Field Hockey Travels to Massachusetts for Saturday Showdown at Holy Cross

Bucknell (3-5, 1-0 PL) at Holy Cross (4-4, 0-1 PL)
When: Saturday, September 28 – 4 p.m.
Where: Hart Turf Field & Hart Track – Worcester, Mass.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: goholycross.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell returns to the traveling lifestyle with a trip to Holy Cross after hosting two home games. The Bison won a pivotal conference game by defeating Boston University 2-1 in overtime, clinching the first home triumph over the Terriers since 2014. Lily Neilson tallied both goals. The Orange & Blue nearly pulled off the upset against #20 Penn State, losing 2-1 in overtime. Bucknell struck first with a Neilson score before Penn State tied the game in the fourth period and then won in overtime.
Neilson's three goals earned her Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week. The senior forward has won seven such honors in her distinguished career. She is three away from the league record of ten set by Lafayette's Deanna DiCroce. Last season, Neilson tied the single-season record of four Offensive Player of the Week awards, also held by DiCroce and three other players.
Kira Leclercq produced another defensive save increasing her total to eighth. She remains first nationally by three over Rutgers's Puck Winter.
The Bison resume Patriot League play by facing Holy Cross in a Saturday afternoon showdown.
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 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.
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.
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 47 career goals, she ranks third all-time for Bucknell.
The Bison named Lily Neilson & Hope Davis as captains.

Milestone Watch

Lily Neilson's 47 goals places her one away from second place with Kathy Kline's 48 tallies. Kline played from 1976-1979. Neilson has a solid chance to surpass Kline on Saturday. She has recorded six goals against the Crusaders, including a Bucknell single-game record of five in 2021.
With one more goal, Neilson will break into the Patriot League's all-time top-ten. Holy Cross's Michele Gagne (1991-94) collected 48 goals. Two more scores will tie Neilson with American's Camila Infante (2003-06) and three more tallies will create a three-way deadlock for eighth place with Maureen Connolly of Holy Cross (2014-17) and Irene Schickhardt of American (2005-08).
Kira Leclercq has already established herself one of Bucknell's and the Patriot League's finest defenders with her 20 career defensive goals. The total ranks second in Bucknell history and fifth in Patriot League history.

Scouting Holy Cross

The Crusaders are 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the Patriot League. Holy Cross started the season 2-0 with wins over NEC foes Stonehill and LIU. A 7-0 win over Merrimack was sandwiched by losses to Fairfield and Northeastern. They commenced Patriot League play with a 3-0 loss to Lafayette. A shootout loss to Providence followed but the Crusaders bounced back to beat Sacred Heart on Wednesday.
Holy Cross, like Bucknell, finished 8-9 overall in 2023, but unlike the Bison, went 2-4 in conference play. They missed the Patriot League Tournament by one game.
The Crusaders are projected to finish sixth in the seven-team Patriot League. Fifth-year Sarah Potter received a spot on the All-Patriot League Team after receiving Second Team honors in 2023.
Meggan Fourie leads the Crusaders in goals (6) and points (13).
Mia McCloskey has recorded every minute in the cage for a 2.12 goals against average.
Lindsay Jackson enters a decade on the job as head Crusader.

Series History with the Crusaders

Holy Cross leads the all-time series 20-18 but the Bison have won six straight games. However, five of the six wins have been one-score affairs, including last year's overtime 3-2 triumph in Lewisburg. The one exception was the 7-2 victory in 2021 when Neilson scored five goals. Overall, the Orange & Blue have won the last 13 out of 14 contests. From 2009-2014, Bucknell won every game by shutout, outscoring Holy Cross 27-0.

Up Next

Bucknell returns home to Holmes on Oct.4 for a massive Patriot League competition with Lafayette. The homestead continues on Oct. 6 when Lock Haven journeys down I-80 to face the Bison.

Field Hockey Travels to Massachusetts for Saturday Showdown at Holy Cross

Players Mentioned

Hope Davis

Kira Leclercq

Lily Neilson

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