works hard in practice and lifts, and is always making sure that everyone else is held to that same standard.”

Later this week, Laval will take on the Toronto Marlies (32–20–3–6) at home on Friday before lacing up their boots against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (31–25–5–2) on Saturday. Although his playing days as an Eli have come to an end, Dineen’s impact on the men’s program will not soon be forgotten. 

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With the celebration approaching, coaches and players alike have reflected on how much has changed over the last four years.

“It has been wonderful to see the growth in these six young men during our time together, and each of them has been enriched by their experiences here,” Head Coach Keith Allain told the News. “Additionally, it is great to see how closely they have grown together. You bring in six guys from different places with different backgrounds, and they grow to become a close-knit family and develop bonds that will last a lifetime.”

Off of the ice, each member of this year’s graduating class – Will Dineen, Briggs Gammill, Luke Pearson, Dylan Herzog, Kieran O’Hearn, and Connor Sullivan – has a unique personality, but it is clear that there may not be a tighter knit group of guys on all of Yale’s campus. 

Briggs Gammill is “the biggest character,” according to Connor Sullivan, while Herzog is the “chilliest.” According to teammates, Sullivan is definitely the one who has opened up the most throughout his time at Yale.

“He came in super shy and quiet,” Dineen said. “I remember he wouldn’t even tell me it was his birthday because he didn’t want the attention from anyone.  Now, he’s one of our team’s most social and outgoing guys.”

While they each may have unique personalities, they do share one common characteristic that has helped them all leave a lasting impact on the program — their “toughness,” according to Allain. 

“Each guy has had to battle through significant painful injuries during their time with us, yet either played through the pain or worked diligently to return to the ice as quickly as possible,” Allain said. “Their courage was inspiring to all of us.” 

The seniors have gone through plenty of ups and downs together, but they have remained humble in victory and resilient in the face of adversity. 

Even while struggling at times this year, the Bulldogs persevered and played hard no matter the circumstances. 

Look no further than when the team snapped a three-game losing streak with their biggest win of the season over a top-ranked Boston University (18–12–2) squad in December. In fact, Allain said that his favorite on-ice memory of this senior class was actually that victory over the Terriers and the “special” atmosphere at Ingalls that night.

While on-ice success is always important, the six seniors have also made a massive contribution to the team by epitomizing what it means to represent Yale hockey in the right way. Their leadership and manner of conduct have definitely set a high precedent for their younger teammates.

“I just think the group of seniors we have are everything that I thought Yale hockey would be and more,” said first-year Micah Berger.  “They all truly bleed Yale hockey and have such a love for this place. It’s amazing to be around a group of guys who would do anything for each other and their teammates every day.”

Currently, the Elis are twelfth in the ECAC and will face fifth-place Dartmouth in the first round of the postseason. While the game against the Big Green this weekend will mark a milestone for the graduating class, it might also preview a future playoff game.

Both the Friday and Saturday tilts are slated for a 7 pm puck drop at Ingalls.

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“It was a very special day, from celebrating the senior class with the team before the game to beating Harvard, to more moments with the team and families afterwards,” senior forward Anna Bargman ’25 told the News. “We played as a team, and we played for each other which I think showed through our relentless pressure for the full 60 minutes of play.”

On Friday night at Ingalls, the Elis fell behind just seven minutes into the game. However, from that point forward, they showed the type of offensive firepower that Head Coach Mark Bolding has to be excited about going into the upcoming ECAC playoffs. First, junior sensation Jordan Ray ’26 made a nifty move at the blue line to get past a Dartmouth defender before sliding a beautiful pass to Gracie Gilkyson ’26 for a backdoor goal to tie the game at one.

Yale took the lead with a goal by Carina DiAntonio ’26, who set up in front of the Dartmouth goalie and got a pass from behind the goal line from Bargman. Later in the second period, the Bulldogs went up 3-1 with a Sophia Levering ’28 seeing-eye slapshot from the top of the right circle. This kind of quick thinking on the offensive end will be crucial for the Bulldogs to keep in mind this upcoming weekend with their back-to-back games versus Cornell and Colgate.

In the third, Levering again fired a puck on net and created a scoring chance. This time, her shot was deflected past the Dartmouth tender by Bargman for Yale’s fourth goal and the 50th of Bargman’s career. Jordan Ray ’26 added a fifth for the Elis, and the final score finished with a dominant 5-2 win. 

The following day marked Yale’s Senior Day for the 11 seniors on the women’s hockey team. The senior class, according to Naomi Boucher ’26, has truly left a sizable impact on the program both on and off the ice.

