Field Hockey Edges Fairfield in Overtime

Despite conceding a tying goal with only minutes remaining in Sunday’s contest against Fairfield, the Harvard field hockey team responded in overtime. Behind sophomore Elizabeth Jacobson’s goal with 1:14 left in the extra period, the Crimson (4-5, 0-1 Ivy) defeated the Lady Stags (9-3, 1-0 America East) on Sunday, 4-3.

Harvard had looked poised to emerge victorious in regulation. Awarded a penalty corner with less than five minutes remaining in the second half, Jacobson slung the ball across the circle to freshman Marissa Balleza, who rocketed a shot from the right side of the net to break a 2-2 tie. The first-year’s goal was her fourth of the season, a team-high.

This lead, however, was short-lived. With less than a minute left in regulation, Fairfield senior Hillary Fitz controlled a pass off a corner penalty and drove it into the back of the net, knotting the game at three goals apiece.

Fairfield looked to have won the game in the final seconds of regulation, as junior Felicitas Heinen put a shot past Crimson senior goalkeeper Jen Hattfield. But in the midst of the Lady Stags’ celebration, the referees disallowed the goal, saying that it entered the net too high.

“The momentum shifted a little bit where they thought they won it,” said Harvard coach Tjerk van Herwaarden. “Our team did very well with staying poised, making the right decision in [overtime] which allowed us to eventually get the win.”

With a man advantage early in overtime, Balleza fired a shot that looked to have beaten freshman goalkeeper Caitlin Bennett, but it ricocheted off the post as the Crimson was unable to take advantage of the Fairfield yellow card.

With the Lady Stags back at even strength, Harvard junior Catriona McDonald was able speed past a few Fairfield defenders and send a pass in to Jacobson, who was able to control the ball and seal the victory for Harvard. McDonald recorded two assists in a winning effort, her first of the year.

“[McDonald] had a great pass,” Jacobson said. “I knew that I had to get [to the middle] to receive it and end the game.”

The victory for the Crimson snapped the Lady Stags’ six-game winning streak. It also marks the first win this at Jordan Field for Harvard, who had lost its previous three games at home.

“We’ve been having trouble getting some goals at home,” senior Rachael Rosenfeld said. “It was really great that we could score a lot of goals and win it at home.”

Rosenfeld opened the scoring for the Crimson with the first half’s only goal, redirecting a shot sent in by McDonald from the top of the circle for her second goal of the season.

Harvard would not stay ahead for long.  Fairfield senior Christy Starsinic dove towards a pass from senior Shealyn Testa in front of the goal, extending her stick out and deflecting the ball into the net 13 minutes into the second half. The Crimson had gone more than 100 minutes without conceding a goal before Starsinic’s effort.

Less than five minutes later, sophomore Emily McCauley scored off a beautiful assist from freshman Julie de Pauew to give the Lady Stags their first lead with less than 20 minutes remaining.

“We still made some mistakes that allowed Fairfield to come back,” van Herwaarden said. “But I think overall we played our game well and it was good enough to get the win.”

Despite losing the lead twice throughout the course of the game, Harvard was able to maintain offensive pressure and eventually come away victorious. The team fired 10 shots on goal during the game, constantly challenging the Lady Stags’ freshman goalkeeper.

Junior Caitlin Rea regained the momentum for the Crimson, scoring off a corner penalty 19:09 into the second half to tie the game, 2-2.

“Once they scored, we trailed off a little bit,” Jacobson said. “After the timeout [after Fairfield’s second goal], we finally got the fire that we needed to pull through.”

Harvard was able to stave off a few Fairfield scoring chances in overtime behind Hattfield’s goalkeeping. She recorded three saves in the game to help slow down a strong Lady Stags’ offense that averages more than three goals per game.

“This year we’re climbing a mountain,” van Henwaarden said. “We’re trying to grow and climb higher every single game. I think today the team set the new standard for what Harvard field hockey is about.”