CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard field hockey closed out the 2024 regular season with a special day at Berylson Field, as the Crimson celebrated Senior Day with a 4-0 win against Ivy League foe Cornell.

Three different student-athletes scored goals against the Big Red, all of them arriving in the second half. Sophomore forward Sage Piekarski scored the first two Harvard goals, as first-year forward Martha le Huray and junior midfielder Fiene Oerlemans added two more goals in the fourth.

The 2023 Ivy League Co-Rookie of the Year, Piekarski is enjoying a sensational second season under the direction of head coach Tjerk van Herwaarden, as Piekarski is tied for the team lead in goals (9) and points (20) this season.

Senior goalkeeper Sofia Castore and junior goalkeeper Tessa Shahbo combined for Harvard's fourth shutout of the season. After Castore didn't face a shot in the first half, Shahbo produced several major saves in the final 30 minutes, ending the contest with six saves.

Regular Season ??

The Crimson wrap up the regular season with a 4-0 win against Cornell at home!

Up Next ?? The 2024 Ivy League Tournament ??#GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/gUAgQ2A4nv
— Harvard Field Hockey (@HarvardFH) November 2, 2024
 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The first half saw both defenses preform excellently, as the first 30 minutes ended scoreless. Harvard (13-3, 6-1 Ivy League) limited Cornell (6-9, 3-4) with excellent play in the midfield, as junior midfielder Kitty Chapple pulled the strings in the middle of the park and forced multiple Big Red turnovers. The first quarter saw the Crimson create the only two shots of the frame.

Towards the tail end of the first half, the Crimson attack came alive, creating five corner opportunities in the second quarter. With 2:02 left on the clock, junior defender Marie Schaefers controlled the ball at the top of the circle, as a Big Red defender deflected the shot just wide of the left post.

At the end of the first half, the score remained level at zero, as the Crimson recorded eight shots and limited Cornell to zero shots through the opening 30 minutes of the contest.

Midway through the third quarter, Harvard jumped into the lead. A lobbed pass from Schaefers found senior midfielder Emily Guckian right in front of the circle. The Crimson captain evaded multiple defenders, firing a pass to sophomore midfielder Lara Beekhuis on the left side of the circle in space. Beekhuis crossed the ball to Piekarski who buried the chance for the opening goal, 1-0.

Way To Go Sage! ??

Sage Piekarski gives the Crimson the lead midway through the third quarter!

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??https://t.co/dsHhJ7eOk6 #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/U7dJF02vf5
— Harvard Field Hockey (@HarvardFH) November 2, 2024
 

Harvard expanded its lead in the fourth, as three different Crimson found the back of the cage in the last frame of action against the Big Red. An incredible effort from Piekarski doubled the Crimson's lead, as the Concord, Mass. native snuck the ball past Cornell's keeper as she fell to the turf to grow Harvard's advantage, 2-0.

With six minutes to go in the contest, Harvard scored two more goals to secure the victory. Senior forward Megan Joel spotted le Huray on the far post, as the first-year from Teddington, England netted the first goal of her Crimson career, 3-0. The Crimson concluded the scoring with under five minutes left, as a long pass from Guckian produced a goal from Oerlemans, 4-0.

OUT OF THIS WORLD ??

Piekarksi scores a stellar goal to double Harvard's lead!

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??https://t.co/MK2mCE1iiK 
??https://t.co/dsHhJ7eOk6 #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/hINnBTZvrI
— Harvard Field Hockey (@HarvardFH) November 2, 2024
 

The Crimson end the 2024 regular season with 13 wins, as Harvard registered 16 shots and held Cornell to 12 in the 4-0 victory. This is the Crimson's fourth shutout of the season, as Harvard's defense stalled eight Cornell penalty corners.

Another Goal for the Crimson! ??

Fiene Oerlemans adds another goal for the Crimson in the fourth!

??https://t.co/ddVUc9mnYJ 
??https://t.co/MK2mCE1iiK 
??https://t.co/dsHhJ7eOk6 #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/ImZnrP1dxy
— Harvard Field Hockey (@HarvardFH) November 2, 2024
 

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Harvard ends the 2024 regular season with a 13-3 record, as it will be the No. 2 seed in the 2024 Ivy League Tournament with a 6-1 mark in conference play.
• Piekarski scored multiple goals in a game for the third time in her collegiate against the Big Red, as she scored the Crimson's only hat trick of the season this season in the 9-3 win against Columbia on Friday, Oct. 11.
• A native of Teddington, England, le Huray scored her first collegiate goal in the fourth quarter, as she has five assists and seven points in 15 appearances.
• With the win, Harvard extends its winning streak to 84 matches against unranked opponents.
• Harvard ends the 2024 regular season with a +29 goal differential, the best mark in the Ivy League this season. The Crimson end the regular season as the conference's highest scoring team for the first time since 2019.

UP NEXT:

The Crimson begin the 2024 Ivy League Tournament on Friday, Nov. 8 as the No. 2 seed, facing the No. 3 seed Brown. 

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