Field Hockey Hosts #12 Syracuse in Thursday Night Clash

Bucknell (8-6) vs. #12 Syracuse (10-4)
When: Thursday, October 24 – 7 p.m.
Where: Graham Field at Holmes Stadium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

About Bucknell

The Bison return home to Holmes to face #12 Syracuse in an epic non-conference match. It is the team's final out of conference foe.
Bucknell defeated Lehigh 6-2 on Saturday to clinch its 17th straight Patriot League Tournament bid. Reese Czajkowski started the scoring with two goals. Lily Neilson added two more tallied. Katie Lintz gained her second career goal and Kira Leclercq grabbed the final score.
Neilson won her fourth Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week award in 2024 and her tenth all-time which matches Lafayette's Deanna DiCroco for most in PL history.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+. The link is available in this preview and on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. The Live Stats link is also available on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. Live updates will be posted on the Bucknell Field Hockey X page.
Bucknell finished 8-9 overall and 3-3 in Patriot League play in the 2023 season and earned a spot in the Patriot League Tournament for the 16th consecutive season. The Bison fell 3-2 to the top-seeded American Eagles in the Patriot League semifinals. Bucknell battled back from a 3-0 deficit to have a game-tying chance as time expired. The Eagles blocked the shot, escaping overtime.
The heartbreaking loss finalized Bucknell's painful habit in the 2023 season, when the Bison lost eight games by one goal margin. The losses included a 2-1 defeat to #12 Penn State and a 3-2 defeat to #18 UMass Lowell. Over the last two seasons, Bucknell has lost 18 one-goal games. The trend has continued this season with the losses to Delaware, Miami (OH), and #20 Penn State.
Head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick enters her third season in Lewisburg. The Lehigh victory moved Kolojejchick into sole possession of fifth place in Bucknell history.
The Bison return 19 players from last season's roster and welcome six newcomers.
Bucknell was projected to finish tied for second with Lafayette in the Patriot League preseason poll. Reigning champion American was slotted for first, and Colgate picked to finish last. Bucknell hosts American in 2024 in the regular season finale on Nov. 2.
Junior Kira Leclercq won Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Leclercq was outstanding as a defender in 2023, notching four defensive saves, and earning First Team All-Patriot League and Second Team All-NFHCA honors. She also scored five goals.
Senior Lily Neilson made the Preseason All-Patriot League Team after winning her second-straight Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award. Her 13 goals led the circuit, despite Neilson missing several games to play for the Australian Junior World Cup squad. She became the first Second Team All-American in Bucknell history.
Leclercq remains first nationally in defensive saves by three over California's Canisha van Duyn.
Neilson ranks fifth nationally in goals per game (1.07) and ninth in points per game (2.29).
Nicky Punt slots 17th nationally in assists per game (.64).

Milestone Watch

Lily Neilson's 57 goals stands alone at first place in Bucknell history.
Neilson's 32 points (15 goals and two assists) slot her second in career points (120). She is two points away from tying Wegener for first.
The Australian forward has broken into the Patriot League top three for career goals. 57 goals puts her at third place.
Her 116 career points slots her ninth in the Patriot League record book.
Kira Leclercq has already established herself one of Bucknell's and the Patriot League's finest defenders with her 21 career defensive saves. The total ranks second in Bucknell history and fifth in Patriot League history.
Senior Isabella Pavlides added an assist against Lehigh moving into a tie for sixth place in career assists (22) in Bucknell history.

Scouting Syracuse

Syracuse sits at 10-4 overall and 4-3 in the difficult ACC. The Orange are 4-4 against ranked opponents. They share several common opponents with Bucknell, including 2-1 wins over Lafayette and Penn State and a 9-0 destruction of Lock Haven. However, they fell 5-0 to Ohio State.
The Orange finished 11-8 overall and 2-4 in ACC competition last season. They made the NCAA Tournament and fell to Duke in the quarterfinals.
Syracuse was picked fourth in the nine-team ACC. Willemijn Boogert was selected for the Preseason All-ACC Team.
Boogert has been impressive with 17 points (five goals, seven assists) but the main Orange threat has been Bo van Kempen with 12 goals.
Louise Pert has started every game in the cage and has been impressive notching a 1.29 goals against average.
Lynn Farquhar enters her second season as the head coach. She has only faced one losing season in her 23-year career as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. It was a 9-10 season at James Madison (2011).

Series History with the Orange

Bucknell trails 1-11 in the series. The sole win came in 1987 via a 2-1 overtime victory. Twice, the series had mini-runs (1984-1989) and (2016-2019). Bucknell hosted #4 Syracuse in 2016 and lost 4-3.

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