Field Hockey Kicks Off Season with Philly Two-Step Against Drexel and Temple

Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) at Drexel (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
When: Friday, August 25 – 4 p.m.
Where: Buckley Field – Philadelphia, Pa.
Streaming:  FloSports ($)
Live Stats:  drexeldragons.com

Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) at Temple (0-0, 0-0 Big East)
When: Sunday, August 27 – 12 p.m.
Where: Howarth Field – Philadelphia, Pa.
Streaming:  ESPN+
Live Stats:  owlsports.com

About Bucknell

The Bison's 51st season of collegiate field hockey kicks off with two games against the Philadelphia schools of Drexel and Temple. Both contests are on the road and will be available for streaming. The Drexel game will be on FloSports, and the Temple matchup will be streamed on ESPN+. The links are available in this preview and on the Bucknell field hockey page. Live updates will be posted on the Bucknell Field Hockey Twitter page.
Bucknell finished 5-13 overall and 3-3 in Patriot League play in the 2022 season and earned a spot in the Patriot League Tournament for the 15th consecutive season. The Bison fell 2-1 to Boston University in the Patriot League semifinals.
The narrow loss to Boston University capped a notable trend in the 2022 season, where the Orange & Blue lost eight games by one goal margin, including a 2-1 heartbreaker to #9 Louisville.
Head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick enters her second season in Lewisburg. She is tied with Rose Ewan in wins. Kolojejchick needs one victory to move into eighth place in Bucknell history.
The Bison return 22 players from last season's roster and welcome five newcomers. The returners accounted for 27 of Bucknell's 32 goals in 2022.
Bucknell was projected to finish third in the Patriot League preseason poll. American was slotted for first, and Colgate picked to finish last. Bucknell will play American and Boston University, the second-place team, on the road in 2023.
Junior Lily Neilson won Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year dominated the conference in 2022, tallying 14 goals (three more than the nearest league competitor). Her 14 scores 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. Her 29 career goals are sixth in the Bucknell record book.
Sophomore Kira Leclercq was named to the Patriot League Preseason Team. Leclercq 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.
The Bison named Mia Fields and Kari Melberger as captains for the 2023 season.

Scouting Drexel

Drexel had one of its finest seasons in program history, going 12-8 overall and 3-3 in CAA play last season. The Dragons beat Monmouth in the CAA Tournament before falling to Delaware in the finals.
Drexel is projected to finish fourth, tied with Northeastern out of seven teams in the CAA. They placed two players on the CAA Preseason Team. Eline Di Leva, a star goal-scorer, finished with ten tallies, a spot on the CAA First Team, and a slot on the NFHCA All-Mid Atlantic Region Second Team. Megan Hadfield, a strong goalkeeper, has 323 career saves.
Denise Zelenak enters her 29th season as leader of the Dragons. She owns a career record of 273-270. Zelenak has led Drexel to two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Series History with the Dragons

Bucknell trails the series 10-19-1. Drexel won last year's matchup 3-0 and has conquered the previous 13 matches against the Bison, with eight of the games decided by one goal and five in overtime play. Bucknell last slain the Dragons in 1996.

Scouting Temple

The Owls flashed in 2022, finishing 13-6 overall and a 4-3 mark in Big East play. The highlight of the season was an upset win over #13 UConn. The Owls' nest was a hostile place for opponents, with Temple posting a 9-2 record at home. The season ended with a narrow 4-3 defeat to the #1 seed Old Dominion in the Big East semifinals.
Temple was picked to finish fourth out of eight Big East teams. The Owls placed one player, Tess Muller, on the Big East Preseason squad. The junior from the Netherlands notched six goals and ten assists in her breakout campaign.
Michelle Vittese enters her third season as the Owls overseer. Last season, Temple cracked the national rankings for the first time since 2014 and concluded the season at No. 23.

Series History with the Owls

The Owls lead the series 6-4. Bucknell had won three straight matches against Temple before falling 5-2 at home last year. Fans should expect a tight game; six matchups have been one-goal affairs.

Up Next

The Bison head to Columbus, Ohio, for a neutral game against Ball State on Sept. 1 and a showdown versus Ohio State on Sept. 3.

Field Hockey Kicks Off Season with Philly Two-Step Against Drexel and Temple

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Mia Fields

Kira Leclercq

Kari Melberger

Lily Neilson

Field Hockey Kicks Off Season with Philly Two-Step Against Drexel and Temple

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Mia Fields

Kira Leclercq

Kari Melberger

Lily Neilson

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