Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Lands Four on Field Hockey All-Patriot League Teams
11/2/2021 1:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Four Bucknell field hockey players received Patriot League postseason honors on Tuesday, including three First Team All-League selections. The Bison have had at least four players honored in five consecutive seasons.
Senior Erin Zielinski, senior Mary Kate Stefanowicz and rookie Lily Neilson were each named to the First Team, and junior Kayla Kisthardt earned Second Team recognition.
Zielinski landed on the First Team for a second year in a row after playing nearly every minute this season and captaining a Bucknell defense that limited league opponents to two goals per game. The Downingtown, Pa. native finished the regular season tied for third in the Patriot League with seven assists and added one goal, which she scored on just her second career shot. Her three assists against Holy Cross tied a then-Bucknell record. Zielinski was named the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in August.
Stefanowicz made her first appearance on an All-League team, finishing second on the team in goals with seven. She posted an assist as well and ranked 10th in the league in shots per game.
Stefanowicz, who was the hero of last season's NCAA quarterfinal win over VCU, added three more game-winning goals to her resume this fall. She started 16 of 17 games and posted four points in league play.
Leading all Patriot League players in goals and finishing third in total points was Neilson, who becomes just the second player in program history to earn First Team All-League status as a rookie.
Neilson, who served as a massive spark off the bench and an instrumental part of Bucknell's set pieces this season, scored goals in seven different games and posted a pair of hat tricks. Her five goals in a 7-2 win over Holy Cross tied a 31-year-old league record. She also added three more goals in a 6-1 victory against the Mountain Hawks.
A native of Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, Neilson was the highest-scoring player in conference play this season as well with 10 goals. She earned five of 10 possible Patriot League Rookie of the Week awards and was also an Offensive Player of the Week selection.
Kisthardt also made her first appearance on an All-League team after starting all 17 games at midfielder for the Bison. The junior supplied four assists in four different contests, averaging 38 minutes.
Kisthardt assisted on game-winning goals against LIU and Temple early in the season and added another in the Holy Cross win. She was a member of the 2020-21 Patriot League All-Tournament Team as well.
Lafayette captured two of the 2021 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Awards, including Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year (Audrey Sawers) and Patriot League Rookie of the Year (Lineke Spaans). Lehigh's Lenke Havas was named the Defensive Player of the Year, and American's Bryn Underwood was the Goalkeeper of the Year. American's Steve Jennings collected his 10th Patriot League Coach of the Year award.
Bucknell is getting set to compete in its 24th Patriot League Tournament on Thursday. The third-seeded Bison will take on second-seeded Lafayette in Washington, D.C. at 2 p.m.
2021 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year – Audrey Sawers, Lafayette, Sr., M
Defensive Player of the Year – Lenke Havas, Lehigh, Gr., D/M
Goalkeeper of the Year – Bryn Underwood, American, So., GK
Rookie of the Year – Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, Fr., M/D
Coach of the Year – Steve Jennings, American
2021 First-Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey*
Noor Coenen, American, Gr., M
Georgia Davies, American, Sr., D
Bryn Underwood, American, So., GK
Mary Kate Stefanowicz, Bucknell, Sr., M
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Fr., F
Erin Zielinski, Bucknell, Sr., D
Taylor Cassamassa, Colgate, 5th, M
Sinead Walsh, Holy Cross, Jr., M
Audrey Sawers, Lafayette, Sr., M
Simone Hefting, Lafayette, Jr., D
Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, Fr., M
Lenke Havas, Lehigh, Gr., M/D
Drew Pecora, Lehigh, Sr., F
2021 Second-Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey*
Gaby de Kock, American, Gr., M
Aidan Rossman, American, Sr., F
Payton Anderson, Boston University, Fr., F
Rachel Borzymowski, Boston University, Jr., B
Caroline Kelly, Boston University, Jr., GK
Kayla Kisthart, Bucknell, Jr. M
Caitlin Little, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Hailey Abbott, Lafayette, Sr., GK
Molly McAndrew, Lafayette, Sr., F
Sarah Bonthuis, Lehigh, Jr., F/M
Leah Mullery, Lehigh, Sr., M
*Additional student-athletes on the first-team due to ties in the voting
