Bucknell University

Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) at No. 14 Ohio State (0-0, 0-0 BIG 10)

When: Sunday, September 1st – 1pm

Where: Buckeye Varsity Field – Columbus, Ohio

Streaming: LARGE+

Live Statistics: ohiostatebuckeyes.com

About Bucknell

• The Bisons’ 52nd college hockey season begins at Buckeye State against Miami (OH) and Ohio State. Bucknell opened last year on the road against Drexel and Temple, losing both games.
• Only Ohio State’s game will be streamed. The contest is available on BIG+ and requires a subscription. The link is available in this preview and on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. Links to live stats are also available on the Bucknell field hockey schedule page. Live updates will be posted on the Bucknell Field Hockey X page.
• Bucknell finished the 2023 season 8-9 overall and 3-3 in the Patriot League, earning a berth in the Patriot League tournament for the 16th consecutive year. The Bison lost 3-2 to the top-seeded American Eagles in the Patriot League semifinals. Bucknell fought back from a 3-0 deficit and had a chance to tie the game as time expired. The Eagles blocked the shot and escaped overtime.
• The heartbreaking loss ended Bucknell’s painful habit in the 2023 season, when the Bison lost eight games by one goal. The losses included a 2-1 loss to #12 Penn State and a 3-2 loss to #18 UMass Lowell. In the two seasons, Bucknell has lost 16 games by one goal.
• Head Coach Kelsey Kolojejchick begins her third season at Lewisburg. Kolojejchick needs a win to tie Cheryl Stockman for seventh place in Bucknell history.
• The Bison can rely on 19 players from last season’s squad and welcome six new additions.
• In the Patriot League preseason poll, Bucknell was projected to finish second with Lafayette. Reigning champion American was projected to finish first and Colgate last. Bucknell will host American in 2023.
• Junior Kira Leclercq was named Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Leclercq was a standout defender in 2023, making four saves and being named to the First Team All-Patriot League and Second Team All-NFHCA. She also scored five goals.
• senior Lily Neilson was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team after winning the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Her 13 goals were a player-best despite Neilson missing several games to play for Australia’s Junior World Championship team. She was named the first Second Team All-American in Bucknell history. She is the third all-time leading player for Bucknell with 42 career goals.
• The bison named Lily Neilson and Katharina Krueger as captains.

Exploring Miami (Ohio)

• Miami had a stellar 2023 season, going 15-8 overall and 6-1 in the MAC. The Redhawks won the MAC Tournament and defeated California 3-0 in the NCAA Tournament before losing 3-0 to Northwestern in the next round.
• Miami is projected to finish first in the nine-team MAC. Goalscorer Claudia Negrete Garcia returns as a graduate student. In 2023, she scored 16 goals and was named to the All-MAC First Team and a Second Team All-American by Synapse Sports.
• Iñako Puzo is entering his 14th season as head Redhawk. His career record is 157-116.

Series history with the Redhawks

• Bucknell leads the standings 1-0. The first match was last season in Lewisburg, when the Bison defeated the Redhawks 2-1. Miami took a 1-0 lead before Lily Neilson And Rachel Apa each scored a goal to make up the deficit.

Explore Ohio State

• Ohio State finished 14-6 overall and 4-4 in the Big 10. Like Miami, their season ended with a loss to Northwestern. The Wildcats defeated the Buckeyes 3-1 in the Big 10 tournament. They had ranked wins over No. 1 Iowa, No. 8 Michigan and No. 14 Penn State. Ohio State finished 7-3 at home in 2023.
• The Big 10 has done away with the typical preseason poll and all-league teams. Instead, the conference has a preseason watch list. Ohio State has ranked three players: Katie Fichtner, Anne Marie Krebs and Makenna Webster.
• Ohio State has a strong offense and a veteran goaltender. Their offense ranked second nationally in total goals (62). Goaltender Abby Danson has 58 starts.
• Jarred Martin is entering his eighth year as head coach of the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s 14 wins in 2023 were the most in 14 years.

Series history with the Buckeyes

• The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 3-0. The Bison lost 2-1 at last year’s Buckeye Invitational. Bucknell fell behind 2-0 before rallying with a late comeback. Isabella Pavlides Goal, but the orange-blues were unable to equalize.

Next

• The Bison open the home schedule with two games against Delaware (September 6) and UMass Lowell (September 8).