CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 4 Harvard field hockey returns to Massachusetts after a pair of impressive and stellar showings in New Jersey last weekend, as the Crimson will face Penn and Boston University in the next two chapters of an already memorable 2025 campaign.

Harvard's meeting with Penn is slated for a 12:30 p.m. start on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Berylson Field, as the Crimson will face Boston University under the lights at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6 at New Balance Field. Both contests will air live on ESPN+.

CRIMSON UPDATES:

• Harvard is at the midway of its regular season slate, as the Crimson own an 8-0 record, marking the best start to a year in program history. Harvard is only one of four undefeated teams remaining in the country, as it is joined by Cornell, Northwestern and Virginia.
• The Crimson renewed a storied rivalry last Friday in the Garden State, as Harvard prevailed, 3-1, in the latest chapter of the Princeton series. Senior defender Bronte-May Brough tallied the first two goals of the day, as junior forward Sage Piekarski wrapped the scoring in the fourth quarter. First-year goalkeeper Linde Burger enjoyed a career day against No. 8 Princeton, stopping a career-high six shots.
• Harvard carried that momentum into the 2-0 win against No. 14 Monmouth. It only took two minutes for senior midfielder and team captain Kitty Chapple to open the scoring in the first frame, as Piekarski doubled the lead in the second half. The Crimson defense shined against the Hawks, the nation's leader in goals per game, holding the hosts scoreless for the first time this season.
• After their stellar performances against the Tigers and the Hawks, Brough and Piekarski garnered Ivy League Player of the Week honors.
• Harvard begins the weekend at No. 4 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association/Penn Monto National Coaches Poll. Harvard spends consecutive weeks inside the top-five of the rankings for the first time since the spring of 2021, as Harvard is joined by Ivy League rivals Princeton (No. 8) and Yale (No. 16) inside the top-20.
• In the latest NCAA Ratings Percentage Index release, Harvard owns the No. 4 spot, as the Crimson finished the 2024 season at No. 5.
• Harvard's captains for the 2025 season are Chapple and senior midfielder Fiene Oerlemans.
• Head coach Tjerk van Herwaarden is in his 13^th season at the helm of the Harvard field hockey program. A four-time Ivy League Coach of the Year, van Herwaarden owns a 155-67 record in his Crimson tenure, as he earned his 150^th career win in the 2-1 overtime triumph against No. 12 Ohio State.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION:

• Penn brings a 4-3 record and a 1-1 mark in Ivy League action to Cambridge this weekend. The Quakers own a two-game winning streak, taking down Dartmouth 4-2 after a 4-2 win against Drexel in a nonconference meeting with the Dragons. Senior midfielder Julia Ryan leads the Quakers in goals (5) and points (11) this season.
• Boston University is 4-3 heading into the month of October, as the Terriers fell, 7-6, against New Hampshire in a high scoring battle. Boston University will face Lehigh on the road on Saturday, Oct. 4 before welcoming the Crimson on Monday night.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Harvard and Penn will meet for the 48^th time on the field hockey pitch this weekend, as the Crimson lead the all-time series, 28-17-2. The Crimson own a nine-game winning streak against the Quakers, as last season saw Harvard earn a dramatic 2-1 win against Penn on the road thanks to a goal from Piekarski with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter.
• Monday night represents the 39^th matchup between Harvard and Boston University, as the Crimson own a slight all-time series lead in the crosstown rivalry, 19-18-1. The Crimson holds an eight-game winning streak against the Terriers, as Emily Guckian '25 and sophomore forward Emily Bronckers scored in the 2-1 victory last season at Berylson Field.

BURGER'S BIG YEAR:

• Burger is already making waves in her first season between the posts for the Crimson.
• A native of Heerhugowaard, Netherlands, Burger ranks second nationally in goals against average (0.59), third in goals allowed (5) and fifth in save percentage (0.828). Burger also leads the Ivy League in goals against average, goals allowed and save percentage.
• Across the first eight starts of her career, Burger owns four shutouts, as the program record for shutouts by a goalie in a single-season is 10 from Ellie Shahbo '23 in 2021.
• Last weekend saw Burger shine with a career-high six saves in the 3-1 win against Princeton.

YOU SHALL NOT PASS:

• Led by Brough, Chapple and defenders Brooke Chandler, Marie Schaefers and Smilla Klas, Harvard owns one of the best defensive records in the nation at the midway point of the 2025 campaign.
• The Crimson ranks second in the nation in goals allowed (5), goals against average (0.59), and shutouts per game (0.50). Harvard leads the Ivy League in all three categories as well.
• Excellent defensive play is a staple for the Crimson under van Herwaarden's direction, as Harvard led the nation in goals allowed during the 2021 (9) and 2022 (18) seasons.

A CAREER TO REMEMBER:

• One of the top defensive talents in the nation, Brough is authoring a remarkable collegiate career.
• Last week's Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week, Brough owns 23 goals and 56 points across 61 career appearances, as the Uttoxeter, England native has three goals and six points this season.
• Brough is only the fourth student-athlete in program history to earn All-America status on three occasions. Brough is looking to become just the second Crimson to earn All-America honors four times, as Bente van Vlijmen '20 did so from 2016-19.

RUNNING THE SHOW:

• Chapple, one of the Crimson's team captains for the 2025 season, is a vital component for Harvard on both the offensive and defensive ends in the midfield.
• A native of Somerset, England, Chapple has started all 64 games of her collegiate career, owning eight goals, 14 assists and 30 points in her Crimson tenure.
• Chapple is a three-time All-Ivy League honoree and garnered NFHCA Northeast All-Region First Team recognition in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

TOTAL TEAM EFFORT:

• Harvard's offense, which leads the Ivy League in goal-differential (+17) and is tied for second in goals scored (22), is showcasing its depth and skill this season.
• Junior forward Lara Beekhuis, sophomore forward Martha le Huray and Piekarski are all tied for the team lead in goals scored with four each. Piekarski and Beekhuis each have nine points which is tied for first on the Crimson.
• Nationally, the Crimson rank 12^th in scoring margin (2.00).

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS:

• Dating back to the 2016 season, Harvard owns an 89 game winning streak against unranked opponents.
• The last loss against an unranked foe arrived on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, a 3-1 defeat against UMass.
• In 11 wins against unranked foes last season, the Crimson posted a +31-goal difference.

UP NEXT:

Next weekend sees the Crimson head to Empire State, as Harvard faces Cornell in a pivotal Ivy clash on Saturday, Oct. 11.

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