CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The 15^th-ranked Harvard field hockey team (7-3, 2-0 Ivy) returns home for a pair of games this weekend, beginning with rival Yale (6-4, 1-1 Ivy) on Friday night (7 p.m.) at Berylson Field on ESPN+. The Crimson will host UMass-Lowell (8-3) on Sunday (Oct. 9) at 1 p.m. to conclude the weekend. That game will also air on ESPN+. 

WHAT TO KNOW

• Harvard saw its six-game winning streak come to a close last weekend in a tough 1-0 loss at No. 10 St. Joseph's on Sunday, but picked up an Ivy victory on Friday afternoon, defeating Penn, 2-1, on the road. Harvard has had winning streaks of six or more games in each of the last six seasons. Harvard also has a 22-1 record in Ivy games dating back to the start of the 2018 season, a span that includes Ivy League titles in 2018 and 2021.
• Senior goalkeeper Ellie Shahbo was excellent in a 2-1 win over Penn on Friday, recording her 45th career win with five saves on the afternoon, one shy of her season high. Shahbo added four saves on Sunday in a 1-0 loss to No. 10 St. Joseph's and now has a 0.80 goals-against average on the season (2^nd, NCAA).
• In a stretch of 32 games dating back to the end of the 2019 season, Harvard has not allowed more than two goals in a game. Harvard is 27-5 in that span, recording 14 shutouts.
• Harvard's defense is off to another strong start in 2022, holding opponents to under a goal per game (.90 goals allowed per contest). The team's .87 goals-against average is third in the nation and tops among Ivy schools.
• Ten different players have recorded a goal for the Crimson so far this season, a group led by first-year back Bronte-May Brough (three goals, assist) and senior captain Olivia Hoover (three goals, assist).
• Harvard leads the all-time series against Yale, 27-15-7, winning the last eight meetings between the two teams dating back to 2013. Last year (Oct. 9) in New Haven, Megan Joel scored twice in the third quarter Harvard past Yale, 3-1. Mazarine Broze added a first quarter goal, and junior goalkeeper Ellie Shahbo made two saves to earn the win in net
• Harvard has won all six meetings against UMass-Lowell, with the two squads last playing on Oct. 15, 2019 at Beryslon Field, a 4-0 win for Harvard. Shahbo made four saves to earn the shutout.
• Seniors Kiley Allen, Olivia Hoover, and Ellie Shahbo will captain the Crimson in 2022. All three captains were first-years in 2018 and have compiled a record of 54-11 in three-plus seasons, including a 22-1 record in Ivy games, and a 27-3 mark in home contests.
• NFHCA All-Americans Ellie Shahbo (second team) and Emily Guckian (third team) return for Harvard. Shahbo had an incredible season in net for Harvard in 2021, leading the nation in virtually every statistical goalkeeping category. A First Team All-Ivy Honoree, Shahbo had the nation's top goals-against average (0.44) and save percentage (.860) and added 10 shutouts. She finished the year with a record of 15-2. Guckian was one of Harvard's top two-way players, recording a goal and six assists and helping Harvard's defense become one of the top units in the nation. A native of Waybridge, England, Guckian was a NFHCA First Team All-Northeast Region selection and Second Team All-Ivy honoree.
• Harvard is coming off its seventh appearance at the NCAA Tournament and sixth Ivy League title after finishing the 2021 season at 17-2 (7-0 Ivy).
• Returning to play in 2021 after a missed season due to the pandemic, Harvard made the NCAA Semifinals for the first time in program history, matching a program record for wins on the year. Harvard also beat its highest ranked opponent ever, defeating No. 2 Michigan in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

NEXT UP

Harvard will play a pair of games next weekend, kicking of play with a game at Dartmouth on Friday (Oct. 14) at 4 p.m. The Crimson will then return home on Oct. 16 to take on Delaware at 12 p.m. Both games will air on ESPN+.