Catriona McDonald and the Crimson play two games at home this weekend (Gil Talbot).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard field hockey team (7-4, 1-2) will play its first two home games at Jordan Field in the month of October this weekend, hosting Cornell (8-3, 3-0) on Saturday at 12 p.m. and New Hampshire (3-10) on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Ivy League Digital Network
After an incredibly successful inaugural year that saw over 1,000 events streamed live, the Ivy League Digital Network has returned for 2014-15, providing fans with unprecedented coverage of the Ivy League.
Multiple subscription options are available to fans including school-specific and league-wide passes. To learn more about the Ivy League Digital Network or to sign-up today, click here.
Social Stream
Use the all new Social Stream on GoCrimson.com to stay connected with the Crimson on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube this year. The Social Stream brings the conversation from all four platforms into one convenient location, allowing fans of all Harvard Athletics teams to monitor the action in real time.
About Harvard
The Crimson has played just three games in the month of October, all on the road. Tough losses at Brown and Boston University preceded a bounce-back victory at Fairfield on October 12. Freshman Hannah Wellington, senior Kaitlyn Boudah and senior Noel Painter each found the back of the cage in the first half against the Stags, leading to a 3-0 Crimson victory. Harvard's defense stonewalled Fairfield throughout the game, giving up just five total shots and only one on goal, as junior Issy Davies earned the shutout.
Limiting opponents scoring opportunities has been a point of emphasis for the Crimson that has translated into just 1.63 goals-against, the second-lowest mark in the Ancient Eight. That mark, coupled with an average of 2.49 goals per game for the Crimson, gives Harvard the third-best scoring margin in the Ivy League at 0.86.
The Crimson has spread out its scoring attack throughout the roster. Six student-athletes have reached double-digit points, led by Painter's 16. Her six goals is tied for the team-lead with sophomore Marissa Balleza who has 13 points. With five goals and three helpers, junior Elizabeth Jacobson also has 13 points, while Boudah, Wellington and Ellie Cookson have 11.
Lending a Helping Hand
With nine assists in her rookie campaign, Cookson is tied for eighth most in a single season in program history. With one more assist, she can become just the eighth Harvard field hockey player to record double-digit assists in a single year. The all-time record is 18 set by Jen McDavitt in 2004.
Series History: Cornell
Harvard maintains a 24-12-4 advantage in the all-time series record against the Big Red despite dropping the two most recent matchups. Cornell won last season's game in Ithaca, 3-2, and picked up the win in 2012 on Jordan Field by a 4-0 score. Harvard last defeated the Big Red in 2011, 3-1.
About the Big Red
Cornell heads into the weekend atop the Ivy League standings as the lone unbeaten team in conference games at 3-0, while posting an overall 8-3 record. After starting the season with an 8-1 record, moving it into the top-20 of the NFHCA, the Big Red hit a speed bump, dropping its last two games. Both American and No. 13 Syracuse visited Marsha Dodson Field and left with shutout victories.
Led by junior Marisa SIergiej, whose 10 goals is tied for the conference-lead, the Big Red has the best scoring margin in the Ivy League at 2.25 (3.14-0.88). Cornell has 27 assists on its 32 goals this year, with Ann DiPastina (nine) and Taylor Standiford (eight) accounting for 17 of the helpers.
As a team, Cornell leads the Ivy League with four shutouts this season. Kelly Johnson and Elzabeth Schaeffler have split time in the cage almost 50-50, with Johnson posting a 5-1 record compared to Schaeffler's 3-2 mark. Johnson also has a higher save percentage at .737, while only allowing five goals in her six starts.
Series History: New Hampshire
The Wildcats hold a 12-20-1 advantage in the all-time series against the Crimson and have come away the victors in each of the last five meetings. Harvard last beat New Hampshire on Sept. 5, 2007 by a score of 3-2.
About the Wildcats
Victories have been hard to come by for New Hampshire, as they enter the weekend with a 3-10 overall record. In its last five games, UNH is 1-4 with its lone victory coming on the road at Fairfield on Oct. 3. The Wildcats will host Vermont on Friday, Oct. 17 before making the trek to Cambridge on Sunday.
Junior Meg Flatley accounts for nearly 42 percent of the Wildcats' goals, scoring 10 of the team's 24, while also accounting for 24 of 67 total points. The next highest points scorer is sophomore Lindsey Nerbonne, who has 11 points on five goals and an assist. Senior goalkeeper Carlie Tarbell has played all but eight minutes in the cage for UNH, compiling 69 saves, a .676 save percentage and 2.53 GAA.
Ivy League Weekly Honors
Sept. 9 - Noel Painter – Honor Roll
Sept. 16 – Ellie Cookson, Issy Davies – Honor Roll
Sept. 23 – Ellie Cockson, Marissa Balleza – Honor Roll
Sept. 30 – Marissa Balleza – Honor Roll
Oct. 7 – Noel Painter, Elizabeth Jacobson – Honor Roll
Oct. 14 – Hannah Wellington – Co-Rookie of the Week, Kaitlyn Boudah – Honor Roll
