No. 4 Harvard Field Hockey Improves to 8-0 for the First Time in School History

The No. 4 Harvard field hockey continued its historic season this past weekend against two top-20 opponents, its notorious rival No. 8 Princeton (5-3, 1-1 Ivy), and the No. 14 Monmouth Hawks (7-2, 0-0 CAA). The Crimson fought for a well-earned 3-1 victory over the Tigers and then blanked the Hawks in a 2-0 win on Sunday.

With the fourth consecutive weekend sweep, Harvard now boasts an undefeated 8-0 record (2-0 Ivy), marking the best start in the program’s history. Notably, out of the eight games the Crimson has won this season, four of them have been against ranked opponents.

No. 4 Harvard 3, No. 8 Princeton 1

The Harvard team’s weekend road trip began in Princeton, where the Crimson was forced to play within the Tigers’ enemy territory.

The first period proved to be a complete defensive battle between the two Ivy League powerhouses. For the first time all season, Harvard failed to fire off a single shot in the opening frame. The Tigers were able to notch one shot, but it was deftly deflected by the Crimson’s defensive unit before even reaching freshman goalkeeper Linde Burger.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Princeton team fired off five quick shots and earned two penalty corner opportunities. Harvard’s defense, powered by senior Bronte-May Brough, the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week, stood tall in the face of the Tigers’ attempts. The two shots that did make it through to the net were blocked by the rookie goalkeeper. Burger, a native of Heerhugowaard, Netherlands, has been stellar for the Crimson, starting all eight games in the absence of Harvard’s senior goalkeeper, Tessa Shahbo, who is sidelined with an injury.

Spurred by its defense’s grit and momentum, Harvard earned a corner opportunity of its own. Senior Kate Oliver inserted the ball to freshman Rosa Kooijmans. The rookie midfielder, hailing from Bussum, Netherlands, neatly handled the ball and sent it to Brough, who fired it home from just inside the circle.

Midway through the third quarter, the Crimson doubled its advantage. On another corner opportunity, Oliver sent a crisp insert to Captain Kitty Chapple. Chapple, in a similar fashion to Kooijmans on the first corner attempt, set up Brough, who ripped another shot into the next, extending the lead to two.

In the fourth quarter, junior forward Sage Piekarski sealed the assertive win for the Crimson. Junior Lara Beekhuis made an excellent drive into the offensive zone and sent a shot zipping toward the net. Princeton’s goalkeeper, Olivia Caponiti, made the first stop but could not prevent the rebound flying toward Piekarski. The Concord, Mass., native set herself up for a field hockey alley-oop, as she popped the ball into the air towards the net and then whaled it home. The goal earned Piekarski the fourth spot on SportsCenter’s Top Ten Plays of the Weekend.

Despite the Crimson’s three-goal lead, the Tigers did not give up. In fact, with eight minutes left, Princeton capitalized on a penalty corner. That being said, against Harvard’s lockdown defense, it was too little too late for the Tigers to mount a serious comeback attempt.

“It felt amazing to beat Princeton at Princeton,” said Piekarski, the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week. “There is always a tremendous lead-up to any Ivy League game, Princeton in particular.”

The Crimson’s dominant defensive effort, marked by Burger’s career-high six saves, spurred the team to the 3-1 victory over its rival team.

“Very early on in preseason, we discovered that there isn’t much that can stop us when we play simple two-touch hockey and keep a gritty mentality,” Piekarski added. “We have leaned heavily into perfecting these basics and making the most out of every opportunity that comes our way.”

The win over the Tigers was undoubtedly a gritty one for the Harvard team, which was outshot 14-5 and forced to trust its defensive unit. That being said, the Crimson did make the most out of each of its scoring opportunities and will strive to create even more offensive chances in its upcoming contests.

No. 4 Harvard 2, No. 14 Monmouth 0

On Sunday, Harvard faced off against another fierce New Jersey opponent in Monmouth. Entering the contest, the Hawks led the nation in both goals, averaging 5.29 per game, and points, averaging 15 per game. For Crimson fans, Monmouth’s offensive success this season was a cause for concern, especially after the exhausting defensive effort against Princeton.

However, to the relief of the Harvard faithful, the Crimson wasted no time in asserting its own offensive dominance. Merely one minute into regulation play, Chapple wove through multiple defenders and slipped a low shot into the net. The goal marked the captain’s second of the 2025 campaign and set the tone for the remainder of the game.

Monmouth looked to even the score when it earned the first corner of the afternoon; however, the Crimson’s defense, composed of Brough, Brooke Chandler, Smilla Klas, and Marie Schaefers, held firm, protecting Burger from seeing any action.

At the end of the first half, Harvard boasted eight shots and kept the Hawks to three. Notably, none of Monmouth’s scoring attempts made it to Burger, who, thanks to the Crimson’s incredible defensive stand, did not have to make a single save to secure the shutout.

It was not until halfway through the third quarter that Harvard was able to bolster its lead. Sophomore Martha le Huray flung a shot onto the net. Piekarski, hunting for another rebound, expertly poked the loose ball into the net for the second time of the weekend.

Striving to extend the advantage even further, le Huray, Tilly Butterworth, and Piekarski all peppered the Monmouth goalkeeper with a few more shots. Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Harvard held the Hawks to merely two shots in the final fifteen minutes of play.

At the final whistle, the Crimson had successfully secured the weekend sweep and had outshot Monmouth 16–6. Harvard’s back line kept the nation’s most prolific offense scoreless for the first time in 2025.

“It was fantastic to see all of our hard work correlate to on-field success,” said Piekarski. “We hope to carry that momentum forward to our next big hurdle, Penn.”

“As the season continues, our game will keep evolving, but hopefully it is our strong foundation that will keep bringing us success,” the junior forward added.

The Crimson will return to action this weekend when it takes on the University of Pennsylvania (4-3, 1-1 Ivy). The two Ancient Eight teams will face off in Cambridge on Berylson Field on Saturday at noon.

“Going forward, we are taking it one game at a time, with the eventual goal of winning the NCAA Championship,” said Piekarski. “As of now, we hold the longest undefeated record in Harvard field hockey history, and I have no doubt that will only continue if we remain committed to our team goals and philosophy.”

Harvard’s field hockey program is now cemented squarely in the national conversation, as it ranks below only the reigning champions Northwestern (9-0), the University of Virginia (8-0), and the University of North Carolina (9-1) in the national polls.

“The goal for me is always the same,” Piekarski shared. “To be able to walk away from each game and know that I left absolutely everything I had out on the pitch.”

Piekarski and her teammates, who have powered through the opening portion of the season, now strive to extend their success deep into the stretch of Ivy League competition. With the talent, poise, and field hockey IQ that the Harvard team has exhibited thus far, the team is well-positioned to be a serious contender.

— Staff Writer Isabel C. Smail can be reached at isabel.smail@thecrimson.com.