Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Neilson's Preseason Player of the Year Selection Headlines PL Tally
8/15/2023 10:03:00 AM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa.- Lily Neilson was awarded Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and joined Kira Leclercq on the 2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason All-League Team, the Patriot League announced Tuesday. The Bison are selected to finish third in the conference (49 points)Â behind the leading vote receiver in American (72 points, 11 first-place votes) and second-place Boston (63 points, three first-place votes). Lafayette was fourth (39), followed by Lehigh (32), Holy Cross (26), and Colgate (14).
"I am thrilled with the results we received for the Patriot League Preseason Honors," said head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick. "Lily and Kira are very deserving of being selected to the All-League Team. They are great leaders on our team. The hard work, passion, and dedication they bring to our team help make us stronger and make the teammates around them better. It is wonderful to see Lily earn back-to-back preseason offensive player of the year accolades. She is a phenomenal attacking player and is such a scoring threat. She has such a positive impact on our team. She has been working very hard all summer to be selected to compete for her country at the Junior World Cup, and we believe she will achieve this goal as well!"
Neilson punished the opposition's nets in 2022, tallying 14 goals (three more than the nearest league competitor) and winning the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award. Her 14 makes averaged out to .78 goals per game placing her 10th in the nation. Additionally, the Australian native was named to the NFHCA All-Region Team. It is Neilson's second-straight Preseason Offensive Player of the Year nod. Her 29 career goals are sixth in the Bucknell record book.Â
Leclercq, a sophomore defender, was a bulwark on the defensive line in 2022. She earned Second Team All-Patriot League for her eight defensive saves, which were second-best in the Patriot League and fourth-best in the nation. She ranks tied for third in Bucknell history for the category.Â
Neilson and Leclercq were joined on the All-League team by American's Charllene Boshoff, Federica Turina Dellamaggiore, and Bryn Underwood, Boston University's Payton Anderson, Rachel Borzymowski, Martu Coulo, Boston University, Thalia Steenssens, Boston University, Colgate's Ella Murphy, Holy Cross' Meggan Fourie, Lafayette's Lineke Spaans, India Ralph, Lehigh's Julia Gatelein, and Abbie Brown.Â
Anderson was tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Underwood was selected as Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Bison open the season with a road game against Drexel on August 25. The first home game is on Sept. 8 against Towson.Â
"I am thrilled with the results we received for the Patriot League Preseason Honors," said head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick. "Lily and Kira are very deserving of being selected to the All-League Team. They are great leaders on our team. The hard work, passion, and dedication they bring to our team help make us stronger and make the teammates around them better. It is wonderful to see Lily earn back-to-back preseason offensive player of the year accolades. She is a phenomenal attacking player and is such a scoring threat. She has such a positive impact on our team. She has been working very hard all summer to be selected to compete for her country at the Junior World Cup, and we believe she will achieve this goal as well!"
Neilson punished the opposition's nets in 2022, tallying 14 goals (three more than the nearest league competitor) and winning the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award. Her 14 makes averaged out to .78 goals per game placing her 10th in the nation. Additionally, the Australian native was named to the NFHCA All-Region Team. It is Neilson's second-straight Preseason Offensive Player of the Year nod. Her 29 career goals are sixth in the Bucknell record book.Â
Leclercq, a sophomore defender, was a bulwark on the defensive line in 2022. She earned Second Team All-Patriot League for her eight defensive saves, which were second-best in the Patriot League and fourth-best in the nation. She ranks tied for third in Bucknell history for the category.Â
Neilson and Leclercq were joined on the All-League team by American's Charllene Boshoff, Federica Turina Dellamaggiore, and Bryn Underwood, Boston University's Payton Anderson, Rachel Borzymowski, Martu Coulo, Boston University, Thalia Steenssens, Boston University, Colgate's Ella Murphy, Holy Cross' Meggan Fourie, Lafayette's Lineke Spaans, India Ralph, Lehigh's Julia Gatelein, and Abbie Brown.Â
Anderson was tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Underwood was selected as Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Bison open the season with a road game against Drexel on August 25. The first home game is on Sept. 8 against Towson.Â
Players Mentioned
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