Natalie Sicher scored her second game-winning goal of the year to help lift Harvard past Penn.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Two second half goals by No. 12 Harvard field hockey (8-1, 2-0 Ivy), including a go-ahead score by Natalie Sicher with 7:30 to play helped the Crimson earn a 2-1 win at Penn (4-5, 1-1 Ivy) on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Bente van Vlijmen added her team-leading ninth goal of the season, and first year goalkeeper Ellie Shahbo earned the win in net for Harvard, which has won five games in a row.

Harvard's best chance in a scoreless opening half came late, as a shot by Maddie Earle with under a minute to play flew just high over the cage. 

Harvard took the lead on van Vlijmen's goal early in the second half.. Tessel Huibregtsen made a nice run into the circle, and her initial shot was stopped, but van Vlijmen was there to put home the rebound at 38:10.

Penn tied the game minutes later on a tip off a penalty corner to set up the exciting finish. 

Sicher scored on a beautiful redirection in the closing minutes, taking a long pass from Kiley Allen and redirecting a high shot past the Penn goalkeeper to give Harvard the lead for good.

Harvard Highlights

• Bente van Vlijmen leads the Ivy League with 23 points (nine goals, five assists) on the season.
• Natalie Sicher (four goals, assist) has points in three straight games and has two game-winning goals this season.
• Kiley Allen leads all Harvard first years with seven points (goal, five assists). 

Game Notes

• Harvard is off to its best nine-game start in program history.
• Harvard is now 22-17-2 in the all-time series against Penn and has won the last three meetings.
• The Crimson is 17-1 in its last 18 Ivy League contests.

What's Next?
Harvard hosts Bryant tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+