CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – For just the second time this season, No. 10 Harvard field hockey fell short in overtime, as the Crimson lost, 2-1, against Ivy League rival Princeton.
Senior forward
Lucy Leel opened the scoring in the final moments of the first quarter, netting her fifth goal of the season. Between the posts, junior goalkeeper
Tessa Shahbo was stellar, saving five shots to bring her career save total over the century mark (102).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The match opened with Princeton (9-4, 5-0 Ivy League) creating the first chances of the match. In consecutive corners for the Tigers, Shahbo kept the scoreline even, producing a pair of impressive stick saves. A native of Surrey, England, Shahbo logged three saves in the first quarter.
With just minutes remaining in the first frame of action, the Crimson opened the scoring. A fantastic run down the byline from first-year forward
Martha le Huray created an opening in the Princeton defense. Harvard (10-3, 4-1 Ivy League) capitalized, as Leel buried le Huray's cross into the cage, 1-0.
After a scoreless second period, the Crimson brought a 1-0 lead into the halftime break, as the Harvard attack scored on its only shot of the first 30 minutes of the match.
The third quarter saw Harvard record six shots, as the Princeton's Robyn Thompson recorded three saves to keep the match within reach. Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Princeton equalized, as the Tigers won the match four and a half minutes into overtime.
The match ended with Harvard recording seven shots, four of them on target. The Crimson earned four penalty corner opportunities, all of them arriving in the third quarter.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- With her goal in the first half, Leel has five goals this season, surpassing her previous career high of four from the 2023 season.
- le Huray has four assists on the season, tied with junior defender Bronte-May Brough for the team lead this season.
- With her five saves against Princeton, Shahbo passed the century mark in saves for her Crimson career, as she now has 102 saves in 30 career appearances between the posts.
UP NEXT:
Harvard hits the road next weekend for the last time in the 2024 regular season, as Harvard travels to Philadelphia for a pair of matches against Penn (Friday, Oct. 25) and Saint Joseph's (Sunday, Oct. 27). Both matches will air live on ESPN+.
For all the latest on Harvard Field Hockey, follow the Crimson on Twitter (@HarvardFH)and Instagram (@harvardfieldhockey).
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