NEW YORK, N.Y. – For a second consecutive season, No. 5 Harvard field hockey wins the Ivy League regular season championship, as the Crimson completed the feat with a 4-0 win on the road against Columbia.
Junior midfielder
Martha le Huray opened the scoring just six minutes into the contest, as junior midfielder and team captain
Tilly Butterworth and sophomore forward
Lucy Barker extended the Crimson lead with goals in the second quarter. In the closing moments of the fourth quarter, senior forward
Sage Piekarski pushed the lead to four with her 10
th goal of the season.
This marks only the second time in program history that Harvard wins the Ivy League title in consecutive seasons, as the Crimson went back-to-back during the 1990 and 1991 seasons. Harvard will also host the 2026 Ivy League Tournament on Friday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 8, meaning Harvard hosts the competition in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
From the opening whistle, Harvard (13-1, 6-0 Ivy League) dictated the play and dominated possession, as the Crimson opened the scoring within the opening six minutes of action against Columbia (8-5, 3-3). A great run from Barker on the baseline opened up space at the back post, as Barker found le Huray for the opening goal, 1-0.
The Crimson would push the lead to three with a pair of goals in the second quarter. On Harvard's second penalty corner of the frame, Butterworth rocketed a shot into left side of the cage for her fifth goal of the season, 2-0.
With just seconds remaining in the half, an incredible aerial pass from le Huray in the Crimson's defensive end sparked a solo counterattack for Barker, as the Malton, England native converted the chance to give Harvard a 3-0 advantage heading into the halftime break.
After 30 minutes of action, Harvard recorded five shots compared to two from the hosts. The Crimson also took two penalty corner attempts in the first half.
Harvard continued to apply the pressure both offensively and defensively in the second half, as the Crimson recorded three shots compared to one for Columbia. With only 15 seconds left in the period, a Crimson attacking penalty corner led to the fourth goal of the day, as Piekarski buried a pass from first-year defender
Elin van Sante into the cage, 4-0.
The fourth quarter saw Harvard continue its superb defensive play, as the Crimson secured the 4-0 victory and the 2026 Ivy League regular season title in the Big Apple. Four different Crimson scored goals against the Lions, as le Huray led the way with a season-high four points on one goal and two assists. Harvard logged nine shots, eight of them on target, against Columbia and held the hosts to just five shots.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Harvard wins its second consecutive Ivy League regular season championship, marking the ninth in school history.
- The Crimson wins consecutive Ivy League regular season titles for the first time during head coach Tjerk van Herwaarden's tenure.
- Harvard will host the Ivy League Tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history next month.
- Harvard has now won 11 straight matches, representing the longest active winning streak in the nation.
- Harvard extends its winning streak to 104 matches against unranked opponents.
- The Crimson has won 19 straight road contests.
- With her goal in the third quarter, Piekarski has now scored in seven-straight contests, the longest goal scoring streak for Harvard this year. Piekarski now has 98 career points with 43 goals and 12 assists across 75 appearances.
- le Huray tallied a season-high four points on one goal and two assists.
UP NEXT
Harvard welcomes Monmouth to Berylson Field for its final nonconference contest of the 2026 regular season on Sunday, Oct 25. Push back is scheduled for noon as admission to Berylson Field is free of charge.
For all the latest on Harvard Field Hockey, follow the Crimson on Twitter (@HarvardFH) and Instagram (@harvardfieldhockey).
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