STORRS, Conn. – On a chilly afternoon at the George J. Sherman Sports Complex, No. 10 Harvard field hockey orchestrated an unforgettable moment, as the Crimson will move onto the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals after downing No. 11 Syracuse, 1-0, besting a foe in overtime for a third straight match.
After 66 minutes of scoreless action, sophomore midfielder
Lara Beekhuis orchestrated a magical moment in the overtime period, scoring a sensational goal to send the Crimson to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals for a second straight season, a first for the Harvard field hockey program.
A two-time All-Ivy League selection and native of Laren, Netherlands, Beekhuis leads Harvard in goals (10) and points (22), becoming the first Crimson to record double-digit goals in consecutive seasons since Bente van Vlijmen '20 did so from 2017-2019.
Led by a backline of juniors
Bronte-May Brough,
Marie Schaefers, sophomore
Smilla Klas and goalkeeper
Tessa Shahbo, the Crimson defense shut down the Orange, posting its second shutout in the past two matches after holding Syracuse to just six shots, a season-low for Syracuse in a non-conference match this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The opening moments of the NCAA Tournament First Round match between Harvard (16-3, 6-1 Ivy League) and Syracuse (13-7, 4-4 Atlantic Coast) saw both sides begin the contest compact and organized on the defensive end, limiting attacking chances.
With just two minutes left in the quarter, the Crimson produced the first major attacking chance of the afternoon. A two-on-two opportunity allowed first-year forward
Martha le Huray to find sophomore forward
Sage Piekarski, as the Concord, Massachusetts native's shot was just wide of the left post.
Harvard continued to apply pressure against the Orange, winning the first two penalty corners in the final minute of action in the first quarter. Syracuse orchestrated consecutive defensive saves to keep the match even heading into the second quarter.
The second quarter saw the Crimson and Orange maintain their defensive posture, allowing minimal attacking opportunities in the frame. With the first 30 minutes in the books, the score remained locked in at zero each, as Harvard outshot Syracuse, 3-1.
In the second half, Harvard's defense turned away a pair of Orange penalty corners in the third quarter. On Syracuse's first penalty corner of the afternoon in Storrs, Shahbo made a stellar save to keep the match scoreless, as Syracuse's next attempt flew past the crossbar.
Heading to the fourth quarter, both sides took three shots, recording just one shot on goal each as well.
The Crimson attack came alive in the fourth quarter, as Harvard took all four shots in the frame. On consecutive corners, shots from Brough and Schaefers were saved by Orange defenders.
For a third straight contest, a Harvard field hockey went into overtime, as the Crimson recorded seven shots compared to Syracuse's three.
In a pivotal overtime period, Shahbo stepped up between the posts, making three critical saves to keep the Crimson's season alive. With under five minutes to go, Beekhuis controlled the ball on the baseline, created some space, and then slotted a chance past the Orange keeper.
The Crimson ended the thrilling contest with eight shots, as Beekhuis' picked up her 10
th goal of the season to win the game. Shahbo closed out her sixth shutout of the season with four saves.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- Harvard extends its winning streak to six matches, as the Crimson have won three straight overtime contests, the longest streak in program history.
- For a second straight season, the Crimson is advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals, another first in program history.
- The Crimson defense is excelling in the latter stages of the season, allowing just two goals in the last five matches.
- An All-Ivy League First Team selection, Beekhuis has 10 goals this season, recording double-digit goals in consecutive seasons. She is the first Crimson to do so since 2019.
UP NEXT:
The Crimson will face No. 14 UMass for a second time this season, this time with a spot in the 2024 NCAA Tournament Semifinals, on Sunday, Nov. 17. The contest is slated for a 1 p.m. start and 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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