CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 9 Harvard field hockey heads to Ithaca to face off in a massive game against No. 17 Cornell on Saturday. After winning at least a share of the Ivy championship last weekend, Harvard looks to not only claim sole possession of the 2023 title and the right to host the inaugural Ivy Field Hockey Tournament next weekend. The game will start at 12:00 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+. 
 
The showdown pins one of the best offenses in the NCAA against one of the best defenses in the NCAA as both programs are regularly featured throughout the NCAA leaderboard. Cornell leads the country in goals per game with an average of 3.80 GPG. The Crimson aren't far behind as it checks in at No.16 in the nation with 2.93 GPG. On the defensive side, Harvard is No. 12 in the country with a 1.10 GAA. 

WHAT TO KNOW

• Harvard moved up to No. 9 in the NFHCA weekly poll this week. The highest the Crimson have been ranked all season. 
• Sage Piekarski won Ivy Player of the Week after scoring three goals in two games. Piekarski notched one goal against Penn but tallied two goals in thirty seconds earlier in the week against Boston University. The first year leads the Ivy League in goals among rookies. 
• The win over Penn last weekend clinched at least a share of the championship. For the second time in three seasons, Harvard has won at least a share of the Ivy Title. 
• Harvard hasn't let up a goal in over 300 consecutive minutes. The last time the Crimson let up a goal was on Oct.1 against Syracuse. Tessa Shahbo and the Crimson defense have shut out their opponents in five consecutive games. 
• Harvard has won seven games in a row and 10 of its last 11 with the only loss coming in overtime as the program heads into the final weekend of the regular season. 
• Mazarine Broze scored her first goal of the season last weekend after jamming home a loose ball off a corner attempt for a two-goal cushion. 
• Earlier in the week Elle Shahbo '23 was named a top-3 finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year. 
• Harvard has an all-time record of 31-13-4 against Cornell and won the last six matchups.  

NEXT UP 

With the seeding and opponents yet to be decided until after the game on Saturday, Harvard will await its post-season fate. The Ivy Tournament is slated to start on Saturday, Nov.3, and will be streamed ESPN+.