NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - Yale (2-6-2) secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over cross-town rival New Haven (4-3-3) on Tuesday evening at Yale Soccer Stadium. The match, played before a crowd of 847, saw the Bulldogs extend their winning streak to two games while ending New Haven's recent momentum.
Andrew Miranda opened the scoring for New Haven in the 2nd minute, firing a low shot into the right corner. Yale responded through Billy Altirs in the 32nd minute, with Sven Meacham providing the assist. Nathan Harmon then gave Yale the lead in the 41st minute, again assisted by Meacham, which proved to be the game-winner.
The first half saw intense back-and-forth action, with New Haven showing early aggression through Miranda's two shots in the opening three minutes. Yale gradually established control through midfield, with Simon Adjakple and Joseph Farouz both testing the New Haven defense with blocked shots in the 17th minute. Sven Meacham's influence grew as the half progressed, culminating in his two crucial assists.
The second half featured increased physical play, evidenced by four yellow cards. Bernardo Carola received a caution for New Haven in the 50th minute, while Yale's Simon Adjakple (55th minute), Jorik Dammann (63rd minute), and Angelo Zhu (89th minute) were also booked. Yale made strategic substitutions, with Nathan Harmon and Billy Altirs being withdrawn in the 70th minute to protect their lead.
Final statistics reflected the match's competitive nature, with New Haven recording 14 shot attempts to Yale's 13. The Bulldogs proved more efficient with six shots on target compared to New Haven's two. Both teams earned two corner kicks, while Yale's defense made four crucial saves to preserve their advantage.
Sven Meacham emerged as the key playmaker for Yale, setting up both goals before being substituted in the 81st minute. Andrew Miranda showed his offensive prowess for New Haven with three shot attempts, including the opening goal. Yale's defensive unit, anchored by Jorik Dammann until his 72nd-minute substitution, effectively limited New Haven's clear opportunities despite facing more total shots.
Yale's tactical approach emphasized quick transitions through midfield, particularly evident in their first-half goals. New Haven attempted to counter with high pressure, recording multiple blocked shots through Guilherme Meira and Tommaso Illario in the second half, but couldn't find the equalizer.
The victory continues Yale's recent upturn in form, following their 1-0 win over Columbia. For New Haven, the loss interrupts their positive momentum after their recent victory over Central Connecticut State. The match demonstrated Yale's growing defensive resilience, having now conceded just two goals in their last three outings.
Both teams face quick turnarounds with upcoming matches. New Haven travels to Stonehill for a Thursday afternoon contest, while Yale prepares for a crucial Ivy League matchup at Harvard on Saturday evening. The Bulldogs will look to extend their winning streak to three games, while New Haven aims to bounce back from this narrow defeat.