Between the start of class, comping clubs, and being back with friends, fall is certainly an exciting time at Harvard. As everyone arrives back on campus, there is a select group of students who have already been hard at work since as early as Aug. 8: fall athletes. After strong pre-seasons, several fall teams are poised to make runs for Ivy League and even national titles. While everyone is looking forward to Harvard-Yale returning to Cambridge this year, several competitions are coming up that promise to pack just as much excitement. Use free student admission to your benefit and check out the games below!
Women’s Soccer: Few sports teams on campus boast Olympians as part of their current roster, women’s soccer is one of them. Jade Rose ’25 competed for the Canadian squad and helped anchor their defense. Rose played in all matches before the squad was eliminated from the tournament at the hands of Germany. The rest of Harvard’s squad includes standouts like Josie Hasbo ’25, who competed in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup for Denmark. Women’s soccer is coming off an Ivy League tournament championship and a trip to the NCAA second round last season. They only have five home games this season, so be sure to head out to Jordan Field on Sept. 8 at 1:00 p.m. for their Pride Game against Pepperdine. Don’t miss your chance to see one of the best teams in the country right here in Cambridge.
Women’s Rugby: The defending 15s and 7s national champions will welcome Dartmouth back to Mignone Field this year for a rematch of last year’s 15s NIRA Championship. If you haven’t seen the LG Channel’s episode of “The Rivalries,” this competitive matchup dates back to their first varsity matchup in 2015. Rugby’s roster is filled with athletes who have represented their countries across all age groups, including Lennox London ’26 for USA. Lennox currently holds the program record for number of tries in a season. Their game against Dartmouth is also their alumni game, so pack the stands on Oct. 12 at 2:00 p.m. to show your support!
Field Hockey: In a rematch of last year’s Ivy League Championship Game, Harvard field hockey will be hosting the Princeton Tigers on Oct. 19 at 12:00 p.m. This is the first time since 2021 that field hockey has played at home against Princeton; the two programs hold all Ivy League Championship titles since 1993. The Crimson are starting the year nationally ranked eighth and were first in the Ivy League preseason poll, putting them in prime position to clinch back-to-back regular season and tournament Ivy League Championships. Their Princeton game is also the 50th-year celebration of Harvard field hockey, giving you the perfect opportunity to get rowdy and celebrate the seasoned success of women in sports.
Women’s Volleyball: Following the Harvard Invitational this upcoming weekend, women’s volleyball will open their Ivy League play with Dartmouth on Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. The squad is coming off its most successful season under head coach Jennifer Weiss, having qualified for their first-ever Ivy League tournament last year. They are looking to return to the Ivy League tournament and go for their first Ivy League tournament championship. Don’t let the countless MAC stairs deter you, climb up to the fourth floor and show your support!
Men and Women’s Cross Country: The Harvard-Yale cross country meet returns to campus this year as an early test for both the men’s and women’s teams. The women’s squad are three-time defending Ivy League Heptagonal Cross Country champions, and Harvard-Yale provides an early opportunity to earn points towards a national new bid. Strong returning athletes, including Ella Gilson ’25 and Penelope Salmon ’26, look to lead the Crimson to a successful season. On the men’s side, reigning NCAA Division I Champion and Paris 2024 Olympian Graham Blanks ’25 returns to defend his title, officially starting his campaign at the Harvard-Yale meet. Don’t miss the chance to see all these athletes and others back in action in Cambridge on Sept. 6.
Men’s Soccer: Men’s soccer starts their season after finishing second in Ivy League standings in the 2023 season. Their three All-Ivy selections from 2023 remain on the roster as the team looks to continue the trend of moving up the conference ranking. They will open home Ivy League play for the season on Oct. 5 at 1:00 p.m. against the University of Pennsylvania. This is one of only six home games for men’s soccer this season, which started with a draw against Holy Cross last Saturday. So, mark your calendar and show up to put the crowd size from this past weekend to shame.
Men’s Water Polo: In a rematch of the 2023 NWPC Championship, the men’s water polo team will host Princeton on Nov. 9 at 5:00 p.m. This will be the second game of the season against the Tigers, but the first one hosted in Blodgett Pool. The Crimson return a talented squad, including James Rozolis-Hill ’26, who currently holds the program’s single-season goal record. For students who have never watched water polo, don’t miss out on the chance to see this growing rivalry.
Football: No fall can’t-miss sporting list would be complete without Harvard-Yale, returning to Cambridge on Nov. 23. Entering the season ranked second behind Yale in the Ivy League preseason poll, the Crimson are set on winning The Game and ending Yale’s two-year win streak. This is also the first year for Head Coach Andrew Aurich to prove himself, stepping in to fill the shoes of Tim Murphy, who retired this past year after 30 seasons with the program. Ivy League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Shane McLaughlin ’25 will be returning for his senior season and looking to drive Harvard forward to victory. The return of Harvard-Yale to Cambridge promises to be the tailgating event of the season and an event almost every student can look forward to. Even if you don’t play on attending, turn a quick profit by selling your free Harvard-Yale ticket to eager fans, as it will sell out.
With so many options to choose from, don’t miss out on all of the exciting sporting events going on this fall. Show up and show your Crimson pride!
Kate Oliver ’26 (koliver@college.harvard.edu) sometimes wishes Harvard was in the SEC (the conference).