Field Hockey Hosts Quinnipiac and Cornell in Weekend Clashes

Friday, September 4

Lewisburg, Pa.

5 p.m.

Bucknell University

Quinnipiac

Photo by: Cindy Zanelli

Field Hockey Hosts Quinnipiac and Cornell in Weekend Clashes

9/2/2026 10:17:00 AM | Field Hockey

Bucknell (2-0) vs. Quinnipiac (1-1)
When: Friday, September 4 – 5 p.m.
Where: Graham Field at Holmes Stadium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

Bucknell (2-0) vs. Cornell (0-0)
When: Sunday, September 6 – 2 p.m.
Where: Graham Field at Holmes Stadium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Streaming: ESPN+
Live Stats: bucknellbison.com

About Bucknell

Bucknell began the 2026 schedule with a pair of home wins against Ball State and Sacred Heart. The Bison blanked Ball State 1-0 and edged Sacred Heart 2-1. The victories pushed Bucknell to 2-0 for the first time since 2006 when the Orange & Blue started the year defeating Robert Morris and Saint Francis.
Both games will be streamed on ESPN+. 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 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 33 career wins are tied for fourth-most in Bucknell history with Bobbi Testa. Bucknell has made the Patriot League Tournament every year under her direction.
Graduation and transfers hammered 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 Czajkoswki 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.
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 moved up the Bucknell career rankings after two spectacular games, ranking third in wins (27), seventh in winning percentage (.529), and ninth in saves (248).
Senior forward Ryane Fisahn and junior Sally Hunter joined Althouse on the All-Patriot League Preseason Team.
Althouse and Katie Lintz were named captains.
Three Bison scored their first goals this past weekend. Freshman Juliana Serafin tallied against Ball State and senior Julia Corropolese and freshman Alexis Schulz found the cage versus Sacred Heart.

Scouting Quinnipiac

Bucknell and Quinnipiac meet again after the Bison fell 2-0 on the road last year.
The Bobcats finished 10-8 overall and 2-5 in Big East play, a strong improvement over their 2-16 record in 2024.
Quinnipiac started the season with a 2-1 win over Bryant and a 3-0 defeat to Vermont.
The Bobcats shifted conferences to the NEC as an associate member, previously competing as a full-time member from 1998-2013. They are projected to finish second in the conference.
Evelyn Henderson and Julia Lutz scored the goals against Bryant.
Nina Klein enters her fourth season as the head coach of the Bobcats.

Series History with the Bobcats

The Bison own the all-time record, 3-2. The teams first met in 2003.

Scouting Cornell

Cornell went 11-4 overall and 4-3 in the Ivy League. Three of Cornell's four losses came to No. 2 North Carolina, No. 4 Harvard, and No. 6 Princeton.
The Big Red did not play in the opening weekend, as per the Ivy League custom.
Cornell was picked to finish fourth in the Ivy League.
Four Big Red players, Julia Ramsey, junior Uma Käding, sophomore Colomba Infante, and freshman Rebecca Block were named to the NFHCA Preseason Watchlist.
Käding was a Third-Team All-American in 2025 and led the Ivy League in goals (11).
The Big Red returned the bulk of their offense with eight of its top nine scorers from 2025.
Andy Smith enters his eighth season as head coach of Cornell.

Series History with the Big Red

The Big Red rank among the most-played opponents in program history. The two teams met every year from 1988-2000. Bucknell leads the all-time 17-14-1 series and won the last matchup in 2024, 3-2 in overtime.

Up Next

Bucknell remains at home to face No. 12 Syracuse on Sept. 13.