Box Score Balleza's hat trick propelled field hockey to victory in finale (Harvard Athletic Communications).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard field hockey team sent its seniors off in style with an emphatic 4-1 win over Columbia Saturday afternoon at Jordan Field.
The win improved Harvard to 10-7 overall and 4-3 against the Ivy League. The Crimson's 10 wins are the most since going 11-7 in 2004 with its winning conference record a first since 2007.
Columbia, meanwhile, entered the day needing a win to secure the program's first Ivy League championship and NCAA tournament berth. The Lions finish the season 12-5 overall and 5-2 in the Ancient Eight.
Marissa Balleza paved the way with a career-best three goals, marking the third time this season that a member of the Crimson has scored a hat trick to set a new program record. Noel Painter did it against Brown (10/4) and Elizabeth Jacobson did it against UMass Lowell (9/30). Those are just the 11th, 12th and 13th hat tricks in program history.
Jacobson tacked on Harvard's other goal and added an assist for a three-point day. Ellie Cookson, Painter and Dina Sinno were also credited with assists. Painter finishes the year with a team-leading 23 points (8g, 6a) with Balleza a close second with 20 points (9g, 2a), marking the first time since 2004 that Harvard has had two 20-point scorers.
Issy Davies stood tall in goal, making six saves to pick up the win. She was aided by a tenacious defensive unit which held Columbia to just four shots in the first half and successfully defended against nine Lion penalty corners for the game.
Harvard's defense was on point from the opening whistle, turning away any and all Lion advances in the first half before quickly moving the ball upfield. The Crimson transition broke through in the 17th minute, with Jacobson feeding Balleza at the top of the circle for a one-timer to beat Columbia's Kimberly Pianucci to the top right corner.
Balleza added her second score less than five minutes later, this time going to the far post after collecting a pass from Painter. Painter set up the play by using her body to shield her defender from the ball, and then putting her pass through a second defender to find Balleza.
Jacobson put the Crimson in front 3-0 before the half as she positioned herself perfectly at the left post to tip in a pass from Sinno.
Balleza capped off her hat trick in the 41st minute, but it was Cookson who did the work to set up the chance. Cookson worked the ball along the baseline to the near post, and then played a short pass to Balleza for the easy tally.
Columbia finally got on the board in the 59th minute, but Harvard's defensive unit stood its ground down the stretch to prevent a comeback attempt.
