Field Hockey Hosts No. 20 Lafayette in Friday Night Showdown

Bucknell (4-6, 0-3 Patriot League) vs. #19 Lafayette (9-2, 3-0 Patriot League)
When: Friday, Oct. 9 – 6 p.m.
Where: Graham Field at Holmes Stadium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell dropped its sixth-straight game last Saturday in a heartbreaker to Holy Cross. The Crusaders led 1-0 before Alexis Schulz tied it up in the third quarter on a brilliant put back. Holy Cross scored the winning goal with 15 seconds left after stealing the ball and inducing a penalty corner.
The Bison face a tall task in #19 Lafayette, Bucknell's second ranked opponent of the season. The Orange & Blue must win to keep its Patriot League Tournament hopes alive. Bucknell has not missed qualifying for the tournament since 2007.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+. The link is available in this preview and on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. Live Stats will also be available on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. Live updates will be posted on the Bucknell Field Hockey X page.
Bucknell finished 10-7 overall and 4-2 in Patriot League play during the 2025 season and clinched a spot in the Patriot League Tournament for the 18th consecutive season. The 10 wins marked the first time Bucknell hit double-digits since 2018. The Orange & Blue repeated as the third seed and faced second-seeded Lafayette in the Patriot League Semifinals. The Bison dueled the Leopards but for the second straight year dropped a 2-1 game to Lafayette.
Head coach Kelsey Usefara enters her fifth season in Lewisburg. Her 35 career wins are fourth-most in Bucknell history. Bucknell has made the Patriot League Tournament every year under her direction.
Graduation and transfers impacted the Bison roster. Bucknell lost two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Kira Leclercq, and All-Patriot League midfielders Gianna Puorro and Nicky Punt to diploma-receiving. 2025's leading goal-scorer Reese Czajkowski transferred to Penn.
However, the team heavily restocked with nine freshmen. The newcomers have been a huge boost for the Bison, with most of them starting and playing significant minutes while displaying elite athleticism on the pitch.
Bucknell was projected to finish fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll. American was picked to finish first followed by Lafayette, reigning champion Boston, and Bucknell as the four teams selected to make the tournament. Holy Cross, Lehigh, and Colgate rounded out the poll.
Goalkeeper Sarah Althouse was named the Patriot League Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. The senior finished sixth nationally in save percentage (.781) in 2025.
Althouse ranks third in wins (29) all-time at Bucknell.
Senior forward Ryane Fisahn and junior Sally Hunter joined Althouse on the All-Patriot League Preseason Team.
Althouse and Katie Lintz were named captains.
Seven different Bison have scored Bucknell's 12 goals. Julia Corropolese paces the Bison with four goals, all occurring on penalty corners.
Bucknell has not tallied an open-field score since Bella Notaro's insurance goal against Cornell on Sept. 6.
Corropolese is tied for first in the circuit in defensive saves (3).
Bucknell has not defeated a ranked team since downing #25 Boston 1-0 in 2019.

Scouting Lafayette

Lafayette has been its typically efficient defensive self in 2026. The Leopards have only scored 23 goals but held opponents to just ten tallies.
The Leopards' only two losses have come to Big 10 powerhouses. Lafayette took #1 Northwestern to the brink in a 1-0 loss and recently fell to Penn State, 3-2.
In conference play, Lafayette has defeated American 1-0 (SO), Colgate 2-0, and Holy Cross 1-0.
Penn State and Temple are the only teams to score multiple goals on the stingy Lafayette defense. Both teams found the cage three times.
Lafayette guarantees a Patriot League Tournament bid with a win.
The Leopards went 12-7 overall and 5-1 in conference play last year. They defeated Bucknell in the PL semifinals before falling to Boston in the championship game.
Lean Thedrian leads the team in goals (7) and points (15). The defender has been punishing on penalty corners, recording a hat trick against Temple.
Addison Kahn has played most of the minutes in the cage. She has only recorded 34 saves, due to Lafayette's fabulous backline.
Jennifer Stone enters her 14th season as head coach after graduating as one of the most decorated players in program history.

Series History with the Leopards

Lafayette owns the 45-17-2 series lead and has won the last five games. Four of those five contests were 2-1 affairs. The series has been close in recent years with ten of the 11 games being one-goal affairs.

Up Next

Bucknell returns to the road to face rival Colgate on Oct. 16.

Field Hockey Hosts No. 20 Lafayette in Friday Night Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Althouse

Julia Corropolese

Reese Czajkowski

Ryane Fisahn

Sally Hunter

Kira Leclercq

Katie Lintz

Bella Notaro

Nicky Punt

Gianna Puorro

Alexis Schulz

Bucknell University Athletics

Field Hockey Hosts No. 20 Lafayette in Friday Night Showdown

Next Event

Related News

Players Mentioned

Sarah Althouse

Julia Corropolese

Reese Czajkowski

Ryane Fisahn

Sally Hunter

Kira Leclercq

Katie Lintz

Bella Notaro

Nicky Punt

Gianna Puorro

Alexis Schulz

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