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After a dominant 2024 fall campaign, the No. 8 Harvard field hockey team returned to the pitch in style this weekend, beating both the University of California and Stanford. Both games went into overtime, forcing the group to rely on its preseason training, conditioning, and deep roster. With the two wins, the Crimson (2-0) kicked off its season with immense success, showcasing both a talented freshman class and a seasoned group of highly competitive upperclassmen.
Harvard 2, California 1 (OT)
The Crimson’s season began with a long cross-country flight for an intense matchup against the University of California (2-2, 0-0 ACC). The game marked the home opener for the Golden Bears, although the team had already split contests against Monmouth and Delaware.
California undoubtedly looked to target Harvard’s freshman goalkeeper, Linde Burger. The Crimson’s Heerhugowaard, Netherlands, native, looked to fill the big shoes of senior goalkeeper Tessa Shahbo. Shahbo was unable to compete this weekend due to injuries, forcing Burger to wrap up her exciting first week of classes at Harvard with her first collegiate start.
Despite California’s efforts to test Burger in the first half, the Crimson dominated the first half of play.
Harvard’s defense, led by senior All-Ivy League First Team defender Bronte-May Brough, prevented the Golden Bears from getting a single shot off in the second quarter. Throughout the game, Brough was supported in the defensive end by junior Smilla Klas and freshman Brooke Chandler. The rookie from Auckland, New Zealand, seemed to transition seamlessly into collegiate play and even got a shot of her own on goal during the contest.
On the offensive end of the pitch, Harvard controlled possession and outshot the Golden Bears 6-1 in the first half. After repeated scoring attempts from junior Sage Piekarski and captain Fiene Oerlemans, the Crimson finally lit up the scoreboard.
During the team’s second penalty corner attempt in the second quarter, captain Kitty Chapple hammered her shot home. The Harvard team embraced its captain and erupted into cheers as it took the lead for the first time this season.
After the halftime break, the California team evened the score, determined to secure a win during its home opener.
Despite pummeling the Golden Bears with shots, the Crimson struggled to capitalize on net in the second half of play. Tjerk van Herwaarden, Harvard’s Head Coach, will likely focus on improving penalty corner opportunities in upcoming practices. The Crimson will look to take advantage of the penalty corner opportunities in future games, especially once it enters the particularly competitive Ivy League play.
With the score locked in a 1-1 standstill, the game headed into overtime.
Two seemingly rapid minutes later, Lara Beekhuis nabbed the winning point, securing the 2-1 win for her team. The junior from Laren, Netherlands, has now tallied an impressive nine game-winning goals during her time at Harvard. Remarkably, her goal also led Harvard to its ninth consecutive season-opening win.
Harvard 3, Stanford 2 (Shootout)
After cutting its program in 2020 and then reversing the decision in 2021, the Stanford field hockey team has struggled to compete against top nationally ranked opponents like Harvard. However, the Cardinal (2-2, 0-0 ACC) mustered serious momentum heading into its matchup against the Crimson on Sunday. Stanford opened its season with a close 3-1 loss to No. 10 Maryland. The Cardinal then rebounded quickly with a 1-0 win against James Madison and then a dominant 6-0 victory over Ball State.
Harvard, too, entered the game with momentum, riding high after winning in overtime in Berkeley. However, the Crimson notably had only a day to recover from the long flight, the game, and the additional period of play.
The Crimson’s exhaustion was evident, as the Cardinal struck first, taking the lead quickly as they strove to defend Palo Alto from their East Coast competitors. The Stanford team played fast and gritty in the first quarter of play, forcing Burger, in her second straight start, to make some critical saves.
The Harvard team seemed to wake up in the second quarter, as it started getting shots off and forced the Cardinal’s defense to make a few big stops.
After the halftime break, the Crimson really ramped up the pressure. Four minutes into the third quarter, Piekarski was set up beautifully by Oerlemans to even the score. The Concord, Mass., native played fiercely throughout the entirety of the contest. She fired off seven shots and was able to get three of them on net, forcing the Stanford goalkeeper, Daisy Ford, to make some clutch saves.
Ten minutes later, midfielder Tilly Butterworth tallied a goal of her own off a penalty shot opportunity. The sophomore hailing from Norwich, England, was able to bury the critical shot to give her team the 2-1 lead, even though the referees slowed the momentum by resorting to a video review to confirm the penalty shot was necessary.
Despite the lull, Harvard battered the Cardinal’s defense with shots during the third quarter. In fact, the Crimson outshot the home team 8-1 as it got back to being comfortable in regulation play.
With seven minutes remaining in the game, the Cardinal was able to nab the equalizer. Stanford then threatened to walk off the pitch with a win in the final few minutes, as it attacked the Crimson’s defense with penalty corner opportunities. However, Harvard’s defensive unit, led by Brough and backed by Burger in net, was undaunted by the attempts.
The Crimson, spurred largely by Piekarski’s rushes upfield, continued to force shots during the two resulting periods of overtime. However, the visiting team was unable to fire home a game-winning shot.
The game advanced to a shootout, raising the nerves of the few Harvard fans who made the trip out to Palo Alto.
Sure enough, much to the Crimson’s dismay, Stanford’s first shot attempt sailed into the back of the net.
Harvard’s sophomore Martha le Huray responded with a goal of her own.
With the shootout score stuck in a 1-1 tie, all eyes were on Burger in the net.
Burger came up with an enormous stop for the Crimson. The Harvard bench cheered loudly, which then spurred Beekhuis to fire home her second point of the weekend.
The Stanford team stayed alive by capitalizing on the next opportunity. Then, Ford came up with a stop of her own against the Crimson.
Burger proceeded to make yet another save.
Another Harvard freshman, Rosa Kooijmans, then slammed home the last goal.
In the final moment, all eyes were on Burger yet again. Harvard led 3-2. Stanford’s Maroussia Walckiers made a valiant effort as she charged towards the net, but she was no match for Burger, who ended the game with her final save of the weekend. Burger’s outstanding performance earned her the title of Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week.
With the win, Harvard field hockey secured its first win over Stanford since 1998. For the second game in a row, the Crimson dominated offensively, outshooting the Cardinals 17-8. The team showed remarkable composure throughout the rigorous weekend, and the freshmen showed that they were reliable under pressure.
The Harvard team now returns to Cambridge with two solid victories under its belt. Looking ahead, the Crimson will prepare to host No. 12 Ohio State (2-2, 0-0 Big Ten) in its home opener on Friday night at Berylson Field. The battle between the two top-25 programs will also be aired on ESPN+. The match will be a crucial test for both teams, but particularly Harvard, which strives to set a tone of national contention for the rest of the season.
– Staff Writer Isabel C. Smail can be reached at isabel.smail@thecrimson.com
