CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 9 Harvard field hockey (15-3, 9-0 Ivy) heads to Chapel Hill, N.C. to face No. 6 Rutgers in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Field Hockey Tournament. Harvard is coming off wins over rivals Princeton and Penn to clinch an automatic bid into the tournament. Game one is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Karen Shelton Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN+.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Lara Beekhuis took home many awards this week after her performance at the inaugural Ivy Field Hockey Tournament. The first-year scored five consecutive goals for the Crimson dating back to the regular season finale against Cornell. Beekhuis scored the lone goal against Penn in the semi-finals before scoring both goals to defeat Princeton 2-1 in the finals. Her play over the weekend led to some national recognition after she was named NFHCA Division I Player of the Week.
- Beekhuis joined Emily Guckian, Kitty Chapple, and Tessa Shahbo on the All-Tournament team after the win against Princeton.
- Tessa Shahbo was lights out in both games over the weekend. With the only goal coming off a deflection against the Tigers, the sophomore made two incredible stops to help Harvard win the Ivy Tournament. The first coming on a penalty stroke and the other coming off a corner attempt.
- Harvard completed the perfect season in Ivy play after taking both weekend games.
- This season Harvard defeated four ranked opponents - The most since 2021.
- The Crimson defense has been stellar this season after only allowing 1.03 goals per game. Good for No. 6 in the country, the nationally ranked defense will go up against another nationally recognized defense in Rutgers who sits at No. 15.
- Harvard has only allowed two goals since Oct. 6 and has outscored teams 22-2 over that span.
- Currently riding a ten game win streak, the last loss for the Crimson came to No. 5 duke in double overtime. Harvard has not suffered a regulation loss since Sept. 10 when it lost to No. 6 UVA 1-0. Harvard is 13-1 in its last 14 games.
- Tessa Shahbo can be found throughout multiple NCAA leaderboards. The sophomore sits in fourth in W/L % among netminders with a .857% win percentage. Combined with the Harvard defense, Shahbo has helped put up eight shutouts in 18 games which is good for third in the nation.
- Harvard is also ranked in the top ten in goal differential with 49 goals for and only 19 against while Rutgers checks in at No. 27.
- This will be first meeting between Harvard and Rutgers in program history.
NEXT UP
If Harvard defeats Rutgers it would move on to play the winner of UNC and William & Mary for a shot to return to the final four for the first time since 2021 and second time in program history.
