PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team will return home for their next Ivy league contest Friday, Oct. 2 against No. 8 Harvard at 2:00 p.m. The team will continue to play at home, hosting the Villanova Wildcats on Sunday, Oct. 4 at noon.

Friday's match will mark the Quakers' Penn Paws Game, held in collaboration with Morris Animal Refuge and ACCT Philly to support local animal welfare and bring awareness to the organizations' work.

The Quakers will also welcome alumnae and families as part of the Sunday's events in support of the Dream Crazy Foundation. The celebration will honor alumna Margaretha "Gretta" Ehret and bring greater awareness to breast cancer.

GAME 1: PENN (1-6, 0-2 Ivy League) vs. No. 8 HARVARD (6-1, 2-0 Ivy League)
Friday, Oct. 2 | 2 p.m. | Ellen Vagelos Field
Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats

GAME 2: PENN vs. Villanova (6-3, 1-1 Big East)
Sunday, Oct. 4 | 12 p.m. | Ellen Vagelos Field
Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats

Penn vs. No. 8 Harvard
Penn holds an all-time record of 16–30–2 against Harvard and has not defeated the Crimson since a 2015 overtime victory on Harvard's home turf.

In their most recent matchup in 2025, the Crimson earned a 6–1 victory. Philine Klas '26 scored Penn's lone goal, assisted by returning player Emma Nahon. Sydney Mandato and Riley Thomson also recorded shots on goal for Penn.

Penn vs. Villanova 
The Red and Blue sit at a 21–18–2 record against Villanova. In 2025, the Quakers secured a 1–0 victory over the Wildcats, with Mandato assisting Julia Ryan '26 on the game-winning goal. The win snapped Villanova's three-game winning streak against Penn, while the Quakers controlled the offensive play with a 13–7 advantage in shots and 7–3 edge in penalty corners.

Quaker Notemeal
*Penn is still searching for consistency this season, sitting at 1–6 overall and 0–1 in conference play. The Quakers' lone win came against La Salle, where they earned a confident 7–1 victory at home.

*The Quakers showed flashes of offensive pressure last weekend. Against Dartmouth, Penn responded to an early 1–0 deficit by outshooting the Big Green 4–1 in the second quarter. Mandato led the Quakers with three shots, including two on target. Against Drexel, Victoria Manzur provided another offensive spark with three shots, all of which were on goal.

*Ruby de Frees made several important saves throughout the past weekend. She kept Penn within one against Dartmouth with a crucial second-quarter save and stopped a penalty stroke against Drexel to preserve a scoreless first half. While both opponents ultimately found ways to pull away, de Frees' performances gave the Quakers opportunities to remain competitive.

*Defensively, the Red and Blue delivered one of their strongest performances of the season holding No. 10 Princeton scoreless through the first three quarters in early September. They are the only unranked team that has managed to hold Tigers without a goal before halftime.

Scouting the Crimson
*Harvard is currently riding a four-game winning streak, improving to 6–1 overall and 2–0 in Ivy League play. Following Saturday's 2–1 shootout victory over Princeton, the Crimson moved up from No. 10 to No. 8 in the NFHCA National Coaches Poll.

*The team's win over Princeton was highlighted by a strong defensive performance and a late offensive push. Lara Beekhuis scored Harvard's lone regulation goal off a penalty corner, marking her team-leading fourth goal of the season. The Crimson then converted all four of their shootout attempts to secure the victory.

*Harvard has been dominant offensively throughout the season, outshooting its opponents 18.1-6.7 per game. The Crimson recorded a season-high 29 shots against Dartmouth, demonstrating their ability to consistently generate offensive opportunities. Tilly Butterworth currently leads the team with 29 shots, averaging 4.14 per game, the second-highest average in the Ivy League.

*Beekhuis also leads the Cambridge squad in scoring with nine points (4g, 1a), while Martha le Huray follows with six points (1g, 4a).

Scouting the Wildcats 
*Villanova enters their weekend matchups at 6–3 overall and 1–1 in BIG EAST play, following a secure 4–1 victory over Temple on Sunday. The team currently sit third in the BIG EAST standings.

*The Wildcats showed strong offensive production against Temple, outshooting the Owls 18–7 and putting 12 of their attempts on target. Four different Villanova players found the back of the cage, showcasing the team's offensive depth.

*Ava Borkowski leads Villanova with 20 points on nine goals and two assists. Her nine goals are tied with Old Dominion's Serena Langendoen for the BIG EAST lead, while her 20 points rank third in the conference.

*Gemma Lysaght has also been a key offensive contributor, recording 38 shots through nine games for an average of 4.22 per game. She has added six goals and six assists, putting her just behind Borkowski in team scoring.

*Villanova will continue its BIG EAST schedule Friday against Georgetown before traveling to Philadelphia to take on the Quakers.

 
For the latest on Penn field hockey, follow @PennFieldHockey on X and on Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.