Friday, August 26
University Park, Pa.
7:30 p.m.
Bucknell University
vs
#9 Louisville
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Field Hockey Faces No. 9 Louisville in Season Opener Friday, Visits James Madison Sunday
8/25/2022 10:20:00 AM | Field Hockey
Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) vs. No. 9 Louisville (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
When:Â Friday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Where:Â Penn State Field Hockey Complex, University Park, Pa.
Streaming:Â B1G+
Live Stats:Â GoPSUSports.com
Spectator Note: Penn State's field hockey complex is currently without stadium stands. Fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs for seating.
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Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) at James Madison (0-0)
When:Â Sunday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m.Â
Where:Â JMU Field Hockey Complex, Harrisonburg, Va.
Streaming:Â ESPN+
Live Stats:Â JMUSports.com
About Bucknell
When:Â Friday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Where:Â Penn State Field Hockey Complex, University Park, Pa.
Streaming:Â B1G+
Live Stats:Â GoPSUSports.com
Spectator Note: Penn State's field hockey complex is currently without stadium stands. Fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs for seating.
Â
Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) at James Madison (0-0)
When:Â Sunday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m.Â
Where:Â JMU Field Hockey Complex, Harrisonburg, Va.
Streaming:Â ESPN+
Live Stats:Â JMUSports.com
About Bucknell
- Bucknell field hockey's 2022 season begins this weekend with games against ninth-ranked Louisville and James Madison. Friday's opener will be a neutral-site game at Penn State's field hockey complex in University Park, Pa. Friday's contest will be streamed on Big Ten Plus, and Sunday's game at JMU will be available on ESPN+.
- The Bison finished 8-10 overall and 4-2 in Patriot League play last season, earning a spot in the league tournament for a 14th consecutive season. Playing as the No. 3 seed, Bucknell fell 4-3 in overtime against second-seeded Lafayette to end the campaign in the semifinal round.
- Bucknell is now under the direction of first-year head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick following Jeremy Cook's decision to step down after 14 seasons in Lewisburg. Kolojejchick, a former four-time All-American out of the University of North Carolina and a Junior Pan American Games gold medalist, arrives at Bucknell after spending the past four years as an assistant at Harvard.
- This is the second year in a row where Bucknell opens its season against a ranked opponent. The Bison faced five teams in the NFHCA top 25 last year.
- Bucknell brings back 20 athletes from the 2021 roster, and the group accounted for 97 of the team's 135 points last season. The Bison also welcome eight newcomers this fall.
- Bucknell was picked third in the 2022 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll. American finished first in the poll and was followed by Lafayette, which is how the standings ended up last fall.
- Sophomore Lily Neilson was voted the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Neilson led the league in goals (15) and points per game (1.72) last year, becoming just the second freshman in program history to earn First Team All-Patriot League honors. Five of her goals were scored in one game, which tied a program record.
- Senior Mackenzie Kile joined Neilson on the Preseason All-League Team. She tied for first in the league with 12 assists in 2021.
- Bucknell also returns 2021 Second Team All-Patriot League selection Kayla Kisthardt, who started all 18 games and tallied five assists. Returners Rachel Apa and Noor Kaur posted double-digit points in 2021 as well.
- Senior goalkeeper Clara McCormick is back in the cage this season after posting a 2.19 goals-against average and a .649 save percentage as a junior. She posted one shutout last season.
- The Cardinals enter the 2022 season ranked No. 9 in the NFHCAÂ Coaches Poll. They finished 16-4 overall and 6-0 in the ACC last season, falling to Virginia in the ACC tournament and Harvard in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
- Louisville returns 13 letterwinners from last year's team including NFHCA All-Americans Julie Kouijzer and Aimee Plumb along with fellow All-ACC honoree Katie Schneider who is returning for her fifth season. Plumb was named to the 2022 Preseason All-ACC Field Hockey Team after registering 18 points with seven goals and four assists.
- Louisville is led by head coach Justine Sowry. Now in her 12ths season, Sowry was named the 2021 ACC Coach of the Year and has guided the Cardinals to three conference titles, including the 2021 regular season championship.
- Bucknell and Louisville have met just once before. The Bison won 4-1 in a neutral-site game at Kent State in the second contest of the season on Sept. 2, 1989. Bucknell led 16-9 in shots, and Suzanne Wightman scored three of Bucknell's goals in the first 27 minutes.
- The Dukes open their season at home against Richmond on Friday before hosting the Bison on Sunday. JMU is playing the 2022 season as an independent team after departing the Colonial Athletic Association. It finished 12-7 overall and 6-0 in the CAA in 2021, falling in the conference championship to Delaware.
- Senior forward Eveline Zwager is back for the Dukes after finishing the 2021 season eighth in the nation in goals per game and seventh in points per game. They also bring back junior midfielder Diede Reminjnse, who finished second on the roster in points.
- James Madison is led by head coach Christy Morgan. She's 216-125-2 across her 17 seasons with the program. Morgan guided the Dukes to a national championship title in 1994.
- Sunday will be the fifth meeting between Bucknell and James Madison, and the Dukes have won all four previous matchups. The two teams have played in three of the last five seasons.
- JMU, ranked No. 24 at the time, defeated the Bison 3-0 in the season opener at Graham Field last fall. The Dukes held a 14-7 edge in shots, and Zwager scored two of the team's goals.
- The teams also played the 2019 opener in Lewisburg and were tied a 1-1 entering the 39th minute, but the Dukes came away with a 3-2 win. Then-freshman Mackenzie Kile provided an assist in the 56th minute.
- Bucknell travels to Kent State to face the Golden Flashes at noon on Sunday, Sept. 4.
Players Mentioned
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