Field Hockey's Neilson Voted PL Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Joins Kile on Preseason All-League Team

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The 2022 Patriot League field hockey preseason awards were announced on Thursday, and Bucknell sophomore Lily Neilson was tabbed as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Additionally, both Neilson and senior Mackenzie Kile earned spots on the Preseason All-League squad.

Neilson, who was voted a First Team All-Leaguer last season, led the Patriot League in goals scored (15) in 2021. 10 of her goals were notched during league play, and she added an assist for a league-best 1.72 points per game.

The Armidale, New South Wales, Australia native received Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors five times and was once the Offensive Player of the Week. Neilson tied Bucknell's single-game goals record in a win over Holy Cross with five as part of two hat-tricks she recorded on the year. Her other hat-trick was during a 6-1 victory over Lehigh, and she scored twice in Bucknell's overtime loss to Lafayette in the Patriot League quarterfinals for her third multi-goal game of the season.

A school-record 5⃣ goals for number 1⃣2⃣. Big congrats to Lily Neilson! It's a great day to be a Bison! 🔶🔷#rayBucknell 🏑 pic.twitter.com/QQ3Kt7GRqJ
— Bucknell FieldHockey (@Bucknell_FH) September 18, 2021

Though she started just two contests, Neilson was dominant in penalty corners and ended up with a .333 shot percentage on 45 total attempts. Her 31 points tied for seventh in program history for a single season, and her 15 goals tied for fourth. She became just the second player in program history to earn First Team All-League honors as a rookie.

Kile has started 30 of the 40 games she's appeared in over her career and boasts 31 points on six goals and 19 assists. She posted 20 of her career points last fall, tying for first in the Patriot League with 12 assists.

Kile supplied three multi-assist games, including a three-assist performance in the Lehigh victory and a two-assist day in the quarterfinal matchup. The Mountain Top, Pa. native also scored two of her four goals in a 4-2 win over Colgate.

Bucknell, which is just two seasons removed from a league title victory, was picked third in the 2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll. Reigning-champion American was picked first and was followed by Lafayette in second, which mirrors the 2021 final standings.

Lehigh was picked just behind Bucknell at four, followed by Boston U. at five.

The Bison are under the direction of first-year head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick, who joined the team in February after having spent the previous four years as an assistant coach at Ivy League power Harvard.

Bucknell opens its new campaign against Louisville in State College, Pa. on Friday, Aug. 26.

2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Major Awards

Offensive Player of the Year – Lily Neilson, Bucknell, So., F

Defensive Player of the Year – Simone Hefting, Lafayette, Sr., D

Goalkeeper of the Year – Bryn Underwood, Americana, Jr., GK

2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason All-League Team
Bryn Underwood, American, Jr., GK
Charllene Boshoff, American, Sr., D
Rachel Borzymowski, Boston University, Sr., M
Payton Anderson, Boston University, So., F
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, So., F
Mackenzie Kile, Bucknell, Sr., F
Sinead Walsh, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, So., M
Simone Hefting, Lafayette, Sr., D
Molly McAndrew, Lafayette, Sr., F
Sarah Bonthuis, Lehigh, Sr., M

2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. American (9 first-place votes), 69 points
2. Lafayette (5), 65
3. Bucknell, 44
4. Lehigh, 42
5. Boston University, 40
T6. Colgate, 17
T6. Holy Cross, 17