NEW HAVEN, Conn. – All preseason, Yale women’s soccer coach Rudy Meredith has been preaching the importance of shutouts to his team. The Bulldogs had only four all of last season, and Meredith has emphasized that he expects more in 2011. So far anyway, it appears the message has gotten through. Yale didn’t allow a goal for the second straight game but had to settle for a scoreless tie with Providence on a warm and humid Sunday afternoon at Reese Stadium. The tie did give the Bulldogs the Yale Classic title. The Bulldogs posted a 1-0-1 record. Marist and Central Connecticut both went 1-1, while Providence was 0-1-1. “I’m happy we won the tournament, and I’m pleased that we haven’t given up a goal,” said Meredith, who watched his team blank Marist 2-0 on Friday. “Providence is a good Big East team so this was a good test for us.” In particular, it was a good test for Yale’s defense. The Friars had scored 10 goals in five games entering Sunday. Neither team had too many quality scoring chances. The best came from Providence’s Mary Vercollone, who fired a shot from the top of the box off the crossbar with less than 10 minutes left in the second half. Melissa Gavin had Yale’s best opportunity. Early in the second overtime, she found herself alone at the top of the box, but her low shot was stopped by Providence goalkeeper Caitlin Walker. The Friars (1-1-4) finished with a 14-6 edge in shots. “They did a good job defensively,” Meredith said. “We may have had tired legs. It was only our second game.” Goalkeeper Adele Jackson-Gibson stopped six shots and made a number of other athletic plays to help keep Providence off the scoreboard. “When she had to, Adele came up with some good saves,” Meredith said. A busy start to the season continues for the Bulldogs on Tuesday night when they host Sacred Heart. Kickoff at Reese Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.