Leclercq Selected Preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year; Bison Picked Third

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell Field Hockey landed one major award and slotted three players on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team as announced Thursday by the conference office. Senior Kira Leclercq cemented her presence as the league's top defensive force by receiving Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Fellow seniors Nicky Punt and Gianna Puorro joined her on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. The Bison are projected to finish third in the league, receiving one first place vote.

Leclercq enters her final campaign as the preeminent bulwark in the circuit. The Germany native has collected 21 career defensive saves ranking second in the Bison record book. Her nine defensive saves in 2024 led the nation and boosted her to NFHCA First Team All-Region and All-ECAC First Team honors.

Her prowess extends to the offensive side. She ranks as one of the team's best penalty corner shooters and leads all returners with 14 goals. Leclercq has distributed 13 assists. She regularly lifts aerial passes down the pitch to launch offensive operations. The senior was named as one of three captains for the 2025 season.

Punt directs the game like a true midfielder and contributed heavily to Bucknell's 2024 output. Her ten assists led the Patriot League and her .59 assists per game ranked 12th nationally. Her 16 career assists are one away from the Bison's top ten list. She serves as a captain this year and made the 2024 All-Patriot League Second Team.

Puorro, a midfielder, has earned back-to-back All-Patriot Second Team honors. A player greater than her numbers, as her best contributions are not statistically recorded, her fiery passion and hustle fuel Bucknell's offensive and defensive efforts at the front. She has scored 18 points on five goals and eight assists and logged over 2000 minutes in the field.

Bucknell finished 8-9 overall and 4-2 in conference play last year. The Bison, as the third seed in the Patriot League Tournament, dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to second-seeded and eventual conference champions Lafayette.

Defending champions Lafayette are expected to repeat, followed by constant powerhouse American in second and Bucknell in third. Boston slotted fourth with Holy Cross and Colgate rounding out the six-team league.

The 2025 season begins with a neutral site clash versus Sacred Heart on August 29.

2025 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Major Awards Winners

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Jr., F

Preseason Midfielder of the Year – Agustina Roffo, American, Gr., M

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Sr., D

Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year – Raffi Fragomeni, Lafayette, Sr., GK

2025 Preseason All-Patriot League Field Hockey Team*

Agustina Roffo, American, Gr., M

Emilia Winkler, American, Jr., M

Martu Coulo, Boston University, Sr., M

Nicky Lauro, Boston University, Jr., M

Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, Sr., D

Nicky Punt, Bucknell, Sr., M

Gianna Puorro, Bucknell, Sr., M

Maguire Sturgis, Holy Cross, Jr., M

Raffi Fragomeni, Lafayette, Sr., GK

Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Jr., F

Makenzie Switzer, Lafayette, Sr., D

Josephine van Wijk, Lafayette, Sr., M

Kiki Mes, Lehigh, Sr., M

2025 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll

1. Lafayette (6 first-place votes), 36 points

2. American, 28

3. Bucknell (1), 26

4. Boston University, 24

5. Lehigh, 13

6. Holy Cross, 13

7. Colgate, 7

Leclercq Selected Preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year; Bison Picked Third

Players Mentioned

Kira Leclercq

Nicky Punt

Gianna Puorro

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