Bucknell University Athletics
Neilson Repeats as Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year; Bison Place Three on All-League Teams
10/31/2023 2:10:00 PM | Field Hockey
Neilson became the eighth player in Patriot League history to repeat as the back-to-back PL Offensive Player of the Year. The Australian forward tallied 13 goals to lead the league for the third straight campaign despite missing two games due to qualifying trials for the Australian Junior World Cup Team. Neilson was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and fulfilled the lofty expectations. She paced the loop by three goals and was .262 better in goals per game to the second-place finisher. The Bison star ranks 12th nationally in goals per game. Neilson has collected 42 career goals and 88 career points. Those marks grant her third and fourth place in Orange & Blue history.Â
Leclercq has developed into one of the Patriot League's finest and most versatile defenders, and the coaches noticed by placing her on the League's First Team. The Berlin, Germany native protected the cage, collecting four defensive saves to rank third in the conference and fourth nationally. She now has 12 career defensive saves to gain sole possession of third place in Bucknell history. Leclercq was also fearsome on the offensive front. The sophomore was routinely selected to take shots off penalty corner insertions, and she delivered five goals, second on the team and 11th in the PL.Â
Gianna Puorro turned her sophomore season into a second-team placement. The versatile player facilitated the league-leading Bison offense (2.3 goals per game) with six assists to finish seventh in the PL. Puorro also chipped in two goals, one against Kent State in the 2-1 win and the other score came against #18 UMass Lowell in the narrow 3-2 defeat.Â
Bucknell finished 3-3 in the Patriot League and earned a spot in the Patriot League tournament for a 16th consecutive season. The fourth-seeded Bison will face No. 1 seed American in the semifinal round in Washington, D.C., at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2.
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2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Jr., F
Defensive Player of the Year – Charllene Boshoff, American, Gr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Brooke Ross, Holy Cross, Sr., GK
Rookie of the Year – Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Fr., F/M
Coach of the Year – Steve Jennings, American
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2023 First Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey
Charllene Boshoff, American, Gr., D
Tayla-Jade Weiss, American, Jr., D
Payton Anderson, Boston University, Jr., D
Thalia Steenssens, Boston University, Sr., M
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Jr., F
Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, So., D
Ella Murphy, Colgate, Sr., M
Brooke Ross, Holy Cross, Sr., GK
Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, Jr., M
Makenzie Switzer, Lafayette, So., D
Julia Gatelein, Lehigh, Sr., M
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2023 Second Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey
Bryn Underwood, American, Sr., GK
Emilia Winkler, American, Fr., M
Rachel Borzymowski, Boston University, Sr., B
Martu Coulo, Boston University, So., F/M
Gianna Puorro, Bucknell, So., F/M
Haley Davis, Holy Cross, Sr., D
Sarah Potter, Holy Cross, Sr., A
Laine Delmotte, Lafayette, Jr., M
Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Fr., F/M
Josephine van Wijk, Lafayette., So., M
Lotte Smorenburg, Lehigh, Sr., D
Kiki Mes, Lehigh, So., M