“As a senior class full of incredibly talented players, they have played a crucial role in turning the program around, helping the team reach the Frozen Four in their freshman year,” Boucher told the News. “Over the past three years since I’ve played at Yale, they have been great mentors and leaders to me, and their impact on this program is immeasurable. Beyond their skill on the ice, this senior class has shaped the culture of our team, and it will be very hard to see them go after the season is over.” 

Saturday’s game was almost a complete reversal of the November matchup between Yale and Harvard where the Crimson bested the Elis 5-1 in Cambridge. This time, it was Yale who dominated the play. 

In the scoreless first period, the Bulldogs outshot Harvard 10-1, and the puck possession remained just as lopsided for the rest of the game, with the final shots totaling 32 for Yale and just nine for Harvard.

Bargman once again showcased her offensive prowess when she broke the scoring open in the early minutes of the third period, off a pass from DiAntonio. Stephanie Stainton ’27 doubled the lead just seven minutes later before Bargman scored again to seal a 3-0 home victory. 

For the senior class, this type of Senior Day performance was something they won’t soon forget. 

“It was a very special day, from celebrating the senior class with the team before the game to beating Harvard, to more moments with the team and families afterwards,” Bargman told the News. “We played as a team and we played for each other which I think showed through our relentless pressure for the full 60 minutes of play.” 

Currently, the Bulldogs sit tied for fifth in the ECAC standings with just two games remaining in the regular season. If the team’s dominant showing against Harvard is any indication, they have lots to be confident about. 

“With the season coming to an end, we are focused on keeping positive energy and having fun with the game,” Avery Peters ’28 told the News. “We play our best hockey when the energy is high.”

Yale currently sits just 2.5 points behind fourth palace Clarkson (20–10–2, 11–8–1 ECAC) in the ECAC standings. Moving ahead of the Golden Knights by winning both of their weekend games, contingent on Clarkson losing one of theirs, would guarantee the Bulldogs a first-round bye.

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Now, the senior standout is moving up to the professional United Soccer League, where he will “Defend the Fortress” for Hartford Athletic after signing with the club Wednesday.

“All I can think about is how proud my 5 year old self would be right now,” Presthus wrote to the News. “Yale has changed my life and it has been a privilege to represent this university on the soccer field.”

Presthus credited this opportunity with the support of his family, all of whom play soccer. Both of his parents captained soccer teams at Southern Methodist University, and his father went on to play professionally at DC United and Columbus Crew. He won two MLS Cup championships and was an MLS all-star. Presthus also grew up playing soccer with his two younger brothers, one of whom is also a professional now. 

A news release from Hartford Athletic described Presthus as “a formidable presence in collegiate soccer,” and his collection of athletic honors from his time as a Bulldog certainly agrees. Not only was Presthus elected team captain his senior season, but he is also a two-time all-Ivy League first-team selection, the 2023 Ivy League defensive player of the year and a two-time United Soccer Coaches all-region second-team selection. Presthus was also the first Bulldog to make the United Soccer Coaches’ scholar all-America team since 2018.

While Presthus’ defensive prowess on the field has been celebrated through a number of honors, he has also proven his ability to convert on the attack, scoring eight goals throughout his collegiate career, including four in his final season. 

“TJ is a talented and versatile young player whose strong work ethic aligns well with our team’s identity,” Hartford head coach and general manager Brendan Burke said in the news release. “He’s sharp on both sides of the ball and brings a combination of leadership, athleticism and composure that will be invaluable throughout the long season.”

So far, Presthus is the only one of the Green and Blue’s 2025 signees to come from directly a collegiate program. He joins a group of five other new players, each of whom comes from a professional league, including USL, Major League Soccer, MLS Next Pro and a Lithuanian second-tier league.

He has already begun practicing with the team and is looking forward to getting started with regular season games in the next few weeks. 

“Truthfully, I want to keep playing soccer for as long as I can and reach the highest level I am capable of,” Presthus wrote. “With that being said, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking about the future too much, so I am just trying to take things one day at a time.”

Hartford Athletic, the only professional soccer team in Connecticut, was founded in 2018 and joined the United Soccer League, a Division II league directly below Major League Soccer, in 2019. Of the six seasons Hartford has played, it only made the USL playoffs once, in 2020. With Presthus on the field, perhaps that number will soon change.

“Hartford is a perfect fit that allows him to make this transition smoothly,” head men’s soccer coach Kylie Stannard wrote to the News. “I think it’s also a great fit for Hartford because they are getting a top player, a top competitor and a top person that is only getting started.”

Presthus’ Yale teammates have rallied behind him since the announcement of his signing, with midfielder Andrew Seidman ’26 describing him as an “inspiration” on and off the field.

Ryan Cote ’25, another senior who began playing for the Bulldogs at the same time as Presthus, explained that his impact on the team “was immediate and immense when we first came to Yale,” and Jamie Orson ’25, who played center back with Presthus, described him as “the most passionate and determined center back partner I could have ever asked for.”

