CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – For a third consecutive season, No. 4 Harvard field hockey will compete in the Ivy League Tournament, as the Crimson clinch a spot with a 3-1 win against No. 20 Brown under the lights at Berylson Field.

After a scoreless first quarter against the Bears, Harvard's vaunted attack struck twice in the second quarter, as junior forward Sage Piekarski and junior midfielder Lara Beekhuis both scored to put the Crimson in the driver's seat. In the fourth quarter, sophomore forward Martha le Huray added to the lead with her ninth goal of the year.

With the win, the Crimson improves to 12-0 to start the 2025 season, as Harvard is the only undefeated team remaining in the nation. With 12 straight victories, the Crimson match the longest winning streak since 2021.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The first quarter saw both Harvard (12-0, 5-0 Ivy League) and Brown (7-4, 3-2) showcase strong play in the midfield and the back lines, as neither side recorded a shot nor earned a penalty corner across the opening 15 minutes under the lights at Berylson Field.

The Crimson started the second quarter in control, as a run from Piekarski led to the first penalty corner of the night with 13:32 left in the first half. The shot from senior defender Bronte-May Brough deflected off several Brown sticks, as Piekarski collected the ball on the right side of the cage and pushed it into the net for the opening goal, 1-0.

Only three minutes pass until Harvard doubled its lead. As she's done all season, le Huray caused trouble for an opposing defense, as she won possession in the circle and found Beekhuis for the Crimson's second goal of the second quarter.

With under five minutes left in the second quarter, Harvard's defense stepped up on a Bears' penalty corner, as senior midfielder and team captain Kitty Chapple stopped the initial shot on the fly as Burger saved the follow up shot from the Bears.

After a quiet first quarter, the Crimson found its footing in the second quarter, as the Crimson took a 2-0 advantage into the halftime break after recording four shots and earning a pair of corners while holding Brown to three shots and just one attempt on target.

The third quarter saw the Crimson continue to apply pressure offensively and defensively. On back-to-back occasions, Harvard almost tagged on a third goal, as shots on consecutive Harvard penalty corners hit the posts.

In the opening moments of the fourth, Harvard extended the advantage to 3-0 with a sensational solo effort from le Huray. The Teddington, England native evaded two defenders on the dribble and then spun past Brown's junior keeper Kylee Del Monte for an open look at the cage. In the final moments of the game, Brown would pull a goal back, as the Crimson improved to 12-0 on the season with a 3-1 win against Brown.

Harvard tallied nine shots, six of them on target, against the Bears, as the Crimson defense held the visitors to just five shots across 60 minutes of play.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Harvard field hockey is 12-0 for the first time in school history. The Crimson is the only undefeated team remaining in the nation.
• The Crimson has won 12 straight contests, the longes winning streak since 2021. 
• Harvard is now 5-0 against teams ranked inside the top 20 of the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association's National Coaches Poll.
• The Crimson owns a +9-goal differential against ranked opponents this season.
• Harvard extends its winning streak against Brown to 11 matches.
• le Huray has now scored a goal in four-straight matches as she leads the Crimson in points this season with a career-high 22.
• Beekhuis, le Huray and Piekarski all score in the same match for the fourth time this season.

UP NEXT:

The Crimson remain in Massachusetts to conclude the weekend, as Harvard makes the quick trip north on Sunday, Oct. 19 to take on UMass Lowell. First touch is slated for 1 p.m. as Harvard fans can stream the match live on America East TV.

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