CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Four goals in the second quarter alone highlighted an impressive display for No. 5 Harvard field hockey against Dartmouth, as the Crimson defeated the Big Green, 7-0, in the Ivy League opener.

A National Field Hockey Coaches Association Preseason Watch List selection, sophomore forward Tilly Butterworth led the way for the Crimson, scoring a pair of goals in the first half. Junior midfielder Lara Beekhuis, sophomore forward Martha le Huray, and junior forward Sage Piekarski all added goals, as first-year midfielder Rosa Kooijmans and first-year forward Lucy Barker also recorded the first goals of their Crimson careers.

Harvard's defense, led by senior defenders Bronte-May Brough and Marie Schaefers, junior defenders Charlotte Casiraghi and Smilla Klas and first-year defender Brooke Chandler, contained the Big Green for the whole 60 minutes at Berylson Field, allowing just one shot and zero shots on goal as first-year keeper Linde Burger posted the second shutout of the year.

The Crimson is 5-0 to start the 2025 campaign, matching the best start to a season under head coach Tjerk van Herwaarden, as the 2021 and 2014 squads also started their respective campaigns at 5-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Over the first five minutes at Berylson Field, Harvard (5-0, 1-0 Ivy League) controlled the tempo and dictated play against the Big Green (2-2, 0-1). Before the clock hit 10:00 in the first frame, Harvard logged four shots and earned a pair of penalty corners, as Big Green keeper Ava Carlson turned away each chance.

At the end of the first quarter, the Crimson logged eight shots, five of them on goal. The Crimson's defense and midfield contained Dartmouth's attack, holding the visitors to zero shots in the initial 15 minutes of the Ivy League opener.  

Harvard cashed in to open the second quarter, scoring two goals just three minutes into the frame. A run from senior midfielder and team captain Fiene Oerlemans caused trouble for the Big Green, as an infraction from the visitors provided Harvard a penalty stroke. Butterworth converted, giving Harvard the lead with her second goal of the year, 1-0.

Just a minute and 20 seconds later, the Crimson doubled the lead. Oerlemans was once again key in the buildup to the goal, as her cross from the right side of the circle found Beekhuis for Harvard's second score of the day, 2-0. A two-time All-Ivy League honoree, Beekhuis now has 50 points in her collegiate career.

A third Crimson goal arrived in the late stages of the first half. Harvard won possession off a Dartmouth free hit in the attacking half, as Kooijmans pounced on a loose ball in the circle for her first career goal. With under two minutes left in the first half, Harvard earned a penalty corner opportunity, as Butterworth found the back of the cage for her second goal of the day, 4-0.

With the first 30 minutes in the books, Harvard recorded 20 shots and 13 shots on target, as the Crimson defense held Dartmouth without a shot in the first half. In just two quarters of action, Harvard recorded four goals, the most in a game this season.

The third quarter opened with Dartmouth on the front foot, as the Big Green earned consecutive penalty corners. Harvard answered with a goal midway through the third. Another run from Oerlemans created an opening in the Big Green defense, as she found le Huray for the Crimson's fifth goal of the afternoon.

Harvard tallied two more goals in the fourth quarter. Oerlemans kept finding openings in the Big Green defense, finding Barker for the Crimson's sixth goal of the conference opener. That goal marks the first of Barker's collegiate career. Piekarski wrapped the stellar scoring display with her second goal of the season.

At the end of the conference opener, Harvard recorded 30 shots with 22 of them on target, as the visitors took just one shot.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Harvard is 5-0 to start the 2025 campaign, matching the best start to a season in the van Herwaarden era.
• Across five matches this year, Harvard owns a +12-goal differential, scoring 16 goals and only allowing four in the first five matches of the season.
• Today's 7-0 win represents Harvard's largest margin of victory against an Ivy League opponent.
• Harvard records 30 or more shots in a game for the first time since 2018.
• The Crimson post back-to-back shutouts for the first time this season.
• Butterworth scores multiple goals in a game for the first time in her career.
• Beekhuis now has 50 career points in her Crimson tenure.
• Kooijmans and Barker both scored their first career goals. 

UP NEXT:

The Crimson now turn its attention to a crosstown showdown, as Harvard concludes the weekend on Sunday, Sept. 21 at Northeastern. The nonconference contest will start at noon and will air live on FloSports.

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