“He is always someone you trust to give one hundred percent and be consistent every time he steps on the field,” Cote wrote to the News. “He is someone you always want to listen to because of his natural understanding of the game and his performance, and you can never count out a late winner off of a set piece from him.”

Hartford Athletic will kick off its 2025 season in South Carolina against Lexington Sporting Club on March 8.

The post MEN’S SOCCER: Blue and White to Green and Blue — Presthus signs with Hartford Athletic appeared first on Yale Daily News.

“We are still having too many breakdowns in our defensive zone coverage, and it leads to scoring chances against and goals against,” Allain told the News. “It starts with returning to [your] zone, understanding the situation we are facing and executing your job to the best of your ability. Communication is a huge factor in this.”

Shortly after the puck was dropped in their game against the Garnet Chargers on Friday, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead courtesy of a skillful re-direction by captain Will Dineen ’25 on a Bayard Hall ’26 point shot. Yale went up by two when first-year Micah Berger ’28 walked in from the blue line uncontested and sniped a power play goal over the Union goalie’s glove. 

Yet, Union was able to claw back the two goals in the remaining minutes of the first frame. First, wily playmaker Josh Nixon circled the offensive zone and found junior forward Parker Lindauer with a beautiful seam pass for a one-timer goal. This type of high-to-low play is something Yale has struggled to defend against. As Allain noted, it highlights the need for better on-ice communication as the opposing team switches the angle of play.

Later in the period, Yale failed to get the puck deep after a breakout and the Garnet Chargers were able to scoop up a loose puck and capitalize on an offensive rush, bringing the score to 2–2.  

After the intermission, it was first-year Ronan O’Donnell ’28 who scored to put the Elis ahead again. O’Donnell has been a consistent force for the Elis all season long.

“The puck had a weird bounce to the middle after [Kieran O’Hearn] had his shot blocked, and I just turned and fired a shot on the ice,” O’Donnell said to the News after the game.  “The goalie was probably getting back on his feet after dropping for the previous shot, so I think he was caught off guard a bit.”

The goal was O’Donnell’s team-leading eleventh of the season and it made him the first first-year player to tuck double-digit goals since Joe Snively ’19 did so in the 2015-16 season. 

When asked about his offensive mindset, it was all about quantity over quality for O’Donnell. 

“Getting shots is really important when it comes to momentum and the flow of the game so for me, the more the better,” he said. “Shots don’t have to be perfect; there’s a lot of different ways to beat goalies.”

While the Elis entered the final period up one, in a matter of minutes Union was able to equalize in a similar high-to-low play as Lindauer’s earlier goal. Jack Stark ’27 saved twenty shots in the third to keep the game level at 3-3. 

With the game still tied after sixty minutes of regulation and the five minute overtime, the game went to a shootout, where Union scored twice to secure the extra point.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs were looking to bounce back after a tough loss, making a quick journey from Schenectady to Troy, NY.  There, they squared off against RPI in front of a raucous 4,546-person crowd in the forty seventh Annual Big Red Freakout game, an annual RPI tradition. The enthusiastic crowd certainly played a big factor all night long.

“It put a great pressure on our guys to not take a shift off, to not take any moments for granted,” RPI coach Dave Smith told the Times Union. “A couple of times, I heard someone say, ‘look around boys, look around, it is awesome.’ To have over 70 hockey alums back, we see a lot on the road everywhere we go but this doesn’t happen anywhere else.”

While Yale did get out to an early one goal lead courtesy of a Will Richter ’27 shot from the slot in the first period, RPI refused to back down, and they evened it up in the dying seconds of the first. These types of late goals have been killers for the Elis in recent games, as they are particularly crucial for momentum shifts. Understanding their importance, Allain didn’t hesitate to hold himself accountable as the bench boss. 

“We have allowed too many goals at the end of periods,” he said to the News. “As a coach, I have to do a better job of having our guys understand where we are time wise and raising our level of focus during those key moments late in periods.”

RPI scored two more late goals in the second period, one of which crossed the goal line with only three seconds on the clock. In the third, they added two empty netters to close the game out with a 5-2 home victory in their sold-out arena. 

Even though the Bulldogs are never content with any loss, Stark drew high praise for his stellar performances in both games. 

“I thought Jack had an excellent weekend. He may have been our best player on Friday night and was solid again on Saturday,” Allain said.  “Jack is a goalie that brings confidence to our entire group.” 

This week, Yale will face off against Brown (9–10–2, 5–8–1 ECAC) on Thursday night at Ingalls Rink and will then travel to Providence on Sunday to complete the home and home. The Bears and Bulldogs are currently tied in the ECAC standings for eighth place.

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