AMHERST, Mass. – No. 13 Harvard field hockey (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) opened its 2023 campaign with a 2-1 win on the road against UMass (2-1, 0-0 A10).
Lucy Leel and
Lara Beekhuis combined with one goal each to help lift the Crimson to its first win of the season.
How it Happened
- The matchup started even offensively with both teams going scoreless and without a shot through the first frame.
- Harvard broke through late in the second quarter as Lucy Leel delivered right before the halftime buzzer to put the Crimson up one through the first 30 minutes.
- Riding the momentum of its late first half goal, the Crimson pressured the Minutewomen with two shots on goal through the first few minutes of the second half.
- UMass was able to tie the contest off a successful corner, but the Crimson quickly took back control. With a first collegiate goal from first-year Lara Beekhuis as the clock wound down in the third quarter, Harvard regained the lead heading into the final frame.
- A solid defensive front from the Crimson kept the contest at 2-1 throughout the entirety of the final quarter, securing the win for Harvard.
Harvard Highlights
- Leel was the first Crimson to find the back of the goal in the 2023 season, notching her sixth career goal.
- Making her collegiate debut, Beekhuis registered her first collegiate goal in what would ultimately be the game winning score.
- Sofia Castore began the year in goal for the Crimson, making her fourth all-time appearance and third career start.
- The Crimson looked dominant on both ends of the field, posting a 10-2 shot differential and racking up six shots on goal to the Minutewomen's one.
- The contest was the first between the two squads since 2019 and the third straight win for the Crimson over the Minutewomen. The all-time series now stands at 9-15-1 in favor of UMass.
Next Up
The Crimson continues its early season road trip on Sunday, September 3 as Harvard travels to Storrs, Connecticut to battle No. 15 University of Connecticut at 1:00 p.m.
