BERKELEY, Calif. – Harvard field hockey kicked-off the 2025 campaign with a thrilling win on the west coast, as the Crimson toppled Cal on the road, 2-1, in overtime.

The Crimson thrive in clutch situations, as Harvard now owns a five-game winning streak in overtime contests. After a scoreless first quarter, Harvard opened the scoring with a strike from senior midfielder and team captain Kitty Chapple. The hosts drew level in the third quarter, as junior midfielder and last season's leading goal scorer Lara Beekhuis netted the game-winning goal in overtime.

Harvard's defense stepped up throughout the contest against the Golden Bears, as the Crimson only allowed six shots and one penalty corner.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The opening phases of the contest between Harvard (1-0, 0-0 Ivy League) and Cal (1-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) saw both defenses shine, as the first quarter ended scoreless. Each side took one shot over the first 15 minutes of action, as junior forward Sage Piekarski had her shot blocked with only second remaining in the opening frame.

Harvard and Cal continued their stout defensive play in the second quarter. With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Harvard earned the first penalty corner of the day, as the Golden Bears blocked an attempt from senior midfielder and team captain Fiene Oerlemans.

With under four minutes left in the first half, the Crimson jumped into the lead with its first goal of the 2025 campaign, 1-0. On Harvard's second penalty corner of the second quarter, Chapple put Harvard in the driver's seat with her seventh career goal. A native of Somerset, England, Chapple now has 26 points across 57 appearances.

The Crimson's offense ignited in the second quarter, as Harvard registered five shots in the period. Harvard's vaunted defense, anchored by senior defender Bronte-May Brough, junior defender Smilla Klas and first-year defender Brooke Chandler, held the hosts to zero shots in the second quarter. Harvard maintained a 6-1 shot advantage over Cal heading into the halftime break.

Four minutes into the second half, the hosts clawed back and leveled the score, as Cal tied it up with a goal from sophomore forward Liz Klompmaker, 1-1. Harvard produced one shot in the third quarter while the hosts produced three shots in the frame, as the scoreline stood at one each heading into the fourth quarter.

Harvard manufactured the first scoring chance of the fourth quarter on a penalty corner, as back-to-back attempts from Brough and Chandler were blocked by the Golden Bears' defense.

The fourth quarter saw both defenses regain their form from the opening frame, as the Crimson and Golden Bears needed overtime to decide the season opener. Harvard logged 10 shots and four corners in regulation, compared to six shots and one corner for the hosts.

Only two minutes into the overtime period, the Crimson produced the overtime winner, as Beekhuis capitalized on a chance to give Harvard the victory with a goal, 2-1. A NFHCA Northeast All-Region First Team honoree last year, Beekhuis now has nine game-winning goals in her career.

Harvard outshot Cal, 12-6, after 62 minutes of action in Berkeley. The Crimson ended the contest with four corners as Harvard's defense only allowed a single penalty corner against the Golden Bears. With the win, Harvard is now 9-0 in its last nine season openers and extends its winning streak to five matches in overtime contests.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:

• With the triumph against Cal, Harvard has now won nine straight season openers.
• The Crimson extend its winning streak against unranked opponents to 86-straight matches.
• Harvard owns a five-match winning streak in overtime contests.
• Harvard has won its last three contests against ACC opponents.
• Beekhuis now has nine game-winning goals in her Crimson career.
• Burger and Chandler both made their first career starts.
• Burger, Chandler, first-year forward Lucy Barker, first-year midfielder Josephine Carollo and first-year midfielder Rosa Kooijmans all made their collegiate debuts in the win against Cal.

UP NEXT:

The Crimson travel an hour south to conclude the weekend on Sunday, Sept. 7, as Harvard will face Stanford at 2 p.m. eastern standard time. Harvard fans can watch every minute of the match live on ACC Network Extra.

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