Field Hockey Ships Up to Massachusetts for Two Contests

Bucknell (5-5, 1-1 PL) at Boston University (3-5, 1-1 PL)
When: Saturday, September 30 – 1 p.m.
Where: New Balance Field – Boston, Mass.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: goterriers.com

Bucknell (5-5, 1-1 PL) at #18 UMass Lowell (7-2, 1-0 AE)
When: Sunday, October 1 – 12 p.m.
Where: Wicked Blue Field – Lowell, Mass.
Streaming: America East TV
Live Stats: goriverhawks.com

About Bucknell

Last weekend, the Bison played home games against NEC opponent Wagner and Patriot League foe Holy Cross. Bucknell won both games to improve to 5-5 overall and 1-1 in PL play. The Bison defeated Wagner 3-0 and beat Holy Cross 3-2 in double-overtime.
The Boston University contest will be on ESPN+. The UMass Lowell game will be streamed on America East TV. 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 seven goals and is in first place in the conference. She also ranks first in game-winning games (3) and points (14).
Neilson has 36 career goals, which places her third in Bucknell history.
Neilson has won two PL Offensive Player of the Week awards in 2023 (Sept. 4 & 25).
Freshman Sarah Althouse has seized the starting goalkeeper job and shows no sign of letting the role go, having performed admirably in the cage with a 5-4 record.

Scouting Boston U.

Boston U. is 3-5 on the season. The Terriers started the 2023 campaign with a 3-1 loss against Michigan State. They have shown a flair for the dramatic, having won two overtime games, but are 0-2 in home matchups. Boston is 1-1 in PL play, with a 4-0 win over Holy Cross in the Turnpike Trophy and a 1-0 defeat to Lehigh.
The Terriers went 10-9 overall last season and 5-1 in PL play to win the regular season crown. Their season ended with a 2-1 loss to Lehigh in the PL Championship Game.
Boston was projected to finish second in the seven-team Patriot League. They placed four players on the All-Preseason Team, including Payton Anderson, the 2023 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Caroline O'Brien leads the Bostonians with five goals.
Sally Starr enters her 43rd season as Boston's head coach. She has become one of the most accomplished coaches in field hockey history.

Series History with the Terriers

Bucknell trails the series, 4-13. Boston won both 2022 matchups by one goal, including the rematch in the Patriot League Semifinals.

Scouting UMass Lowell

UMass Lowell is 7-2 on the season and 1-0 in America East play. The River Hawks fell 5-1 to #1 Iowa and 4-0 to #11 St. Joseph's but defeated #18 UMass 1-0. UMass Lowell defeated Central Michigan and Merrimack 9-0.
The River Hawks were 12-7 overall and 6-2 in conference play during the 2022 campaign. Their season ended with a loss to New Hampshire in the AE Quarterfinals.
UMass Lowell was picked to finish fifth in the ten-team America East circuit.
The Lowell team created a powerhouse attack with 35 goals in nine games by 13 different scorers.
Shannon LeBlanc is in her 23rd season as the head coach of the River Hawks.

Series History with the River Hawks