PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – In a thrilling showdown in the Keystone State, No. 11 Harvard field hockey punched its ticket to a second straight Ivy League Tournament, as sophomore forward Sage Piekarski scored the game-winning goal with just seven seconds left against the Quakers.

Sophomore midfielder and the Crimson's leading scorer Lara Beekhuis got the action started, netting the first goal of the contest in the first quarter. After Penn equalized early in the third quarter, Piekarski logged her seventh goal of the season to secure the 11^th win of the season.

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With today's 2-1 win against Penn, the Crimson secure a spot in the Ivy League Tournament for a second straight season!#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/jV0Z1DOcV7
— Harvard Field Hockey (@HarvardFH) October 25, 2024
 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Stellar offensive play and stout defense defined the first quarter, as Harvard (11-3, 4-1 Ivy League) pinned Penn (4-10, 2-4 Ivy League) back with lengthy spells of possession. In the first 15 minutes alone, the Crimson recorded six shots, holding the hosts without a shot in the first frame. With six and a half minutes to go, the Crimson pulled ahead. On Harvard's second penalty corner of the game, first-year forward Martha le Huray found Beekhuis on the left side of the circle, as she slapped a powerful into the back of the cage, 1-0.

Lara Beekhuis puts ahead with just 6:30 left in the first quarter!

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— Harvard Field Hockey (@HarvardFH) October 25, 2024
 

A native of Teddington, England, le Huray is making an instant impact in her first collegiate season, as she leads Harvard in assists with five.

Neither team found an attacking rhythm in the second period, as the Quakers took the lone shot before halftime. Over the first 30 minutes, Harvard out shot Penn, 6-1, earning three penalty corners in the process.

Four minutes into the second half, Penn equalized, as Livian Loozen slotted in a rebound, 1-1.

The fourth quarter saw Harvard's attack ignite, as the Crimson fired off six shots in search for the match-winner. In the first two minutes of the final frame, the Crimson's defense strengthened, thwarting back-to-back Penn penalty corners.

After Harvard forced back-to-back saves from the Penn keeper, a breakaway set up a spectacular moment, as Piekarski fought through multiple defenders to sneak the ball into the cage, 2-1.

The match finished with Harvard recording 12 shots, six of them on goal, as the Crimson defense held the hosts to just six shots. Junior goalkeeper Tessa Shahbo logged three saves in Harvard's seventh road win of the year.

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Sage's last second goal sends us to the 2024 Ivy League Tournament!#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/V4LHxTlHI6
— Harvard Field Hockey (@HarvardFH) October 25, 2024
 

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• For a second consecutive campaign, Harvard clinches a spot in the Ivy League Tournament.
• In contests away from Berylson Field, the Crimson is 7-1, the best road winning percentage in the Ivy League.
• With the 2-1 win against the Quakers, Harvard extends its eight-year long winning streak against unranked opponents to 83 matches.
• Beekhuis leads the Crimson with nine goals this season, just one score shy of tying her career-high set last season.
• In 14 appearances this year, Piekarski has seven goals and two assists, ranking second on the team in points with 16.
• Senior midfielder and team captain Emily Guckian made her 70^th career start.

UP NEXT:

Harvard remains in the Keystone State for a highly anticipated top-15 showdown this Sunday, as the No. 11 Crimson take on No. 5 Saint Joseph's. The contest is scheduled for a noon start and will air live on ESPN+.

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