CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 10 Harvard field hockey bested instate rival UMass in an instant classic at Berylson Field, as the Crimson defeated the Minutewomen in a shootout, 2-1. After 80 minutes of action, Harvard secured its fifth win in a row after topping the visitors in a shootout, 3-2.
Junior defender
Marie Schaefers put the Crimson in front late in the third quarter with her first goal of the season, as UMass leveled the score in the beginning of the fourth quarter. A scoreless overtime period preceded a thrilling shootout, as sophomore midfielder
Lara Beekhuis provided the Crimson two crucial goals in the shootout, including the match winner.
Junior goalkeeper
Tessa Shahbo enjoyed a career day in net, as the Surrey, England native stopped eight shots, tying her career-high set against North Carolina in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Across her last two starts this weekend, Shahbo saved 12 shots.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The first half saw both sides exchange possession, as UMass (7-3, 2-0 Atlantic 10) created the first chance of the afternoon. A Minutewomen attacker reached the byline, as Shahbo reached out and stopped the cross for her first save of the afternoon. Strong defensive play defined the first quarter, as Harvard (7-1, 2-0 Ivy League) held the visitors to just one shot.
In the opening moments of the second quarter, Harvard produced a series of scoring chances, as a shot from junior defender
Bronte-May Brough off a corner was deflected away by the UMass keeper.
Stellar defense stymied both attacks, as Harvard took two shots and limited UMass to just two attempts as well.
The impressive defensive display from both squads continued in the third period. Midway through the frame, first-year forward
Emily Bronckers fired a shot towards goal, as UMass goalie Myrte Van Herwijnen deflected the attempt away. Moments later, the Crimson stalled a UMass penalty corner attempt, as junior midfielder
Kitty Chapple logged a defensive save with a block.
Harvard netted the opening goal with just a minute to go in the third quarter. On the Crimson's third and final penalty corner of the period, junior forward
Kate Oliver fed a pass to Chapple, as she squared the ball for Schaefers. The German defender capitalized on the opportunity, scoring her first goal of the season on a low shot towards the left side of the cage, 1-0.
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, UMass equalized, scoring on a penalty corner, 1-1.
After both sides traded possession throughout the remainder of the fourth quarter, the Crimson earned a penalty corner with less than two minutes to go, as first-year
Martha le Huray fired a shot that flew just wide.
The match entered overtime after neither side found a winner in the final phases of regulation. At the end of the first 60 minutes, the Crimson registered eight shots, seven of them on goal. The visitors recorded nine shots, including four corner opportunities.
Over the first three minutes of overtime, UMass applied pressure, as Shahbo kept the Crimson alive with a pair of saves. The first overtime period ended scoreless, as the Crimson faced five shots, with Shahbo recording four clutch saves.
After the second overtime period went scoreless, the match went into a penalty shootout, the first for the Crimson since the 2021 season.
Both sides converted their first shots in the shootout, as Chapple put the Crimson on the board first. After four straight misses between both teams, sophomore midfielder
Lara Beekhuis scored her chance, as the visitors scored to keep the shootout alive. After a miss from the visitors, Beekhuis put the match away with her second goal in the shootout, 2-1.
Harvard wins a match via shootout for the third time in head coach
Tjerk van Herwaarden's tenure, its first since the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Harvard registered 12 shots compared to UMass' 17, just the second time this season an opponent outshot the Crimson.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- Harvard won a shootout for the first time since the 2021 NCAA Tournament, when the Crimson bested Michigan to punched its ticket to the 2021 NCAA Tournament Semifinals, 1-0.
- Under the direction of van Herwaarden, the Crimson own three shootouts wins.
- With the win against the Minutewomen, Harvard expands its winning streak against unranked opponents to 79 matches. The last loss against an unranked foe arrived during the 2016 season.
- Schaefers scored her first goal of the season in the third quarter. A native of Hamburg, Germany, Schaefers last scored on Sept. 15, 2023 in a 4-0 win against Dartmouth.
- Shahbo stopped eight shots in a match for the second time this season, tying her career high from the 2023 NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals match against North Carolina.
UP NEXT:
The Crimson homestand continues next weekend, as Harvard renews its rivalry with Yale on Friday, Oct. 5, followed by a crosstown matchup against Boston University on Sunday, Oct. 7. Admission to Berylson Field is free of charge, as the contest against the Bulldogs will stream live on ESPN+, while the match against the Terriers will air live on both NESN and ESPN+.
For all the latest on Harvard Field Hockey, follow the Crimson on Twitter (@HarvardFH)and Instagram (@harvardfieldhockey).
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