Weekly Sports Preview: October 1–8

A month into the fall athletics season, fans have gotten a sense of how their favorite Harvard sports teams are performing. As conference play ramps up, the stakes are rising for the Crimson. Team leadership is solidifying, and first-years are making their mark. This week brings marquee matches and Ivy League home openers for several Harvard teams.

Field Hockey (6–1)

This weekend sees a two-game slate for the Crimson, who are currently ranked first in Ivy League conference play and in the top ten nationally. After victories over Dartmouth and Princeton in September, Harvard has maintained its momentum from last year’s semifinal run. Their Friday game at the University of Pennsylvania, scheduled for 2 p.m., will be one of their easier tests in their bid for a second consecutive Ivy League title.

On Sunday at 12 p.m., Harvard, ranked eighth nationally, will then face No. 6 Wake Forest at home in a prominent nonconference matchup dubbed “Berylson Bash.” This will be only the fourth time these teams have met, with the Crimson losing twice in the early 2000s before winning in their 2024 meeting. Fans can expect a tight match between two of the nation’s top teams, complete with food trucks, giveaways, and anthem buddies.

Women’s Volleyball (10–0)

Despite modest preseason predictions, women’s volleyball has rapidly climbed to the top of Ivy League rankings. The tenth consecutive victory extended the Crimson’s best start in program history ahead of two conference road tests this weekend. On Friday at 2 p.m., the Crimson will play Yale, second in the Ivy League rankings, in New Haven.

On Saturday at 5 p.m., they will then travel to Providence to play Brown. While rankings suggest an easier conference win for the Crimson, the short turnaround from Friday’s game will test Harvard’s performance under fatigue. Players like Sofia Rossi ’29, ranked No. 1 in the nation for aces per set (1.00), and Ryleigh Patterson ’27, second in the Ivy League in blocks per set, will be key assets this weekend. Statement victories over these challengers would put Harvard on a comfortable path toward breaking the 13-game winning-streak record set in 1997.

Women’s Tennis

This weekend, women’s tennis will host Boston University, Boston College, and Stony Brook at the Harvard Fall Classic—the first of two home tournaments slated for this fall. After the high-stakes Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American Championships, highlighted by Stephanie Yakoff ’27’s run to the round of 16 in the singles main draw, this tournament will let fans see how the Crimson’s new lineup stacks up ahead of regional qualifiers next week.

Football (2–0)

After extending their undefeated season start with a victory at Brown, the Crimson will host Colgate at their home opener. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 1999, with the Crimson narrowly leading the series 5–4, giving fans a chance to see how the defending Ivy League champions stack up against an unfamiliar opponent. Look out for quarterback Charlie Smith ’29, who set career highs in completions (30) and passing touchdowns (2) against Brown, and defensive back Xaden Benson ’28, one of eight athletes in program history to record three interceptions in a single game. In addition to watching the Crimson’s young leadership develop, fans can expect a special halftime fireworks show.

Men’s Soccer (1–5–1)

Men’s soccer continues their Ivy League run with a home game against Columbia this Saturday at 4 p.m. After a tough loss against conference leaders Cornell, this game against the No. 5 team will likely be an easier test for the Crimson. Harvard leads this series 46–27, though their most recent matchup resulted in a 3–1 loss. As Columbia’s Ivy League opener and Harvard’s home conference opener, this game will give Harvard a chance to make a statement early in conference play.

On Tuesday at 6 p.m., the Crimson will then travel across the Charles for their rescheduled match against Northeastern. The Crimson narrowly lead the series for this flagship local rivalry, with their last two meetings ending in 0–0 draws. This will be a lower-stakes opportunity for the Crimson to gain their footing and experiment with tactics between Ivy League matches. Watch captains and forwards Andreas Savva ’27 and Dylan Tellado ’27, who led the team in points last season, and goalkeeper Jason Broome ’29, who tallied four saves against Cornell.

Women’s Soccer (7–2–1)

The Crimson will host Cornell this Saturday at 1 p.m. for their first conference home game of the season. Last year’s top five goal scorers return, including two-time captain Anna Rayhill ’27. The Crimson had a dominant start to conference play by defeating the preseason favorites for the Ivy League title, Princeton. Watch first-year Brooke Huleatt ’30, whose goal and two assists against Princeton made her the Crimson’s leading point scorer this season.

Men’s Water Polo (3–9)

Harvard is kicking off Northeast Water Polo Conference play this Saturday at 12 p.m. with a road game at Princeton. After one win and one loss against Princeton during regular-season play, the Crimson will face the Tigers for a third time in the 2025 season at the NWPC championship, with Princeton ultimately claiming its fifth consecutive conference title. This Ivy League rivalry gives Harvard the chance to make a statement against the defending champions early in the season.

The Crimson will then head to New York on Sunday for a road doubleheader, facing Long Island University at 9 a.m. before heading to Iona at 2 p.m. Fans can expect a morning game against a team that has never beaten Harvard, giving emerging talent a chance to shine. The quick turnaround before their second game of the day will be a critical opportunity for the Crimson to showcase their depth and endurance.

With several Harvard teams breaking program records and dominating conference play, now is a great time for even the most casual fans to tune into Crimson athletics. Whether across the river, at the MAC, or streamed from the comfort of your dorm, take some time to cheer for Harvard athletes this week!

Lucy Duncan ’28 (lduncan@college.harvard.edu) writes Sports for the “Harvard Independent.”