Field Hockey Challenges Lafayette in Thursday's PL Semifinals

Bucknell (10-6, 4-2 Patriot League) vs. Lafayette (11-6, 5-1 Patriot League)
When: Thursday, November 6 – 2 p.m.
Where: Jacobs Recreational Complex – Washington, D.C.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: americaneagles.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell ended the 2025 regular season on a triumphant note beating Keystone Clash rival Lehigh 5-2 to unlock its first 10-win season since 2018. The Bison trailed 2-1 at halftime before unleashing a 4-0 second half run. Kira Leclercq scored a brace while Reese Czajkowski, Sally Hunter, and Gianna Puorro each tallied a single goal. The Orange & Blue have won seven of its last eight games.
The Bison had already clinched the third seed heading into the Lehigh game and will face second-seeded Lafayette in a rematch of the 2024 PL Semifinals matchup on American's home field. The Leopards edged Bucknell 2-1 before upsetting American for the league crown.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the link is available in this preview and on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. The Live Stats link is available on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. Live updates will be posted on the Bucknell Field Hockey X account.
Bucknell finished 8-9 overall and 4-2 in Patriot League play during the 2024 season and earned a spot in the Patriot League Tournament for the 17th consecutive season. The Orange & Blue earned the third seed and faced second-seeded Lafayette in the Patriot League Semifinals. The Bison dueled the Leopards and dropped a 2-1 game to the eventual Patriot League champions.
Head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick enters her fourth season in Lewisburg. Her 31 career wins are the fifth-most in Bucknell history. Bucknell has made the Patriot League Tournament every year under her direction and repeated the feat this season with Lehigh's loss to American on Oct. 24, clinching a spot for Bucknell.
The Bison lost eight players to graduation, including seven starters, the most notable being two-time All-American and career goals leader Lily Neilson. The Orange & Blue stocked seven freshmen to blend with the 16 newcomers and the results have been notable.
Bucknell was projected to finish third in the Patriot League preseason poll. Reigning champion Lafayette was picked to repeat, followed by American, Bucknell, and Boston. Colgate and Holy Cross rounded out the six-team poll. The preseason poll was nearly perfect except American won the regular season crown, followed by Lafayette, Bucknell, and Boston. Holy Cross jumped Colgate for fifth.
Senior Kira Leclercq repeated as Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, after winning the 2024 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year award. Leclercq dominated on defense in 2024, leading nationally in defensive saves (9), earning First Team All-Patriot League, All-ECAC, and NFHCA Regional honors.
Senior midfielders Nicky Punt and Gianna Puorro joined Leclercq on the All-Patriot League Preseason Team.
Bucknell named Leclercq, Punt, and Alexandra Shizas as captains.
Several Bison sit high in the conference leaderboards. Punt ranks first in the circuit in assists with 12. Leclercq is second in defensive saves (6), goals (12) and points (30). Reese Czajkowski is tied for fourth in goals (10).
Multiple Bison are represented in the national rankings. Leclercq is fourth in defensive saves (6). Punt sits 14th in assists per game (.75).

League Awards

Bucknell cleaned up in the postseason awards, winning a major award and landing five players on the All-League Teams.
Leclercq became the first Bison to repeat as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. She also notched her third straight First Team All-League laurel to add four-time All-League member to her impressive resume. She also repeated on the Academic All-League Team.
Punt joined Leclercq on the First Team. The midfielder blossomed into the league's best stick stop. Punt earned Second Team last year and the midfielder upped her game in 2025 to unlock First Team. The senior made the midfield her domain, regularly directing the offensive attack or blunting opponent efforts. The premier stick stop in the conference, Punt's 12 assists lead the league and rank tied for third in Bucknell's single season history. She slots 12th nationally in assists per game (.75).
Goalkeeper Sarah Althouse repeated her spot on the Second Team. Her .777 save percentage leads the league and slots 11th nationally. She ranks second in the loop in goals against average (1.33) and shutouts (4). Althouse has broken into the Bison record book, placing eighth in career shutouts (8) and wins (22). Her .550 winning percentage (22-18) moved her into fifth in Bucknell history.
Czajkowski became 2025's sophomore sensation. She seized the reins as Bucknell's premier forward and her 10 goals, combined with Leclercq's 12, gave Bucknell its first double-digit duo since 2008 when Amanda Faust (11) and Trina Boyer (10) punished cages. Czajkowski demonstrated impressive open-field shooting all year and racked up a highlight reel of goals. She ranks fourth in the conference in goals and 42nd nationally.
Puorro repeated as Third Team for the third consecutive year. The swiftly darting midfielder returned after a scary injury against Saint Francis to resume her activities as one of the PL's best. Her stats (eight points on three goals and two assists) belie her immense impact on Bucknell's offense. Puorro's knack for escorting the ball from end of the field to the other set up multiple Bison scoring opportunities and Bucknell went 7-2 after her resumption of play, averaging 3.2 goals per game. In contrast, the Orange & Blue averaged two goals per game during her four-contest absence.

Scouting Lafayette

Lafayette recorded another double-digit winning season, going 11-6, but failed to fulfill the preseason prediction of a regular season crown by losing 3-1 to American. Their headlining win was a 3-2 result over #16 Penn State. Lafayette defeated Bucknell 2-1 in this year's regular season matchup. Bucknell led 1-0 for most of the affair before allowing a late tally and the game-winning goal in overtime.
The Leopards enjoyed a banner 2024 season, going 14-7 overall and 5-1 in PL play. Lafayette won the conference tournament, defeating Bucknell 2-1 in the semifinals and upsetting American by the same tally in the championship game. They lost 1-0 to eventual runner-up St. Joseph's in the NCAA Tournament.
Lafayette finished its regular season with a 6-4 shootout over Delaware.
The Leopards placed four members on the All-League Teams and Raffi Fragomeni earned Goalkeeper of the Year. She was joined on the First Team by Lena Thedrian and Makenzie Switzer. Josephine van Wijk earned Second Team placement.
13 different players have scored 44 goals for the Leopards.
Jennifer Stone enters her 13th year as the head coach of the Leopards and owns an overall record of 115-115.

Series History with the Leopards

Lafayette has the 44-17-2 series lead over Bucknell. Fans should expect a tight game - nine of the last ten matchups have been one-score affairs.

Up Next

If Bucknell beats Lafayette, the team will face the winner of No. 4 Boston/No. 1 American in the Championship Game on Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+. A defeat has the Bison preparing for 2026.

Field Hockey Challenges Lafayette in Thursday's PL Semifinals

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Althouse

Reese Czajkowski

Sally Hunter

Kira Leclercq

Lily Neilson

Nicky Punt

Gianna Puorro

Alexandra Shizas

Field Hockey Challenges Lafayette in Thursday's PL Semifinals

Related News

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sarah Althouse

Reese Czajkowski

Sally Hunter

Kira Leclercq

Lily Neilson

Nicky Punt

Gianna Puorro

Alexandra Shizas

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