It ended with a Carla Tagliente leap and spin in the arms of assistant coach Pat Harris, while their Princeton field hockey team acted out their own celebrations all over the blue turf at Duke’s Williams Field.
And why wouldn’t they be excited? Princeton had just taken down Harvard 2-0 in the first NCAA semifinal game, advancing the Tigers to Sunday’s national final against the winner of the game between North Carolina and Northwestern.
That’s how it ended. How did it get there?
Defense. Lots and lots and lots of defense. For 60 minutes, Princeton withstood everything Harvard tried, turning aside six penalty corners and holding the Crimson to only five shots, one-third of the team’s average.
Everywhere the ball went, there were swarming Tigers. Ottilie Sykes was incredible. So was Clem Houlden. You know who was really amazing? Freshman Gabriella Anderson.
That’s a scoreless first quarter between Princeton and Harvard. Lots of good defense both ways, including this one by Gabby to turn away a Harvard chance in the final minute.
?? https://t.co/5Pjpx2LzDb (ESPNU) pic.twitter.com/hQ8MkdKu0m
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) November 21, 2025
Goalie Olivia Caponiti was asked to make only three saves, but all three were big ones. The best one of the day went to Harvard goalie Linda Burge, who absolutely robbed Beth Yeager on a second-half penalty corner with an amazing stick save on a shot that seemed headed to the top left of the cage.
And on and on the game went, a scoreless battle worthy of this big stage, until Anna Faultstich finally finally took a long pass from Houlden, dribbled to the baseline and into the circle and pushed one from a tough angle that found the back of the cage with just 3:45 to go.
Anna gets us on top!!!!! pic.twitter.com/1fqm6taejx
— Princeton FH (@TigerFH) November 21, 2025
Caponiti made two of her saves after the goal, both on great chances from the Crimson. The last one came less than a minute after Faulstich’s goal, on the last of the six penalty corners. And then, with only 15 seconds remaining and the Harvard goal empty, Caitlin Thompson stole the ball and pushed it in, sealing the win.
This was the third meeting this season between Princeton and Harvard, after the Crimson started things off Sept. 26 with a 3-1 win in Princeton, dropping the Tigers to 4-3. Since then? How about 14 games and 14 wins, including in the Ivy tournament final two weeks ago and now the NCAA semifinal. Princeton, in fact, was the only team that beat Harvard this year.
