The California Golden Bears women’s field hockey team narrowly missed an upset against No. 6 Harvard, falling 2-1 in overtime during their home opener at Underhill Field on Friday night. The match marked Cal’s attempt to secure its first win over a ranked opponent since 2023.
Cal, now holding a 1-2 record for the season, recorded six shot attempts, all by Liz Klompmaker. Harvard, playing its season opener, managed 12 shots. In the opening period, Cal held strong defensively and allowed only one shot on goal, which was saved by Delphine Ayitey Hammond.
Harvard increased its offensive pressure in the second period with nine shots and eventually took the lead when Kitty Chappel scored off a rebound with just under four minutes left before halftime.
Cal responded early in the third period after earning a penalty corner. Klompmaker scored her fourth goal of the season less than five minutes into the half to tie the game at 1-1.
Neither team could break the deadlock in regulation time, sending both squads into their first overtime appearance of the year. Harvard secured victory just over two minutes into overtime when Lara Beekhuis converted after following up her own missed shot.
“I thought it was sort of a tentative first half and we were giving the ball away a little too easily,” Donna Fong Director of Field Hockey Shellie Onstead said. “After halftime we made some good corrections and the team came out just determined and I was happy to be in the game. We were pretty sure we could pull it off. I’m really happy for that being a top 10 team effort. I think what we learned is that we believe and we belong and we learned a lot, so we look forward to taking it forward.”
The Golden Bears will next face Ball State at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT.
For ongoing coverage of Cal field hockey, fans are encouraged to follow updates via Twitter (@CalFieldHockey), Instagram (@CalFieldHockey), and Facebook (/CalFH/).
