SPORTS BRIEF: Harvard Will Look To End Three-Game Skid Entering Ivy Play

It is not quite the same as The Game, but Saturday’s game between Harvard and Yale field hockey at Jordan Field will have no less significance to either team as Ivy League play begins for the both squads.

The Crimson (1-3) is coming off a weekend where it suffered two 3-0 losses, away at Providence on Saturday and home against No. 17 Boston College on Sunday.

To prepare for this weekend’s rivalry against the Bulldogs (1-2), Harvard has been focusing on making more efficient runs, passing, and ultimately finishing, having had limited success on offense thus far.

Sophomore midfielder Caitlin Rea leads the team so far with 12 shots and two assists, while sophomore forward Catriona McDonald and junior back Carly McNeill have a goal apiece.

Yale was recently shut out by Hofstra, 1-0, at home—the Bulldogs’ second shutout of the season after losing, 4-0, to Fairfield in its first game of the season. Yale’s lone win was against Quinnipiac last Saturday when the team scored three goals in the second half for a comeback victory.

“They were very strong on the ball and had strong tackles,” Crimson sophomore Sydney Jenkins said, "so we’re going to work a lot on our passing game, which [is what] we do best.”

Co-captain Cynthia Tassopoulos provided a bright spot last weekend for Harvard, moving into third place all-time in program saves with 446.

“It’s really a blessing having [Tassopoulos] on the team,” Jenkins said. “She is really a powerful voice out there, and she reassures a lot of us.”

Despite three straight losses, the Crimson will look to improve entering conference play.

“We are looking forward to learning from the experiences we have had so far this season and just bringing all it together,” Jenkins said. “We are all really excited for Ivy League play.”