Box Score CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In one of the most memorable games in program history, No. 12 Harvard field hockey (13-1, 5-0 Ivy) earned a 2-1 win over No. 14 Princeton (8-6, 4-1 Ivy) in a penalty shootout at Berylson Field on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 23).
The win was Harvard's first over Princeton at home in 28 years to the day (Oct. 23, 1993), and secured sole possession of first place in the Ivy League with two conference games to play.
Senior captain
Hannah Pearce scored a second quarter goal to tie the game, and Harvard, which dominated stretches of the second half and overtime, was able to earn the win in the penalty shootout, scoring three times.
Junior goalkeeper
Ellie Shahbo made four saves in regulation, and three stops in the shootout to help Harvard earn the big win.
Princeton's Sammy Popper scored at 8:58 of the opening quarter on a tip in off a penalty corner to make it 1-0 Tigers.
But Harvard responded before the end of the half, as the Crimson scored on its first penalty corner earned of the game. Pearce took a pass from senior captain
Mimi Tarrant at the top of the circle, and fired across her body into the lower left corner of the net at 11:48 to tie the game at 1-1.
In overtime,
Rachel Greenwood had Harvard's best chance in the opening 10 minutes of extra time, but her shot from 10 feet out was stopped by Princeton goalkeeper Isla Okkinga. Harvard survived a green card in the second overtime period, part of an outstanding defensive effort overall on the day, to set up the penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Greenwood, Tarrant, and
Isa Gooijer all scored for the Crimson, with Gooijer's goal clinching the win after Shahbo blocked away all three Princeton shot attempts.
Harvard Highlights
Game Notes
- Harvard is keeping pace with the 2018 team matching its best 14-game start in school history. The Crimson has won eight games in a row.
- Harvard has won three of the last five regular season meetings against Princeton.
