Friday, September 12
University Park, Pa.
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Penn State
Photo by: Breanna Ruppel
Field Hockey Hits the Road for Two Non-Conference Clashes
9/10/2025 12:33:00 PM | Field Hockey
Bucknell (2-2) at No. 17 Penn State (2-1)
When: Friday, September 12 – 6 p.m.
Where: The Penn State Field Hockey Complex – University Park, Pa.
Streaming: BIG+
Live Stats: gopsusports.com
Bucknell (2-2) at Delaware (0-3)
When: Sunday, September 14 – 1 p.m.
Where: Fred P. Rullo Stadium – Newark, Del.
Streaming: YouTube
Live Stats: bluehens.com
About Bucknell
- The Bison opened its 2025 home schedule last weekend against Keystone State rivals Saint Francis and Temple. The Bison blanked SFU 3-0 for its tenth win in the series but fell 3-1 to Temple. The results moved to Bucknell to 2-2 in 2025.
- Both games will be streamed. The Penn State contest is available on BIG+ and requires a subscription. The Delaware match is on YouTube. The links are available in this preview and on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. Live Stats links are 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 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 but dropped a 2-1 game to the eventual Patriot League champions.
- Head coach Kelsey Kolojejchick enters her fourth season in Lewisburg. Her 23 career wins are the fifth-most in Bucknell history. Bucknell has made the Patriot League Tournament every year under her direction.
- Bucknell lost eight players to graduation, including seven starters, and two-time All-American and career goals leader Lily Neilson. The Bison restocked seven freshmen to blend with the 16 newcomers.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Bison named Leclercq, Punt, and Alexandra Shizas as captains.
- Leclercq picked up her fifth career Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week award on Monday for her role in the SFU shutout. Leclercq also scored Bucknell's sole goal versus Temple and provided an assist in the 3-0 win over Saint Francis. She became the first Bison to win the laurel in three consecutive seasons.
- Delaware and Penn State have already met, with PSU squeaking out a 3-2 victory in double overtime.
Scouting Penn State
- Bucknell and Penn State meet once again in the Route 45 Rivalry. The two Central Pennsylvania schools are familiar foes, meeting in multiple sports on an annual basis.
- PSU finished below .500 last season for the first time since 2019, when the Nittany Lions went 8-9 overall and 2-6 in the Big Ten, marking the first time since 2009 the Blue & White dipped below .500 in conference competition.
- Penn State has displayed signs of bouncing back in 2025. After an opening day loss to powerhouse No. 3 Virginia, the Lions defeated Delaware and topped No. 9 Saint Joseph's 2-1 in overtime.
- The Big Ten removed its traditional preseason poll and team, and instead launched a players-to-watch list. Three Nittany Lions, Ella Jennes, Anouk Knuvers, and Sophia Mannino, received recognition.
- Five players have scored goals, with Josephine Purdy leading the way with two.
- Lisa Bervinchak Love enters her third season as head coach and holds a 19-18 career record at Penn State.
Series History with the Nittany Lions
- Bucknell has never defeated Penn State, sitting 0-41 in the rivalry. The last two games have been 2-1 nail-biters. The 2024 game went into overtime before Penn State prevailed when United States Olympian Phia Gladieux scored the game-winning goal.
​​​​​Scouting Delaware
- Delaware went 12-10 overall and 3-3 in the CAA in 2024. The Blue Hens defeated Monmouth in the CAA Championship Game to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Delaware defeated Fairfield 2-1 in the opening round before losing 4-0 to eventual semifinalist North Carolina.
- The Blue Hens currently sit at 0-3 after three consecutive one-goal defeats. They lost 5-4 to Temple and Cal and 3-2 to then No. 18 Penn State.
- With Delaware's move to Conference USA, field hockey lost its traditional CAA home and recently joined with UC Davis to form the Mountain Pacific Sports Foundation (MPSF). UC Davis and Delaware will battle in the last game of the 2025 season for the conference title. The MPSF will strive to find six members by 2026 to meet the NCAA's standard for an automatic bid.
- Despite lacking the traditional conference preseason honors, a Blue Hen still found a laurel. Midfielder Kate Fiest received a spot on the 2025 National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Division I Watchlist. Fiest won First Team All-CAA honors in 2024.
- The Blue Hens have scored ten goals in three games, led by Emma Miller's three tallies.
- Delaware has rotated between two goalkeepers.
- Tara Zollinger enters her first season as Delaware's head coach. She arrives in Newark after a crowning career at Shippensburg University, where she won three national championships in eight seasons. She seeks her first victory as a Blue Hen.
Series History with the Owls
- The Blue Hens lead the all-time series 11-2-2. Bucknell hasn't won in the series since 1989. The two teams clashed last year at Holmes Stadium, and Delaware emerged victorious in a 1-0 scrap.
Up Next
Bucknell returns to Holmes Stadium to begin Patriot League play against Colgate on Sept. 19.
Players Mentioned
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