Friday, September 12
University Park, Pa.
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
(2-3)
1
at
2
Penn State
(3-1)
1
2
3
4
F
Bucknell
0
0
0
1
1
Penn State
1
1
0
0
2
Photo by: Breanna Ruppel
Leclercq's Goal Not Enough as Bucknell's Fourth Quarter Rally Falls Short Against #17 Penn State
9/12/2025 7:49:00 PM | Field Hockey
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Kira Leclercq scored a fourth quarter goal and Bucknell (2-3) pushed hard for an equalizer but the No. 17 Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1) escaped with a 2-1 victory Friday night in University Park. Two first half goals stood up for PSU against their Route 45 rivals as the Bison remain winless in the all-time series. The defeat marked the third consecutive 2-1 loss for the Orange & Blue versus the Blue & White.
Leclercq tallied for the second straight game and now has scored 16 times in her illustrious career. Nicky Punt supplied the cooperation and her 18 career assists gave her sole possession of tenth in Bison history.
Bucknell fought a valiant game, despite missing two of its starting midfielders and falling behind 2-0, as the Bison never stopped fighting and rallying against its Big Ten rival.
Penn State scored seven minutes into the game when Katelyn Strawser found the cage. Cooper Cutchins added a goal during the 28th minute for the seemingly safe 2-0 lead. The first half clearly belonged to PSU. The Nittany Lions held Bucknell to zero shots and penalty corners while taking seven whacks at the Bison cage.
The situation shifted after halftime. Bucknell, in a trailer for the final stanza, outshot Penn State 3-2 in the third period and earned three penalty corners showcasing how the Bison were cracking PSU's back line.
The Bison drew four penalty corners in the space of a minute in the fourth quarter. The fourth one, not the third attempt, during the 49th minute proved the charm. Leclercq struck pay dirt with a mighty swing, as the sphere sizzled past the astonished Penn State goalkeeper, cutting the deficit in half.
Bucknell spent the final ten minutes chasing the tying goal. Penn State's defense stiffened but freshman Gracie Kothari, sporting her Maryland flag headband, recorded a good shot that Penn State's goalkeeper saved.
A green card on Penn State's Sophia Mannino offered a two-minute segment of Bucknell having the numbers advantage but another shot never materialized and the Nittany Lions won the 2025 edition of the Route 45 Rivalry.
Up Next
The Bison head to the First State on Sunday afternoon to face Delaware at 1 p.m.
Leclercq tallied for the second straight game and now has scored 16 times in her illustrious career. Nicky Punt supplied the cooperation and her 18 career assists gave her sole possession of tenth in Bison history.
Bucknell fought a valiant game, despite missing two of its starting midfielders and falling behind 2-0, as the Bison never stopped fighting and rallying against its Big Ten rival.
Penn State scored seven minutes into the game when Katelyn Strawser found the cage. Cooper Cutchins added a goal during the 28th minute for the seemingly safe 2-0 lead. The first half clearly belonged to PSU. The Nittany Lions held Bucknell to zero shots and penalty corners while taking seven whacks at the Bison cage.
The situation shifted after halftime. Bucknell, in a trailer for the final stanza, outshot Penn State 3-2 in the third period and earned three penalty corners showcasing how the Bison were cracking PSU's back line.
The Bison drew four penalty corners in the space of a minute in the fourth quarter. The fourth one, not the third attempt, during the 49th minute proved the charm. Leclercq struck pay dirt with a mighty swing, as the sphere sizzled past the astonished Penn State goalkeeper, cutting the deficit in half.
Bucknell spent the final ten minutes chasing the tying goal. Penn State's defense stiffened but freshman Gracie Kothari, sporting her Maryland flag headband, recorded a good shot that Penn State's goalkeeper saved.
A green card on Penn State's Sophia Mannino offered a two-minute segment of Bucknell having the numbers advantage but another shot never materialized and the Nittany Lions won the 2025 edition of the Route 45 Rivalry.
Up Next
The Bison head to the First State on Sunday afternoon to face Delaware at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
BUCKNELL
PENN STA
Goals
1
2
Shots
8
10
Shots on Goal
3
6
Saves
3
2
Corners
6
5
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Katelyn Strawser
GOAL by Penn State Katelyn Strawser (FIRST GOAL)
7:28
Cooper Cutchins
GOAL by Penn State Cooper Cutchins
28:09
Kira Leclercq
Assisted By: Nicky Punt
GOAL by Bucknell Kira Leclercq, Assist by Nicky Punt
49:32
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
VMI at Bucknell Football Highlights 9-13-2025
Sunday, September 14
Post Game Interview vs. VMI
Saturday, September 13
Georgetown-Bucknell Women's Soccer Highlights 9-11-2025
Friday, September 12
In The Herd: Bucknell Invitational Preview And Mirra Manolov And Abby Platt Features
Thursday, September 11