Bucknell University Athletics
Field Hockey Picked Tied for Second in Patriot League Preseason Poll; Leclercq Nabs Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
8/22/2024 11:05:00 AM | Field Hockey
LEWISBURG, Pa.- Members of the Bucknell field hockey team were well-represented on the Patriot League Preseason All-League Team released Thursday as voted by coaches and sports information directors. Stalwart defender junior Kira Leclercq won Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and prolific goal-scorer senior forward Lily Neilson joined Leclercq on making the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Bucknell tied for second with two players on the preseason team. The Bison were selected to finish tied for second with fellow Pennsylvanian school Lafayette. Returning champion American earned first place honors.Â
Leclercq enters her junior season having become one of the finest defenders in the circuit and Eastern region. The Berlin, Germany native has led a stingy Bison attack for two seasons and has developed a reputation for obtaining defensive saves. She finished tied for fourth in the PL with four such efforts. Her career 12 defensive saves rank third in Bison history. With four more preventions, she would slot second, passing Steph Graf (2005-08). Her efforts do not cease with defensive measures. She also contributes offensively, tallying five goals in 2023. Leclercq constantly serves as the shot-taker off penalty corners with her laser attempts flying past the opposition. Her contributions on both sides of the ball netted Leclercq 2023 Second Team All-Region honors.
Neilson heads into her final campaign clad in Orange & Blue with the chance to create even more history. The senior repeated as Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, once again leading the loop in goals (13) and finishing second in points (28), despite missing two games to play with the Australian Junior World Cup squad. Neilson has the chance to become the first player in PL history to win Offensive Player of the Year three times and lead the circuit in goals all four years. The field hockey world recognized her greatness by christening the Australian as Bucknell's first Second Team All-American after she repeated as First Team All-Region. Neilson's 42 career tallies rank third in Bison history, 13 behind Karin Wegener's (1975-78) 55 goals.Â
League votes again picked American to win the coveted trophy, as the Eagles under coach Steve Jennings have won three of the last five tournament titles. Bucknell and Lafayette slotted in a tie for second with both squads receiving two first-place votes (voters cannot cast a ballot for their players and team placement). Perennial power Boston placed fourth, followed by Lehigh at fifth, Holy Cross ensconced sixth, and Colgate rounds out the league at seventh.Â
2024 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. American, 69 points (10 first-place votes)
T2. Bucknell, 55 (2)
T2. Lafayette, 55 (2)
4. Boston University, 46
5. Lehigh, 33
6. Holy Cross, 24
7. Colgate, 12
Regarding the two other major awards: graduate Bryn Underwood (American) received Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and senior midfielder Lineke Spaans (Lafayette) landed Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Underwood has starred in the cage for the traditionally powerful Eagles while Spaans finished second last year in the Patriot League with 11 goals in 19 games.Â
2024 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Major Awards
Offensive of the Year – Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, Sr., M
Defensive of the Year – Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Jr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Bryn Underwood, American, Gr., GK
The Preseason All-Patriot League Team was purely an upperclassmen affair with all eleven members belonging to the junior class and higher. The full breakdown was three graduate/fifth-years, five seniors, and three juniors. The level of experience promises to produce a parity-filled league.
2024 Field Hockey Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Bryn Underwood, American, Gr., GK
Tayla-Jade Weiss, American, Sr., D
Agustina Roffo, American, Sr., M
Payton Anderson, Boston University, Sr., B
Martu Coulo, Boston University, Jr., M
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Sr., F
Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Jr., D
Sarah Potter, Holy Cross, 5th, F
Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, Sr., M
Makenzie Switzer, Lafayette, Jr. D
Julia Gatelein, Lehigh, 5th, M
Bucknell commences the 2024 season with a pair of road games. The Bison play MAC powerhouse Miami (OH) on August 30 and greet September by traveling to Columbus to duel BIG 10 foe Ohio State on the 1st. The Bison open play at Holmes Stadium on Sept. 6 when they welcome the Delaware Blue Hens. Bucknell went 7-0 last year at Holmes, one of the three teams to finish unblemished in friendly confines.Â
Leclercq enters her junior season having become one of the finest defenders in the circuit and Eastern region. The Berlin, Germany native has led a stingy Bison attack for two seasons and has developed a reputation for obtaining defensive saves. She finished tied for fourth in the PL with four such efforts. Her career 12 defensive saves rank third in Bison history. With four more preventions, she would slot second, passing Steph Graf (2005-08). Her efforts do not cease with defensive measures. She also contributes offensively, tallying five goals in 2023. Leclercq constantly serves as the shot-taker off penalty corners with her laser attempts flying past the opposition. Her contributions on both sides of the ball netted Leclercq 2023 Second Team All-Region honors.
Neilson heads into her final campaign clad in Orange & Blue with the chance to create even more history. The senior repeated as Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, once again leading the loop in goals (13) and finishing second in points (28), despite missing two games to play with the Australian Junior World Cup squad. Neilson has the chance to become the first player in PL history to win Offensive Player of the Year three times and lead the circuit in goals all four years. The field hockey world recognized her greatness by christening the Australian as Bucknell's first Second Team All-American after she repeated as First Team All-Region. Neilson's 42 career tallies rank third in Bison history, 13 behind Karin Wegener's (1975-78) 55 goals.Â
League votes again picked American to win the coveted trophy, as the Eagles under coach Steve Jennings have won three of the last five tournament titles. Bucknell and Lafayette slotted in a tie for second with both squads receiving two first-place votes (voters cannot cast a ballot for their players and team placement). Perennial power Boston placed fourth, followed by Lehigh at fifth, Holy Cross ensconced sixth, and Colgate rounds out the league at seventh.Â
2024 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. American, 69 points (10 first-place votes)
T2. Bucknell, 55 (2)
T2. Lafayette, 55 (2)
4. Boston University, 46
5. Lehigh, 33
6. Holy Cross, 24
7. Colgate, 12
Regarding the two other major awards: graduate Bryn Underwood (American) received Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and senior midfielder Lineke Spaans (Lafayette) landed Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Underwood has starred in the cage for the traditionally powerful Eagles while Spaans finished second last year in the Patriot League with 11 goals in 19 games.Â
2024 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Major Awards
Offensive of the Year – Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, Sr., M
Defensive of the Year – Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Jr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Bryn Underwood, American, Gr., GK
The Preseason All-Patriot League Team was purely an upperclassmen affair with all eleven members belonging to the junior class and higher. The full breakdown was three graduate/fifth-years, five seniors, and three juniors. The level of experience promises to produce a parity-filled league.
2024 Field Hockey Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Bryn Underwood, American, Gr., GK
Tayla-Jade Weiss, American, Sr., D
Agustina Roffo, American, Sr., M
Payton Anderson, Boston University, Sr., B
Martu Coulo, Boston University, Jr., M
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Sr., F
Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Jr., D
Sarah Potter, Holy Cross, 5th, F
Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, Sr., M
Makenzie Switzer, Lafayette, Jr. D
Julia Gatelein, Lehigh, 5th, M
Bucknell commences the 2024 season with a pair of road games. The Bison play MAC powerhouse Miami (OH) on August 30 and greet September by traveling to Columbus to duel BIG 10 foe Ohio State on the 1st. The Bison open play at Holmes Stadium on Sept. 6 when they welcome the Delaware Blue Hens. Bucknell went 7-0 last year at Holmes, one of the three teams to finish unblemished in friendly confines.Â
Players Mentioned
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