Field Hockey Visits New York to Play Colgate & Cornell

Bucknell (5-6, 2-1 PL) at Colgate (2-8, 0-2 PL)
When: Friday, October 11 – 5 p.m.
Where: Tyler's Field – Hamilton, N.Y.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: colgateathletics.com

Bucknell (5-6, 2-1 PL) at Cornell (3-6, 1-2 Ivy)
When: Sunday, October 13 – 2 p.m.
Where: Dodson Field – Ithaca, N.Y.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: cornellbigred.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell hits the road again for the final extended road trip on the season when it heads to Colgate and Cornell. The Bison split their two-game home schedule last weekend falling 2-0 to Lafayette in Patriot League play before celebrating Senior Day with a 6-1 rout of Lock Haven.
Lily Neilson scored two goals against Lock Haven to lead the Bison efforts. Bucknell scored four goals in the first quarter and could have easily recorded double-digit points having shot 38 times. Lock Haven's goalkeeper played excellent ball to prevent further scoring.
The Bison are looking to move closer and closer to a Patriot League Tournament bid when they face the Colgate Raiders on Friday night.
Cornell will serve as a good non-conference test when the two teams lock horns on Sunday afternoon.
Leclercq's obtained a defensive save against Lock Haven to boost her total to nine. She remains first nationally in defensive saves by four over Rutgers's Puck Winter. .
Both games will be streamed on ESPN+. The links are available in this preview and on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. The Live Stats links are 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 Columbia victory gave Kolojejchick full possession of seventh place in Bucknell history. Another victory will tie with Sally Starr (Boston's current head coach) for sixth 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 will host American in 2024 in the regular season finale.
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. With 51 career goals, she ranks second all-time for Bucknell.
The Bison named Lily Neilson & Hope Davis as captains.

Milestone Watch

Lily Neilson's 51 goals ranks second all-time and four scores away from tying Karin Wegener for first place in Bucknell history.
Neilson's 20 points (nine goals and two assists) slot her second in career points (108).
The Australian forward has broken into the Patriot League top ten for career goals. 51 goals puts her at fifth place with American's Christine Fingerhuth (2007-10) and Lafayette's Jennifer Stone (2000-03). Two more goals will tie her for fourth with Lafayette's Deanna DiCorce (2009-12).
Her 108 career points tie her for 11th in Patriot League with former member Fairfield's Izabella Kotowski (1998-01).
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 Lock Haven moving into a tie for seventh place in career assists (21) in Bucknell history.

Scouting Colgate

Colgate is 2-8 overall and 0-2 in Patriot League play. The Raiders defeated Mercyhurst 5-1 and Central Michigan in overtime. In Patriot League play, they have fallen to 5-1 to Lehigh but took league favorite American to the brink, losing 3-2. American scored the winning goal at the buzzer.
The Raiders went 3-14 overall and 0-6 in league play last season. They did not qualify for the Patriot League Tournament.
Colgate was projected to finish last in the seven-team Patriot League. They did not place a player on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
Two players, Anna Lochhead and Grace Schmelzinger, lead the Raiders with three goals apiece. Colgate has yielded 37 goals to their 15 tallies.
Claire van Kempen has played all but 41 minutes in the cage.
April Cornell-DeAngelis enters her eighth season as head coach.

Series History with the Raiders

The Bison hold a dominant 38-11-3 series lead. The Bison have won the last 17 out of 18 meetings with the sole loss coming during the abbreviated COVID-19 spring season. Bucknell won 5-0 last year in Lewisburg.

Scouting Cornell

Cornell owns a 3-6 overall record with a 1-2 mark in Ivy League play. The wins came during a three-match winning streak when the Big Red defeated Bryant, Dartmouth, and Colgate. A 3-1 loss to #14 Princeton shattered the stretch.
The Big Reds were aces in 2023, gathering a 12-5 mark with 5-2 mark in Ivy competition. The highlight included a 2-1 upset over #13 Syracuse and a #17 ranking in the NFHCA Poll. The season ended in a 1-0 semifinal loss to Princeton in the Ivy League Tournament.
Cornell was picked fourth in the eight-team Ivy League.
The Ivy does not select a preseason all-league squad.
Julia Ramsey leads the team with four goals.
Martha Broderick, except for two minutes, has been the mainstay in the cage.
Andy Smith enters his sixth year at Cornell, having built the Big Red into a Ivy League contender.

Series History with the Big Red

Bucknell holds the slim 16-14-1 series lead. The rivalry was a yearly occurrence from 1988-2000. Three revival attempts were launched from 2005-2012, 2017-19, and 2021-22. The Bison have lost three straight games.

Up Next

Bucknell travels to Lehigh on Oct. 19 for a pivotal Patriot League showdown.

Field Hockey Visits New York to Play Colgate & Cornell

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hope Davis

Kira Leclercq

Lily Neilson

Isabella Pavlides

Field Hockey Visits New York to Play Colgate & Cornell

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hope Davis

Kira Leclercq

Lily Neilson

Isabella Pavlides

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