CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 9 Harvard field hockey continues its three-game homestand this weekend at Berylson Field. On Friday, Oct. 4, the Crimson renew its rivalry with Yale on the field hockey pitch at 5 p.m., as Harvard wraps the weekend on Sunday, Oct. 6 with a 1 p.m. contest against Boston University.

Both matches will stream live on ESPN+, while the game against the Terriers will also air live on NESN. Admission to all the Crimson's home contests is free of charge.

CRIMSON UPDATES:

• Harvard is 7-1 on the season with a 2-0 record in Ivy League action. The Crimson is currently riding a five-match winning streak and is ranked ninth in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches Poll.
• The Crimson followed a 4-0 shutout win at Brown with a thrilling 2-1 shootout victory against instate rival UMass at home. The triumph against the Minutewomen is Harvard's first win via shootout since the 2021 season.
• In the victory against the Bears, four different Crimson recorded goals, as sophomore midfielder Lara Beekhuis netted her fifth goal of the season, the team lead this season. Harvard's defense limited the hosts to just six shots across 60 minutes, resulting in the Crimson's third shutout of the season.
• Senior defender Marie Schaefers opened the scoring in the third quarter against the Minutewomen, as the visitors scored the equalizer in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. After 20 minutes of scoreless overtime action, Harvard earned the win a 3-2 triumph in the shootout, as Beekhuis scored two goals in the shootout, including the match winner.
• Harvard owns a 2-1 record in matches at Berylson this season, as the Crimson is a perfect 5-0 on the road in 2024 as well.
• The Crimson and Princeton are the only programs with undefeated records in Ivy League play this season.
• Across the first half of the season, Harvard's attack excelled, scoring an Ivy League best 24 goals over eight matches. The Crimson also lead the conference in goal differential (+16).
• Nationally, Harvard is tied for 10^th in goals per game (3.00) and ranks seventh in scoring margin (1.90).
• Defensively, Harvard is one of top units in the Ivy League, leading the conference in goals allowed (8).
• Head coach Tjerk van Herwaarden is in his 12^th season at the helm of the Crimson field hockey program. A four-time Ivy League Coach of the Year, van Herwaarden owns a 138-54 record in his Harvard tenure.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION:

• Yale travels to Cambridge with a 6-2 record, as the Bulldogs are 1-1 in the early stages of conference play.
• Last weekend saw Yale sweep the competition, earning wins against Quinnipiac and Penn. Junior forward Poppy Beales earned Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honors after scoring a pair of goals against the Quakers.
• Boston University owns a 4-4 record this season, splitting its opening matches in Patriot League action last week.
• The Terriers fell in overtime against Bucknell, 2-1, to start the weekend, as they bounced back with a 3-0 shutout win against Lehigh.

SERIES HISTORY:

• The Crimson and Bulldogs will meet for the 52^nd time on Friday evening, as the first matchup arrived in 1974. Harvard owns the series lead, 29-15-7.
• Harvard looks to maintain an 11-game winning streak against Yale on the field hockey pitch, as senior midfielder Emily Guckian scored a pair of goals in a 3-2 Crimson victory in New Haven, Connecticut last season.
• The crosstown rivalry between Harvard and Boston University is hotly contested, as the all-time series between the two schools is tied, 18-18-1.
• Harvard owns a seven-match winning streak against the Terriers, as the Crimson scored a staggering seven goals in a 7-0 win at New Balance Field last season.

CLUTCH GENE:

• Across 28 appearances and 13 starts, Beekhuis is powering the Crimson attack, netting 15 goals in her collegiate career.
• The 2023 Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Beekhuis leads Harvard in goals (5) and points (11) this season.
• During her collegiate career, Beekhuis has proved pivotal in several key matches, as she owns six match-winning goals in her Crimson tenure.
• Beekhuis garnered Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 16 after scoring a pair of goals against UAlbany and UConn.
• Last weekend, Beekhuis netted a goal against Brown, followed by two vital shootout goals against UMass.

YOU SHALL NOT PASS:

• Between the posts, Shahbo is orchestrating a stellar goal tending season.
• A native of Surrey, England, Shahbo ranks seventh in the nation in goals against average (.973) and save percentage (.800).
• The Ivy League named Shahbo the Defensive Player of the Week earlier this week after posting a shutout against Brown, followed by a career-day against UMass that saw her stop eight shots, tying her single-game career high in saves.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS:

• Dating back to the 2016 season, Harvard owns a staggering 79 game winning streak against unranked opponents.
• The last defeat against an unranked foe arrived on Sept. 18, 2016, as the Crimson lost to UMass, 3-1.

CAPTAINING THE CRIMSON:

• Guckian and senior goalkeeper Sofia Castore are the team captains for the Crimson this season.
• A two-time NFHCA All-American, Guckian has three goals and six points in eight matches this season, bringing her career totals to 15 goals, 29 assists, and 59 points.
• Castore stopped three shots in the 4-1 win against Vermont earlier this season.

A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY:

• Harvard field hockey is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this season, honoring the program's rich history of excellence on the pitch.
• The Crimson own a 413-359 record all-time in field hockey competition, winning the Ivy League title seven times in the process.
• The 50^th Anniversary Celebration will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, as the Crimson host Princeton.

UP NEXT:

Harvard travels to the Empire State for its fourth Ivy League contest next weekend, as the Crimson face Columbia on Friday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 13, Harvard takes on 2023 national runner-up Northwestern on the road at noon eastern standard time.

For all the latest on Harvard Field Hockey, follow the Crimson on Twitter (@HarvardFH)and Instagram (@harvardfieldhockey).