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The No. 4 Harvard field hockey team continued its stellar 2025 campaign this past weekend, earning two dominant victories against its Ivy League rival Penn (4-4, 1-2 Ivy) and its cross-city rival Boston University (5-6, 2-1 Patriot League) to improve to 10-0.

After rallying from an early deficit to beat the Quakers 6-1 at Berylson Field on Saturday, the Crimson traveled across the Charles to New Balance Field, where the team thrashed the Terriers in a 7-0 shutout on Monday night. With the pair of wins, Harvard extended the record for the best season start in program history. Now, alongside only Northwestern and the University of Virginia in Division I of the NCAA, the Crimson boasts an undefeated record.

Harvard 6, Penn 1

On Saturday afternoon in Cambridge, the Harvard team demonstrated both resilience and depth during its decisive win over Penn.

After conceding a goal less than two minutes into the game to Penn’s Philine Klas off of a corner opportunity, the Crimson found itself trailing early. However, the deficit was short-lived, as Harvard earned a corner opportunity of its own. Senior Kate Oliver zipped an insert across the zone, and senior defender Bronte-May Brough ripped off a shot from just inside the circle. The hectic traffic in front of the net served as a screen for Penn’s goalkeeper, so Brough’s ball slammed into the back of the net, evening the score.

From that point on, the Crimson’s established utter control. Junior 2024 NFHCA Northeast All-Region First Team honoree Lara Beekhuis had another great look towards the net, dangerously threatening to score as the Quakers failed to clear the ball from their defensive zone. Junior forward Sage Piekarski also had a great offensive rush. The Concord, Mass., native surged ahead of her defender, earning a breakaway. Piekarski made an excellent move right in front of the goal line, but was stopped by Penn’s goalkeeper Ruby de Frees, who stepped up and poke-checked the ball out of play.

A mere minute into the second quarter, the Quakers made an offensive effort of their own, ringing a shot off of Harvard’s net and earning a corner. Freshman goalkeeper Linde Burger made an excellent save to keep the score locked at 1-1.

However, sophomore Martha le Huray chipped the ball through the air toward Piekarski, who, after expertly corralling the ball out of the air, hustled forward on another breakaway. This time, Piekarski, the Ivy League’s Offensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, capitalized on the one-on-one chance, giving her team a 2-1 lead.

One point was simply not enough for the junior, for five minutes later, Beekhuis set Piekarski up for her second goal of the game.

Maintaining the offensive momentum, Beekhuis hammered home her fourth goal of the season just after nabbing the assist. In a span of minutes, Harvard had rattled off three goals and stretched the lead to 4-1 entering the halftime break.

The Crimson did not take its foot off the gas in the second half of play. In the third quarter, sophomore forward Emily Bronckers tallied her first goal of the season, thanks to another helper from Beekhuis. The Laren, Netherlands native made a stellar cross, drawing the corner opportunity. Le Huray inserted the ball toward Beekhuis, who made the initial shot. Bronckers, in the perfect rebounding position, tipped the ball in.

In the final fifteen minutes, le Huray added the finishing touch, tapping home a feed from captain Kitty Chapple to nab the Crimson’s sixth goal of the afternoon.

Other than the first few minutes, Harvard dominated the entire game, keeping the Quakers to just six shots during the contest. Notably, the Crimson’s lockdown defense kept Penn to just one shot during the second half.

Comparatively, Harvard fired off 18 shots during the game, 14 of which found the net, showcasing a true display of offensive grit and precision.

Harvard 7, Boston University 0

Merely two days later, under Monday night lights, Harvard delivered another commanding win over the Terriers to reach double digits in the win column.

Although Boston opened the game with a few penalty opportunities, the Crimson lit up the scoreboard first. Le Huray fired a shot towards the Terriers’ goalkeeper. Piekarski deftly deflected the ball into the cage, giving Harvard a lead in the first quarter.

Le Huray had a particularly notable game against Boston. During the contest, the Teddington, UK native scored two goals and tallied three assists, tying the program’s record for the most assists in a single game.

Five minutes into the second quarter, Bronckers notched her second goal of the week, making it 2-0 in favor of the visiting team. 17 seconds later, le Huray poked in a quick strike to tally Harvard’s third goal.

In a flurry of offensive action, le Huray struck again four minutes later, capitalizing on an assist from freshman Rosa Kooijmans. Going into the half, the Crimson had created a dominant 5-0 cushion.

Harvard maintained possession of the ball throughout the second half, keeping the Terriers’ defensive unit busy under pressure.

Piekarski tallied her eighth goal of the season and second of the night early in the third quarter on a beautiful assist from Brough. The junior’s goal was followed quickly by Beekhuis who sent a powerful shot home off a le Huray corner insertion to close out the scoring at 7-0.

Throughout the contest, the Crimson outshot Boston 17-11. Much like its game against Penn, Harvard’s incredible defense, backed by seniors Brough and Marie Schaefers, held the Terriers to just three shots on net during the entire contest.

With its record-breaking 10-0 start, Harvard now sits firmly amongst the nation’s top teams. So far, the Crimson has scored 36 goals this season, keeping its opponents to just six. The 30 goal differential is a testament to both Harvard’s successful offense, but also the incredible discipline showed by the teams’ defense.

Next up, the Crimson will travel to Ithaca, NY, to take on Cornell (8-1, 2-1 Ivy) on Saturday at 12:00 pm EST. The matchup will be crucial for Harvard, which aims to extend its unbeaten streak as it continues through its conference schedule. The Big Red has only lost once this season, to Brown, and will undoubtedly strive to upset the visiting Crimson.

Tune in on ESPN+ to watch the No. 4 Harvard Crimson take on the Big Red on Saturday.

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