NEW HAVEN, CT – Senior captain Bente van Vlijmen scored the deciding goal to help lift No. 16 Harvard field hockey (4-2, 1-0 Ivy League) to a 2-1 win over Yale (2-4, 0-1 Ivy League) in the Ivy League opener for both teams.

Sophomore goalkeeper Ellie Shahbo made five saves to improve to 3-1 on the year, as Harvard outshot Yale 14-6 for the game, and had a 7-2 advantage on penalty corners.

With the game tied at 1-1 late in the third quarter, a long rebound off a penalty corner chance for Harvard led to the pivotal goal for van Vlijmen, whose reverse stick shot hit the back board to put the Crimson ahead with 3:25 to go in the third frame.

Shahbo made two saves in the fourth quarter to help preserve the win for Harvard.

The Crimson got off to a quick start, converting on an early penalty corner on a well-placed shot by junior Hannah Pearce.

Pearce wasted no time with the shot off a feed from stopper Kiley Allen, and found the back of the cage to put the Crimson up 1-0 at 8:36 of the opening quarter. Yale evened the score on a penalty corner with 1:12 to play in the opening frame, but Harvard would find the game-winner in the second half.

Game Notes

• Harvard has won the last seven meetings against Yale, matching its longest winning streak in the series.
• The Crimson has won 10 games in a row in Ivy League play dating back to 2017.
• Senior forward Bente van Vlijmen (goal), now leads the team with three goals on the year.
• Senior forward Casey Allen (assist) has recorded a point in five of Harvard's six games this season. She has two goals and four assists on the year. 

What's Next
Harvard will host New Hampshire in non-conference play tomorrow afternoon (2 p.m.) at Berylson Field. The game will air on ESPN+.