COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Only eight days remain until Harvard field hockey embarks on the 2026 season, as six Crimson earned a spot on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Watch List, a program designed to highlight potential NFHCA All-Region and NFHCA All-America honorees. 

Seniors Lara Beekhuis and Sage Piekarski, along with juniors Tilly Butterworth and Martha le Huray, join sophomore Linde Burger and first-year Evie Smith on the NFHCA Watch List.

Last season's leading goal scorer in the Ivy League, Piekarski returns to Cambridge with her eyes set on making more history across the duration of the 2026 season. A native of Concord, Massachusetts, Piekarski tallied 16 goals, four assists and 36 points across 21 appearances. An All-America Second Team selection last season and the reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year, Piekarski owns 33 goals across 61 appearances, as Piekarski ranks seventh all-time in school history 75 career points.

Another returning All-American for the Crimson, le Huray looks to build off a breakout 2025 season that saw the Teddington, England native tally 13 goals, six assists and 32 points in 21 appearances. A NFHCA Northeast All-Region First Team and Ivy League First Team honoree during the 2025 campaign, le Huray's six assists ranked second on the team, as her 32 points ranked seventh in school history for points recorded in a single season.

A potential impact forward for the Crimson this season, Smith arrives to Harvard with experience at the international level. This summer saw Smith, along with Crimson teammate Butterworth, represent England at the U21 EuroHockey Championships, leading England to a fifth place finish. Earlier in her field hockey career, Smith also represented England at the U18 EuroHockey Championships.

One of the Crimson's team captains this season, Butterworth lands on the NFHCA Watch List for a second time in her collegiate career. A native of Norwich, England, Butterworth earned NFHCA Northeast All-Region First Team honors for the first time during the 2025 season, as she started every match last season and scored a career-best five goals. This summer saw Butterworth represent England at the U21 EuroHockey Championships.

A consistent presence in the attack across the last three seasons, Beekhuis is ready to make an impact during her senior year as a team captain. The only active Crimson to score double-digit goals in three straight seasons, the 2025 campaign saw Beekhuis record career highs in goals (11), assists (6) and points (28), as the Laren, Netherlands native earned NFHCA Northeast All-Region First Team and All-Ivy League Second Team status. Across 61 career appearances, Beekhuis owns 72 career points, second amongst all active Crimson.

One of the top goalkeepers in the nation, Burger is looking to build off a remarkable debut 2025 season. The Ivy League Rookie of the Year last year, Burger led the nation in goals against average (0.70) and ranked 10^th nationally in save percentage (0.769) as well. Burger posted nine shutouts and started between the posts in every contest last season, as those nine shutouts ranked second all-time in school history for shutouts in a single-season. Burger garnered All-America Third Team and NFHCA Northeast All-Region First Team honors as well.

Harvard begins the 2026 season on home turf, welcoming UMass Lowell to Berylson Field on Friday, Sept. 4 for the season opener at 4 p.m.