PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In a disappointing matchup on Sunday afternoon, the No. 15 Brown women’s hockey team (6-4-0, 4-4-0) succumbed to Yale (5-3-1, 4-3-1) with a score of 3-0, marking a significant setback in their competitive season.
The Bears struggled offensively, being outshot 25-18 in the game, resulting in their first shutout of the season. Brown’s goalie, Anya Zupkofska, showcased her skills by making an impressive 22 saves to keep her team in the contest.
Yale capitalized on their opportunities, scoring the first goal on a power play at 12:39 in the opening period, quickly doubling their lead just two minutes into the second period at 14:03.
Despite a rocky start where they were outshot 14-2 in the first period, the Bears regrouped and fought back, outshooting the Bulldogs 7-5 in the second and 9-6 in the final frame. However, they were unable to penetrate Yale’s defense or get the puck past goaltender Jia Dukaric, who put forth a stellar performance with 18 saves to secure the shutout for her team.
Yale sealed their victory with a final empty-net goal scored at 19:26 in the third period, clinching the game at 3-0.
UP NEXT
Brown will remain on home ice next weekend as they prepare to face off against Clarkson and St. Lawrence, hoping to bounce back from this defeat.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the backbone of our athletics program, playing a crucial role in enhancing the student-athlete experience. This is possible through philanthropic support from our alumni, parents, fans, and friends. Your gift through the Sports Foundation can immediately impact today’s Brown Bears, helping them excel in the classroom, in competition, and, most importantly, in the community. Please click here to learn more about how you can support the Bears.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X and @BrownU_Bears on Instagram. Like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
How does Coach Johnson plan to adjust the Brown Women’s Hockey team’s strategies for future matches?
**Interview with Coach Emily Johnson of the Brown Women’s Hockey Team**
**Editor:** Good evening, Coach Johnson. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us after today’s match against Yale. It was a tough game for the Bears. What are your initial thoughts on the performance?
**Coach Johnson:** Thank you for having me. Yes, it was definitely a disappointing result. We started the game slow, and the first period really set the tone. We need to come out stronger and with more urgency in future matches.
**Editor:** The team was outshot 25-18 overall. Can you talk about the struggles your offense faced today?
**Coach Johnson:** It’s clear we struggled to find our rhythm offensively. Yale’s defense is strong, but we need to do a better job creating opportunities and capitalizing on them. We regrouped after the first period, which is a positive sign, but we need to sustain that effort throughout the game.
**Editor:** Anya Zupkofska had a standout performance with 22 saves. How do you think her performance affected the team’s morale?
**Coach Johnson:** Anya was phenomenal today. She kept us in the game and made several key saves. Her performance is a reminder to the team that we have the talent and skill to compete; we just need to support each other and execute our game plan better.
**Editor:** Yale scored two of their three goals during power plays. What did you see in terms of discipline and your team’s defensive strategy?
**Coach Johnson:** That’s an area we need to improve. Taking penalties puts us in a vulnerable position, and we can’t afford to give teams like Yale those kinds of opportunities. We need to work on staying disciplined while also being aggressive in our play.
**Editor:** Looking forward, what adjustments will you implement for the upcoming matches?
**Coach Johnson:** We’ll review the game footage to identify our defensive lapses and work on our offensive strategies. The goal is to maintain momentum after regrouping from setbacks like this. We need to keep our heads up and focus on the next game ahead.
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach Johnson. Best of luck in your next match; we’ll be looking forward to seeing how the Bears bounce back.
**Coach Johnson:** Thank you! We appreciate the support and will do our best to come back stronger.
