Midterms are finally upon us. Despite the academic demands, Harvard Athletics continues to thrive, with student-athletes excelling both in the classroom and on the field. From recent victories to upcoming matchups, here’s a quick roundup of the latest updates in Harvard sports as we hit the midpoint of the semester.
Football:
The men’s football team’s season is underway, and they have had a somewhat promising start to the season with a 3-1 record. With the team’s loss of coach Tim Murphy after 30 seasons, the pressure is mounting, with all eyes on the Crimson to see how they perform this season. This past weekend, they had a massive 38-20 win against Cornell. However, on Sept. 28 they lost to Brown in Providence, ending a winning streak against the Bears that dated back to 2011. There might be some growing pains for this team, but they have played better lately and have a massive tilt this weekend against Holy Cross at Harvard’s stadium.
Soccer:
Men’s soccer has had a rocky start to the season. The team underwent some issues and poor play early on; however, their Oct. 12 1-0 win against Yale demonstrated strength in the team. The Crimson’s Nico Nyquist ’26, Erling Haaland’s look alike and fellow Norwegian, netted the only goal for the Crimson against Yale in the 49th minute of the match. While the team is now 2-4-4, this win away at Yale has been a very strong boost to the men’s team as they move forward. They are looking to capitalize on this momentum when they head to Rhode Island to face Brown.
Women’s soccer has had a better start to the season, with a current record of 5-2-5 and a 1-2-1 conference record. On Oct. 13, they had a huge 5-0 blowout win against Cornell. Josefine Hasbo ’25 and Áslaug Gunnlaugsdóttir ’25 currently lead the Crimson with six and four goals respectively. They have drawn against multiple ranked teams including USC and Pepperdine. Next weekend, they play Princeton away; this will be a massive match given that Princeton is 8-0-4 and has received votes to be ranked in the NCAA Top 25.
Rugby:
Currently, the women’s rugby team is 3-1-1 with a recent heartbreaking loss to Dartmouth which saw Dartmouth score in the final minutes of the match. Harvard women’s rugby came into the matchup ranked second in the country and fell to the number one-ranked Dartmouth 19-26. The Crimson is still on track to make the playoffs and will face off against Queens University of Charlotte this weekend, away in North Carolina.
Volleyball:
Women’s volleyball has had a solid start to the season, with a current record of 8-6 and 3-2 in Ivy League play. This past weekend saw a slight hiccup during their road trip where they got swept by Princeton and lost in five sets to UPenn. Next up is Yale at home this weekend in a rematch of last year’s Ivy League Tournament semifinal. Men’s volleyball does not play until the spring.
Water Polo:
Men’s water polo has been playing extremely well this season, with a 12-2 record and an undefeated 5-0 record in conference play. They are currently on an 8-game winning streak, with their last defeat on Sept. 15 against ranked #15 Fordham University. James Rozolis-Hill ’26 broke the all-time goal record for Harvard in their game against Brown, which is now his second Crimson record. This upcoming weekend is an exciting weekend for the Crimson, as they host the Harvard Invitational at home. Women’s water polo does not play until the spring.
Field Hockey:
The women’s field hockey team is currently on a roll, with a 10-2 record with their only losses coming to ranked teams in #19 UAlbany and #2 Northwestern. The Crimson are 3-0 in Ivy League play and will be hosting Princeton this weekend in a rematch of last year’s Ivy League Tournament Championship to defend their Ivy League title. This weekend is also the 50th anniversary of Harvard field hockey, so show out and show your support!
Cross Country:
The cross country team had an unfortunate start to their season, losing to Yale in their home opener. The women’s team finished first at the Paul Short Run 6k for the first time in school history this past weekend, while the men’s team finished second at the Paul Short Run 8k. Next up is the ECAC/IC4A championship this weekend in New York and Pre-Nationals in Wisconsin.
As the fall semester progresses and midterms continue, Harvard’s athletes consistently demonstrate their resilience both on and off the field. Across every sport, they’ve shown that success requires focus, discipline, and teamwork. With exciting matchups on the horizon, the second half of the season promises even more action and memorable moments for Crimson fans. Stay tuned as we continue to support our student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence.
Luke Wagner ’26 (lukewagner@college.harvard.edu) is the Sports Editor of the Independent.