Thursday, November 4
Washington, D.C.
2 p.m.
Bucknell University
vs
Lafayette (PL Semifinals)
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Field Hockey Heads to Nation's Capital to Face Lafayette in Patriot League Semifinals
11/2/2021 11:12:00 AM | Field Hockey
#3 Bucknell (8-9, 4-2 PL) vs. #2 Lafayette (13-5, 4-2Â PL)
Patriot League Tournament Semifinals
When:Â Thursday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.Â
Where: Jacobs Recreational Complex – Washington, D.C.
Streaming:Â ESPN+
Live Stats:Â AUEagles.com
About Bucknell
- The Bucknell field hockey team is back in the Patriot League Tournament for a 14th consecutive season. This is Bucknell's 24th overall appearance in the tournament, which leads all Patriot League teams.
- Bucknell enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed after finishing the regular season 8-9 overall and 4-2 in league play. This is the fifth consecutive season the Bison have finished third. Bucknell will face No. 2 Lafayette in Thursday's semifinal contest, and first-seeded American hosts fourth-seeded Lehigh in an effort to reach the 2021 title game.
- Bucknell and Lafayette are only a few days removed from meeting in Easton, Pa. for their regular season matchup. It was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams traded goals throughout. The Bison tied things up a 2-2 with just two minutes remaining in regulation, but the Leopards scored the golden goal in the second overtime. Bucknell also took a 2-1 loss at Drexel over the weekend.
- Bucknell strung together a five-game winning streak early on in the season before losing their next four in a row. Three of the four losses during the losing skid were to top 25 teams. The Bison are 2-3 over their last five games.
- Patriot League postseason awards were released on Tuesday, and four Bison earned All-Patriot League status. The Bison have had at least four players honored in five consecutive seasons. Erin Zielinski earned All-Patriot League First Team honors for a second year in a row, Mary Kate Stefanowicz and Lily Neilson earned First Team recognition for the first time, and Kayla Kisthardt was named to the Second Team. Neilson is the first Bucknell rookie to earn First Team All-League recognition since 1990.
- The Bison enter the Patriot League Tournament with the league's leading goal-scorer in Neilson, who has 13 on the season and 10 in league play. Neilson has two hat tricks against league opponents this season and ranks 17th in the country in goals per game.
- Junior Mackenzie Kile leads the team in assists and ranks second in the league with 10. Fellow junior Noor Kaur and Zielinski are both tied for third in the league with seven assists apiece.
- As a team, Bucknell finished fourth in the league in goals per game (2.35) and first in assists per game (2.65). The Bison scored three or more goals in four different contests, and they added four or more assists in four games as well.
- For the first time in program history, Bucknell entered the 2021 field hockey season as reigning champions after collecting a Patriot League title in the spring and posting a first-round win over VCU in the NCAA tournament. Bucknell finished the 2020-21 season with a 6-4 overall record. After dropping their first three games of the spring season by a combined score of 10-1, the Bison turned things around and won six in a row to reach the NCAA quarterfinals. Bucknell limited opponents to one goal per game during the winning streak, and four of the victories went past regulation.
- Head coach Jeremy Cook tied Bucknell's all-time wins mark on Friday, Oct. 22 with the 128th victory of his career. In 14 seasons with the Bison, Cook has amassed a 128-125 career record. With a win on Thursday, he'll pass Heather Lewis and take sole possession of first place in the record books. Cook has guided the Bison to the Patriot League Tournament every season and has posted a .500 overall record or better in each of the last five.
Scouting Lafayette
- Lafayette enters the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 2 seed with a 13-5 overall record and a 4-2 mark in league play. The Leopards defeated Bucknell 3-2 in double-overtime on Saturday before falling 2-1 to third-ranked Rutgers on Sunday. Lafayette's two Patriot League losses were to No. 1 seed American and No. 4 seed Lehigh.
- The Leopards had two players earn 2021 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Awards on Tuesday. Senior midfielder Audrey Sawers was named the Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league in points with 10 goals and 11 assists. She also led the league in shots and shots on goal. First-year midfielder Lineke Spaans was voted the Rookie of the Year with six goals and four assists.
- Lafayette also tied with American for the most honorees in the league with five players making All-League teams.
- Senior goalkeeper Hailey Abbott has started all 18 games this season and leads the league in goals against average (1.14) and shutouts.
- As a team, Lafayette finished the regular season second in goals per game (2.67), second in goals allowed per game (1.22), and third in assists per game (2.22).
- The Leopards are making their 21st appearance in the Patriot League Tournament. They've captured five Patriot League Championships throughout the team's history.
- Lafayette is led by head coach Jennifer Stone, who has a 70-83 career record with the team.
Series History with Lafayette
- Bucknell is 16-39-2 in the all-time series with Lafayette, which dates back to 1977. The Leopards are up 6-5 in the series going back to 2012, and the last four meetings have been decided by one goal each.
- The two teams met this past weekend in Easton, Pa., and it was the Leopards capturing a 3-2 double-overtime win. The Bison kept pace with the Leopards throughout the contest as both teams traded goals, but Lafayette held a 21-13 advantage in shots. After Bucknell's Emily Doyle tied the game in the 58th minute, Lafayette scored the golden goal less than two minutes into the second overtime.
Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament
- The Bison are 9-22 in the Patriot League Tournament since making their first appearance in 1994. They've reached the championship eight times overall and five times under Cook's leadership.
- Bucknell won its first Patriot League Championship title in the spring after upsetting second-seeded American in the semifinals and defeating top-seeded Boston U. 2-1 in overtime.
- Bucknell has faced Lafayette more than any other team in the Patriot League Tournament and is 1-8 in those meetings. The teams last met in the semifinals in 2019, and the Leopards pulled out a 2-1 victory in Washington, D.C. Bucknell's only postseason win over Lafayette came during Cook's first season in 2008.
Up Next
With a win on Thursday, Bucknell would advance to the Patriot League Championship game for a second consecutive season. The Bison would face the winner of No. 1 seed American and No. 4 seed Lehigh on Saturday, Nov. 6 in Washington, D.C.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field Hockey
D
/ Field HockeyIn The Herd: Saint Francis Game Preview And Nick Hoying Feature
Thursday, September 25
In The Herd: First Practice Review And Tuana Coskun Feature
Wednesday, September 24
In The Herd: First Practice Review And Ruot Bijiek Feature
Tuesday, September 23
(Coaches Camera) Salem Men's Water Polo Vs. Gannon (9/21/25)
Monday, September 22