Field Hockey Plays Second-Seeded Lafayette in Thursday's PL Semifinal

No. 3 Bucknell (8-8, 4-2 Patriot) vs. No. 2 Lafayette (12-6, 5-1 Patriot)
When: Thursday, November 7 – 2 p.m.
Where: Jacobs Recreational Complex – Washington D.C.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: aueagles.com

Patriot League Championship Hub | Tickets

About Bucknell

The Bison enter their 27th Patriot League Tournament seeking their second conference title. Bucknell earned the two-seed after going 4-2 in league play defeating Boston, Colgate, Holy Cross, and Lehigh while falling to top-seeded American and Thursday's foe Lafayette. Bucknell made the tournament the first two seasons of head coach Kelsey Kojojejchick's career but is still seeking its first tournament win under the third-year head coach.
Bucknell completed the 2024 regular season with a frustrating 2-0 loss to American at Holmes Stadium. The defeat prevented Bucknell from grabbing a share of the regular season title and it clinched home field advantage for the Eagles. The game was scoreless at halftime before American posted a goal in the third quarter. Bucknell pulled its goalie with five minutes left to obtain an extra attacker but the ploy failed as American scored a second goal off a penalty corner. The Bison outshot American but the Eagles's star goalkeeper Bryn Underwood kept the Orange & Blue off the board.
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. The standings almost played out the predicted way. American repeated as regular season champions and Lafayette finished second. The Bison grabbed third place.
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 (9) by two over several players in second place.
Neilson ranks fifth nationally in goals per game (1.06) and seventh in points per game (2.25).
Nicky Punt slots 21st nationally in assists per game (.56).

A Bouquet of Laurels

The Patriot League released its yearly awards on Tuesday and the Bison received a haul. Five players made an All-Patriot League team - the most since the 2019 season. Kira Leclercq and Lily Neilson won major awards and First Team nods while Sarah Althouse, Nicky Punt, and Gianna Puorro slotted on the Second Team.
Leclercq fulfilled the preseason prediction of Defensive Player of the Year, joining Jen Zimmerman (1998) as the only Bison to receive the coveted honor. Her nine defensive saves speak to her inevitable presence. Offensively, she helped the league-leading offense (2.31 goals per game) with seven goals (seventh-most in the circuit) and six assists.
Neilson added to her resume as one of the Patriot League's finest forwards by winning Offensive Player of the Year for the third time - the most in PL history. Her 17 goals lead the loop as she becomes the first player to lead the conference four times in goals. She earned First Team honors four times.
Althouse became the first Bison goalkeeper since Olivia Harris (2019) to earn All-League honors. She ranks third in the conference in goals against average (1.84).
Punt has sparked the Bucknell offense with her nine assists - a mark that sits second in the conference. The midfielder has been a constant source of aggravation for the opposition.
Puorro repeats as a Second Team member. The midfielder supplied five points on two goals and as assist but her greatest value lies in her ability to maneuver the ball up and down the pitch.

Milestone Watch

Lily Neilson's 59 goals stands alone at first place in Bucknell history.
Neilson's 36 points (17 goals and two assists) in 2024 pushes her into first in career points (124).
The 17 goals rank third in Bucknell single season history and her 36 points are tied for third.
The Australian forward has broken into the Patriot League top two for career goals. 59 goals ties her for second in PL history with Holy Cross's Tara Welch (2003-06).
Her 124 career points slots her eighth 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 seventh in career assists (22) in Bucknell history.

Scouting Lafayette

Lafayette is 12-6 overall and 5-1 in Patriot League play. The Leopards started the year 3-0, had a 2-4 segment, but since then have been on fire winning seven of their last nine games, including a 5-0 thrashing of Boston and a 2-1 overtime win over No. 20 Temple. Their last three games have been shutout victories.
The Leopards enjoyed a banner year in 2023, going 12-7 overall and 5-1 in conference play. They received the number two seed in the Patriot League Tournament and defeated No. 3 Boston before falling 1-0 to American in the championship game.
Spaans leads the Leopards with 25 points on ten goals and five assists and received Preseason Patriot League Offensive Player of the League honors. While, she did not earn the award on Tuesday, she made First Team All-Patriot League.
Goalkeeper Raffi Fragomeni and defender Makenzie Switzer joined Spaans on the First Team.
Stella Malinowski, India Ralph, and Josephine van Wijk slotted Second Team honors. Lafayette's six All-League members were the most in the PL.
Fragomeni has played every minute but five in the cage for the Leopards, recording a sparking 1.10 goals against average.
Jennifer Stone enters her 12th season as leader of the Leopards.

Series History with the Leopards

The Leopards hold a 42-17-2 lead. The previous seven games, before Bucknell's 2-0 defeat this year, had been one-score affairs with Lafayette winning five of the contests.

Up Next

A victory places the Bison into the championship game on Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. against the winner of American-Boston. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ and held at American University.

Field Hockey Plays Second-Seeded Lafayette in Thursday's PL Semifinal

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sarah Althouse

Kira Leclercq

Lily Neilson

Isabella Pavlides

Nicky Punt

Gianna Puorro

Field Hockey Plays Second-Seeded Lafayette in Thursday's PL Semifinal

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sarah Althouse

Kira Leclercq

Lily Neilson

Isabella Pavlides

Nicky Punt

Gianna Puorro

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