No. 5 Harvard Field Hockey Secures Second Straight Ivy League Regular-Season Championship

With a dominant win over Columbia in New York City, the Harvard field hockey team claimed its second consecutive Ivy League regular-season championship and secured the coveted hosting rights for the upcoming Ivy League Tournament. The Lions (9-5, 3-3 Ivy League) could not defend their pitch against the Crimson’s offensive onslaught, as four different players scored during the contest.

On Sunday, Harvard (14-1, 6-0) maintained its winning momentum against a nationally-ranked opponent, heading back home to Cambridge to notch a comeback win over No. 20 Monmouth (9-6, 4-1 CAA).

Harvard 4, Columbia 0

The Crimson established an early advantage over Columbia, striking just six minutes into regulation play. Sophomore midfielder Rosa Kooijmans forced the Lions to turn the ball over in the midfield, enabling Harvard to drive the ball towards the net.

The Crimson’s offensive unit then cycled the ball to sophomore forward Lucy Barker, who dangled along the backline. The sophomore dished a pass to junior forward Martha le Huray, who slammed it past Columbia’s goalkeeper to take an early lead.

Throughout this season, le Huray has played selflessly. The junior is an expert at facilitating the ball through intense pressure in the midfield and currently leads the team in assists with eight.

Harvard’s offense got more comfortable in the second quarter. Five minutes into the second frame, the host drew a penalty corner opportunity. Building on its momentum from its game against Boston University last weekend — when it scored five goals on penalty corner plays — the Crimson converted.

Le Hurary inserted the ball to junior captain Tilly Butterworth. The Norwich, England native zipped a blistering shot into the net, extending Harvard’s lead to two.

In the final seconds of the half, Barker tallied a goal of her own. Le Huray intercepted a Columbia pass and launched an aerial pass to Barker, who was streaking up the pitch. The feed connected perfectly with the sophomore forward, who faced the goalkeeper on a breakaway. Barker swiftly evaded the goalie, deftly tapping the ball into the net.

The Crimson entered the halftime break with a comfortable 3-0 lead.

The Lions were unable to scratch a point of their own onto the scoreboard in the second half, as Harvard’s defensive line continued to smother their offensive opportunities.

After the teams traded possession in the midfield, the Crimson eventually broke through Columbia’s defense to score again.

With a little over 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter, senior forward Sage Piekarski charged the ball into the circle, forcing the defenders to clump around her. Undeterred by the pressure, the 2025 Ivy League Co-Offensive Player of the Year got a shot off, spurring a flurry of rebounds in front of the Lions’ net.

After a rebound hit a defender’s hand, Harvard was awarded a penalty corner. It looked like the Crimson was not going to capitalize on the opportunity, as it could not control le Huray’s initial insert. However, sophomore midfielder Josephine Carollo was prepared higher up the pitch to drive the ball back into the circle. Successfully receiving the pass, freshman defender Elin van Sante fired the first shot, which was deflected, but Piekarski was positioned on the back post and ready to score. The senior scored her 10th goal of the season and extended her scoring streak to seven straight games.

Neither team was able to convert in the final frame, so the Crimson left the Big Apple with an assertive 4-0 win and secured its second consecutive regular season Ivy League title. The Harvard program has now claimed nine regular-season championships, and the team will strive to secure a win in the upcoming conference tournament on Berylson Field.

Harvard 3, Monmouth 1

Monmouth proved to be a tougher test for the Crimson team on Sunday afternoon.

Although the Hawks’ goalkeeper was forced to make a few critical saves early in the first quarter, Monmouth shocked Harvard with a goal, quickly taking a lead.

The Crimson made an uncharacteristic turnover deep in its defensive end. As the Hawks raced into the circle, they drew a penalty corner. Although the first shot was saved, Monmouth wrangled possession of the rebound and poked a dribbling shot past Harvard’s sophomore goalkeeper Linde Burger.

Before the game, the Crimson had conceded the first goal in just two matches, one of which was its only loss to the No. 4 University of Massachusetts.

Despite the deficit, Harvard did not relent. As the Crimson ramped up its intensity, the Hawks struggled to enter the offensive half of the field.

A Harvard defender lofted an aerial pass, connecting with Piekarski as she raced into the offensive circle. The senior found herself on a two-versus-one chance, and, after drawing the goalie to the left side of the net, dished a selfless pass to freshman forward Evie Smith. The rookie lay her body on the line to secure the equalizer.

At the end of the first quarter, the score remained deadlocked at 1-1, but the host had outshot the visitors 12-2, foreshadowing the Crimson’s ensuing comeback.

Although the Hawks responded with heightened pressure of their own in the second quarter, it was not enough to subdue the Harvard offense.

Captain Lara Beekhuis, one of the team’s leading scorers, marched into the circle, determined to help her team take the lead. As she advanced toward the net, she drew a penalty corner.

While the Crimson did not convert on the set play, the effort spurred a strong offensive stretch that led to the go-ahead goal.

Senior defender Charlotte Casiraghi swept a stellar ball to le Huray, who made space in the circle. Le Huray’s first shot was saved, but the junior capitalized on the rebound to score in the final minute of the half.

As the bright fall sun shone over Cambridge, Harvard’s offense got hot in the second half.

The Crimson’s forwards pummeled the Hawks’ goalkeeper with shots, launching several threatening attacks on the net.

Utilizing another penalty corner opportunity, Harvard extended its lead to 3-1, exhibiting the importance of staying hungry for rebounds within the circle.

While Butterworth’s rip from the top of the circle was deflected, van Sante was positioned for the rebound and blasted it home for the second goal of her collegiate career.

The Crimson ultimately outshot Monmouth 27-6 and earned nine penalty corner opportunities.

Harvard notably did not allow the Hawks to tally a single shot in the final quarter, successfully extending its win streak to 12 straight matches, the longest in the nation.

Now having claimed its second straight Ivy League regular-season championship, the Crimson will strive to cement its second straight undefeated conference record with a win over its final Ancient Eight opponent, Yale. Harvard will conclude its regular season against the Bulldogs (12-2, 4-2 Ivy) on Halloween, before preparing to host the 2026 Ivy League Tournament the following weekend. With its 2-0 shutout over the Penn Quakers on Friday, Yale punched its own ticket to the conference playoffs and will undoubtedly try to upset the Crimson in Cambridge.

—Isabel C. Smail is the Sports Chair for The Crimson’s 153rd Guard. She can be reached at [email protected].