The California field hockey team nearly got the upset and took No. 6 Harvard to the brink but ultimately lost 2-1 in overtime in its home opener at Underhill Field on Friday night. A win would have marked Cal's first ranked win since 2023. The Golden Bears (1-2) had six shot attempts all from Liz Klompmaker while the Crimson (1-0) had 12.
 
Cal played Harvard tough in the first period, allowing just one shot on goal which was saved by Delphine Ayitey Hammond to keep the score even at 0-0 heading into the second. The Crimson turned up the heat in the second period with nine total shots but only three on goal. Harvard's Kitty Chappel finally broke the tie, scoring a goal off a save with 3:41 remaining in the period.
 
It didn't take long for Cal to even the game at 1-1 as the Bears drew a penalty corner 4:07 into the third period and Klompmaker capitalized with a goal just 30 seconds later for her fourth of the season.
 
Both Cal and Harvard were unable to score in the fourth period leading to both teams' first overtime situation of their seasons. The Crimson's Lara Beekhuis ultimately ended the game just 2:20 into the first overtime scoring off her own missed shot to win the game.
 
"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."
 
NEXT UP
Cal hosts Ball State on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT.
 
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