Field Hockey Welcomes Wagner and Holy Cross for Weekend Clashes

Wagner (0-5, 0-0 NEC) vs. Bucknell (3-5, 0-1 PL)
When: Friday, September 22 – 4 p.m.
Where: Graham Field at Holmes Stadium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknelbison.com

Holy Cross (2-4, 0-1 PL) vs. Bucknell (3-5, 0-1 PL)
When: Sunday, September 24 – 1 p.m.
Where: Graham Field at Holmes Stadium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknelbison.com

About Bucknell

Last weekend, the Bison played two road games against league foe Lafayette and Route 45 Rival #12 Penn State. Bucknell lost both games, 2-1. The Bison led 1-0 against PSU before the Nittany Lions tallied twice in the third period. The results regressed Bucknell to 3-5 on the season and 0-1 in Patriot League play.
Both contests will be on ESPN+. The live stats and streaming links are available in this preview and on the Bucknell field hockey schedule 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. The pattern has continued with four 2-1 losses to Lafayette, Ohio State, #12 Penn State, and Temple this season.
Head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick enters her second season in Lewisburg. With the victory over Ball State, Kolojejchick moved into eighth place in Bucknell history.
Bucknell was projected to finish third in the Patriot League preseason poll. American was slotted for first, and Colgate was picked to finish last.
Lily Neilson leads the Bison with five goals and is tied for second in the conference.
Neilson has 34 career goals, which places her fourth in Bucknell history.
Isabella Pavlides is the main Bison supplier of assists with four, which ranks her fourth in the Patriot League.
Freshman Sarah Althouse has seized the starting goalkeeper job and shows no sign of letting the role go, having performed admirably in the cage.

Scouting Wagner

Wagner is 0-5 on the season. The Seahawks started the 2023 campaign with a 5-0 loss against Lafayette. They have also been dealt defeats by Hofstra, Holy Cross, Monmouth, and Syracuse.
The Seahawks went 11-7 overall last season and 6-1 in NEC play. But their 2-1 defeat to Fairfield ended their season in the NEC semifinals.
Wagner was projected to finish second in the eight-team NEC.
The Staten Island team has scored three goals on the year, with three players each tallying one.
Niki Miller enters her 3rd season as Wagner's head coach.

Series History with the Seahawks

This is the first-ever match against Wanger.

Scouting Holy Cross

Holy Cross is 2-4 on the season and 0-1 in Patriot League play. The Crusaders fell 4-0 to Boston University in the Turnpike Trophy clash. They have played three games against NEC foes, defeating Stonehill and Wagner but losing to Long Island. They dropped a game to Brown and were obliterated 8-2 by Northeastern.
The Crusaders were 7-10 overall and 2-4 in conference play during the 2022 campaign. The Bison defeated HC 3-1 in Worcester.
Holy Cross was picked to finish sixth in the seven-team Patriot League circuit. Meggan Fourie picked up a spot on the Patriot League All-Preseason Team after amassing 19 points on seven goals and five assists in 2022.
The Worcester team boasts a balanced attack with six different goal scorers.
Head coach Lindsay Jackson is in her ninth season as the head Crusader.

Series History with the Crusaders

Bucknell trails the all-time series 17-20 but has won the last 12 out of 13 games versus the purple-clad opposition.

Notes

The Wagner game will serve as the Faculty & Staff Appreciation Game. There will be appetizers available for Bucknell faculty and staff.
The Holy Cross contest will hold a Toys for Tots drive with boxes for batteries and books. Additionally, there will be a free 30-minute clinic after the game for any kids in the audience. Sticks will be provided.

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