CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A first half flurry of goals propelled No. 9 Harvard field hockey to its sixth straight victory, as the Crimson defeated Ivy League rival Yale under the lights at Berylson Field, 3-1. The Crimson is now 10-0 in its last 10 regular season matches against Ivy League opposition.
Junior forward
Kate Oliver got the scoring started late in the first half, as sophomore forward
Lara Beekhuis and senior forward
Lucy Leel added scores in the second half. For the seventh straight match, the Crimson scored multiple goals in a match.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
From the first whistle, both sides fought for and traded possession, as Harvard's (8-1, 3-0 Ivy League) defense limited Yale's (6-3, 1-2 Ivy League) attack to just seven shots and three shots on target. In the final moments of the first period, the Crimson snatched the lead. A dribble from sophomore forward
Sage Piekarski forced the Bulldogs' keeper to come out of the net, as Piekarski fired a pass to Oliver who slotted the chance into the cage, 1-0.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Oliver is second on the team in goals with a career-high five scores.
Midway through the second quarter, the Crimson doubled its advantage. Junior midfielder
Fiene Oerlemans took the initial shot, as Beekhuis tracked down the rebound and lobbed it over the Yale's goalkeeper, 2-0. The 2023 Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Beekhuis has recorded a goal or assists in five straight contests, as she leads the Crimson in goals this season with six.
The Crimson tripled the lead later on in the second quarter. On Harvard's first penalty corner of the evening, multiple shots ricocheted around the circle, as Leel nested the shot into cage for her third goal of the season, 3-0.
At the end of the first 30 minutes of action, the Crimson netted two goals in open play, as Harvard converted its only penalty corner in the first half. On the defensive end, Harvard shined in the first half, limiting the visitors to just three shots over 30 minutes.
With 3:44 left in the third quarter, the visitors got on the board, as Lauren Venter found the back of the net, 3-1.
Despite the Yale goal, Harvard controlled the tempo in the third quarter, out shooting the Bulldogs in the frame, 5-2.
The Crimson shut the door on Yale's comeback attempt with stifling defending in the fourth quarter, turning over possession in the midfield multiple times in the final phase of action. Yale only took one shot in the fourth quarter, as the Crimson earned its eighth win of the season.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- Harvard is now 8-1 on the season, matching the best to a campaign since 2021.
- With the victory, the Crimson expands its winning streak against Yale to 12 matches dating back to the 2012 season.
- Against unranked opposition, Harvard extended its winning run to 80 matches. The last loss against an unranked foe took place in the 2016 season.
- Harvard is now 10-0 in its past 10 Ivy League regular season matches.
- Beekhuis is enjoying a great stretch of matches, as the Laren, Netherlands native has logged at least one point in five straight matches.
- Oliver scored her fifth goal of the season in the first quarter, a single-season career high.
- Leel netted her first goal since the 3-1 win against Dartmouth on Saturday, Sept. 21.
UP NEXT:
The Crimson hosts Boston University on Sunday, Oct. 6 for a crosstown showdown at 1 p.m. The contest will air live on NESN and ESPN+.
For all the latest on Harvard Field Hockey, follow the Crimson on Twitter (@HarvardFH)and Instagram (@harvardfieldhockey).
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