NEW HAVEN, Conn. – More history arrived for No. 3 Harvard field hockey in the regular season finale against No. 16 Yale, as the Crimson complete the first perfect regular season in Ivy League history with a 2-1 win against Bulldogs on the road.

On the attack, junior forward Sage Piekarski was sensational, as the Concord, Massachusetts native scored both of Harvard's goal this evening. A two-time All-Ivy League honoree, Piekarski now leads the conference in goals scored with 12.

Two more program records were set against the Bulldogs as well. Harvard is now 11-0 in contests away from home this season, setting a new program best for road wins in a season. The Crimson is also 7-0 against ranked opponents this season, marking the most wins against opponents inside the top 20 of the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association's National Coaches Poll in a single season in program history. Harvard is just one win away from matching the program record for most wins in a season set by the 2018 and 2021 teams.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The top 20 clash between Harvard (16-0, 7-0 Ivy) and Yale (12-4, 4-3) saw both sides find attacking opportunities throughout the first period from Johnson Field. With under 90 minutes left in the first quarter, the Crimson almost jumped into the lead. Sophomore midfielder Tilly Butterworth weaved through the Bulldog defense to open a chance for Piekarski, forcing the first save of the evening in New Haven.

Harvard logged two shots compared to Yale's three in the first quarter, as the Crimson earned the lone penalty corner of the first period.

The Crimson tilted the field to start the second quarter, pinning the hosts back with an effective press and constant scoring chances. Piekarski found herself with a chance to tally the opening goal again, but her slap at goal was denied again by Yale's first-year keeper Amelie Schwarzkopf.

A lightning quick counterattack put the Crimson ahead in the final moments of the first half. A misplaced Bulldogs stick found junior midfielder Lara Beekhuis, as Beekhuis fired off a pass to Piekarski. Facing a defender one-on-one, Piekarski evaded her marker and slotted a chance into the cage to put the Crimson ahead 1-0 heading into the halftime break.

Piekarski is now tied with sophomore forward Martha le Huray for the team lead in goals with 11 each, as Piekarski is second on the team with 25 points, a career-high for the two-time All-Ivy League honoree.

Harvard dictated the tempo in the first half, as the Crimson logged seven shots, five of them on goal, across the 30 minutes of play at Johnson Field. After allowing three shots in the first quarter, the Crimson defense did not allow a shot attempt in the second quarter.

Midway through the third quarter, Harvard earned just the second penalty corner of the day. The insert found its way to senior defender and three-time All-American Bronte-May Brough, as her shot was deflected just wide of the right post.

Moments later, Harvard doubled the lead thanks to another goal from Piekarski. Off a restart, a pass found sophomore forward Emily Bronckers on the left side of the circle, as Bronckers sent a cross through the circle that found a diving Piekarski the put the Crimson ahead 2-0. With 12 goals on the season, Piekarski now leads the Ivy League in goals.

In the third quarter, the Crimson logged four shots, as Harvard held the hosts without a shot for a second consecutive quarter.

Yale would pull a goal back late in the fourth quarter on its only penalty corner of the contest, as the Crimson held off the comeback attempt for the 2-1 win.

Piekarski was responsible for both of Harvard's goals, marking her third contest this season with multiple goals. The Crimson tallied 14 shots across the 60 minutes against the Bulldogs, as Harvard's defense only allowed five shots and a single penalty corner.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Harvard is the first team in Ivy League history to complete a regular season with a perfect record. The last team in the Ancient Eight to finish a regular season undefeated was the 1974 iteration of the Princeton Tigers, who went 9-0-2 five years prior to the Ivy League officially sponsoring field hockey in 1979.
• The Crimson is 11-0 in road contests this season, marking the most road wins in a season in program history.
• Harvard is 7-0 against ranked teams to end the 2025 regular season, setting a new program record for victories against top 20 teams in a season.
• Piekarski leads the Ivy League in goals scored with 12 this season. A native of Concord, Massachusetts, Piekarski also leads the Crimson with 27 points.
• Harvard only allowed one penalty corner in a contest for the fifth time this season.
• The Crimson logs double-digit shots in a match for the 14^th time this season.
• Harvard holds an opponent to five shots or less for the sixth time this season, with three of those occasions arriving in the last three matches.

UP NEXT:

Harvard will host the Ivy League Tournament for the first time since 2023, as the Crimson will find out its semifinal opponent once Ivy League play concludes tomorrow. The Ivy League Tournament begins on Friday, Nov. 7.

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