CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard field hockey begins the 50^th season in program history with a pair of road contests, as the Crimson travel to William & Mary and No. 18 Wake Forest this weekend. Harvard takes on the Tribe on Friday, Sept. 6 at 3 p.m. and concludes opening weekend on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 12 p.m. against the Demon Deacons.

CRIMSON UPDATES:

• Harvard begins the 2024 campaign ranked No. 8 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Preseason Poll, as the Crimson embark on the new campaign as the defending Ivy League regular season and tournament champions.
• During the 2023 season, the Crimson posted a 16-4 record, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals before losing to eventual national champion North Carolina.
• The 16 wins in 2023 were just one shy of matching the single-season program win record set in 2021.
• Five Crimson earned a spot on the NFHCA's Watch List earlier this summer. Sophomore Lara Beekhuis, junior Bronte-May Brough, junior Kitty Chapple, senior captain Emily Guckian, and sophomore Sage Piekarski were all named to NFHCA's Watch List.
• Guckian and Brough return to Cambridge after garnering NFHCA All-America status last season.
• The Crimson return several key attacking threats for the 2024 campaign, as Harvard returners scored 91 percent the team's goals last season (48/53).
• A native of Laren, Netherlands, Beekhuis shined down the stretch for the Crimson in her first season in Cambridge, as she led Harvard in goals with 10, the Crimson's lone double-digit goal scorer in 2023.
• Head coach Tjerk van Herwaarden begins his 12^th season at the helm of the Crimson. Hired in 2012, van Herwaarden has a record of 131-63, leading the Harvard to four NCAA Tournament appearances. He also earned Ivy League Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time last season.
• Harvard is 9-2 in season openers during van Herwaarden's tenure, as the Crimson have won seven straight season openers dating back to 2016.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:

• William & Mary opened the 2024 season last week, suffering a pair of defeats against No. 5 Duke and Richmond.
• The Tribe won the 2023 Coastal Athletic Association title, as they are selected to finish in second place in the CAA Preseason Poll.
• No. 18 Wake Forest began the year with a trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the ACC/Big 10 Challenge, as the Demon Deacons dropped back-to-back matches against No. 6 Iowa and No. 12 Michigan.
• Led by legendary head coach Jennifer Averill, The ACC slotted Wake Forest in the No. 7 spot in its preseason poll.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Harvard and William & Mary will meet on the field hockey pitch for the fourth time this weekend, as Friday's contest is the first showdown since 1997. William & Mary leads the all-time series, 2-1.
• Harvard will face Wake Forest for the first time since 2004. The Demon Deacons lead the series, 3-0.

CAPTAINING THE CRIMSON:

• Guckian and senior Sofia Castore will lead the Crimson as team captains this season.
• A two-time captain, Guckian led Harvard in points (29) and assists (11) last season. Hailing from Weybridge, England, Guckian has tallied 12 goals, 29 assists, and 53 points in 56 career appearances in Cambridge.
• Castore, a native of Houston, Texas, leads the Crimson for the first time in her collegiate career. Castore has made nine appearances between the posts during her tenure with the Crimson.

A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY:

• Harvard field hockey is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this season, as the Crimson community will honor and recognize the long standing excellence of the program.
• The Crimson have a 406-358 all-time record, winning the Ivy League seven times.
• On Saturday, Oct. 19, Harvard field hockey will celebrate its 50^th anniversary in the Ivy League contest against Princeton.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

• Friday, Sept. 6 – at William & Mary (3 PM, FloSports)
• Sunday, Sept. 8 – at No. 18 Wake Forest (Noon, ACC Network Extra)

UP NEXT:

Harvard returns to Cambridge next weekend, hosting UAlbany and UConn at Berlyson Family Field. The Crimson and Great Danes face-off on Friday, Sept. 13 at 4 p.m., while the Huskies come into town on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. Both contests will stream live on ESPN+.

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