Bucknell University Athletics
Leclercq & Neilson Receive First Team NFHCA All-Region Honors
12/4/2024 3:33:00 PM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa.- Kira Leclercq and Lily Neilson continue to decorate their resumes with new accolades as both players were named to the NFHCA All-Region Mideast First Team on Wednesday in recognition of their record-breaking and nationally successful 2024 campaigns. 160 players from 82 Division I teams are separated into five regions: Mid-Atlantic, Mideast, Northeast, South and West. Each of these regions recognizes up to 16 student-athletes on both the first team and the second team.
"We want to congratulate Kira and Lily on being named to the Mideast All-Region First Team," said head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick. "It is truly an honor and privilege to coach these standout student athletes. They both had a fantastic season and are very deserving of this honor. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication and exceptional achievements on the field."
Leclercq repeated as an honoree having earned Second Team honors in 2023. The defender upped her already impressive game this past season notching Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference and nation with nine defensive saves and meriting First Team All-Patriot League laurels. Her prowess did not stop with defensive measures; Leclercq powered the Patriot League's best offense with seven goals (eighth in the circuit) and sixth assists (sixth in the conference) via her lofty aerials which frequently flipped the field for Bucknell. Her 21 career defensive saves rank second in Bucknell history.Â
Neilson joined Amanda Faust (2005-06-07) in becoming the only Bison to earn three First Team All-Region honors. Neilson won the designation in 2022 and 2023. The Australian striker was a fearful force for opposing elevens scoring a league-high 18 goals and ranking third nationally in goals per game (1.06). The career-high in goals totaled her final amount to 60 shattering the previous Bison record of 55 set by Karin Wegener set in 1978. Her 60 goals also placed second in Patriot League history. Neilson also broke Wegener's career points record of 122 by delivering 126 points on 60 goals and six assists. That amount ranks eighth in conference history. The senior forward made more league history by becoming the first player to win Offensive Player of the Year thrice times and lead the loop in goals four years.Â
The NFHCA Division I All-Region team announcement is the first in a list of postseason awards to come from the NFHCA over the next several weeks. Next to be announced are the NFHCA Regional Players of the Year on December 12, followed by the NFHCA All-American teams on December 17 and the NFHCA National Player of the Year on December 19.
In 2023, Neilson became Bucknell's first Second Team All-American and seeks to repeat the honor or become the Bison's inaugural First Team All-American. Leclercq quests for her first All-American berth.Â
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"We want to congratulate Kira and Lily on being named to the Mideast All-Region First Team," said head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick. "It is truly an honor and privilege to coach these standout student athletes. They both had a fantastic season and are very deserving of this honor. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication and exceptional achievements on the field."
Leclercq repeated as an honoree having earned Second Team honors in 2023. The defender upped her already impressive game this past season notching Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference and nation with nine defensive saves and meriting First Team All-Patriot League laurels. Her prowess did not stop with defensive measures; Leclercq powered the Patriot League's best offense with seven goals (eighth in the circuit) and sixth assists (sixth in the conference) via her lofty aerials which frequently flipped the field for Bucknell. Her 21 career defensive saves rank second in Bucknell history.Â
Neilson joined Amanda Faust (2005-06-07) in becoming the only Bison to earn three First Team All-Region honors. Neilson won the designation in 2022 and 2023. The Australian striker was a fearful force for opposing elevens scoring a league-high 18 goals and ranking third nationally in goals per game (1.06). The career-high in goals totaled her final amount to 60 shattering the previous Bison record of 55 set by Karin Wegener set in 1978. Her 60 goals also placed second in Patriot League history. Neilson also broke Wegener's career points record of 122 by delivering 126 points on 60 goals and six assists. That amount ranks eighth in conference history. The senior forward made more league history by becoming the first player to win Offensive Player of the Year thrice times and lead the loop in goals four years.Â
The NFHCA Division I All-Region team announcement is the first in a list of postseason awards to come from the NFHCA over the next several weeks. Next to be announced are the NFHCA Regional Players of the Year on December 12, followed by the NFHCA All-American teams on December 17 and the NFHCA National Player of the Year on December 19.
In 2023, Neilson became Bucknell's first Second Team All-American and seeks to repeat the honor or become the Bison's inaugural First Team All-American. Leclercq quests for her first All-American berth.Â
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Players Mentioned
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