The following information is from the Patriot League and its preseason coaches poll.
“American ranked atop the 2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll and Eagles’ senior goalkeeper Bryn Underwood was named the preseason goalkeeper of the year when the League office announced honors on Tuesday.
Bucknell junior forward Lily Neilson claimed Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after leading the League in goals the last two seasons. Boston University senior back Payton Anderson received preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors. Underwood, Neilson and Anderson were all major award winners following the 2022 seasons.
American received 72 points and 11 first-place votes to place atop the preseason poll. League runner-up Boston University finished with 63 points and three first-place votes to finish second, while Bucknell (49) and Lafayette (39) round out the top four. Defending champion Lehigh ranked fifth with 32 points, with Holy Cross (26) and Colgate (14) placing sixth and seventh, respectively.
Voting for the Patriot League Preseason Field Hockey honors was completed by League field hockey coaches and sports information directors, who cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.”
2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Jr., Forward, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia/The Armidale School
*Neilson, a two-time First Team All-Patriot League selection, earned League Offensive Player of the Year honors following the 2022 season.
*The junior forward led the League and ranked 10th in NCAA DI in goals per game (0.82) while leading the League and placing 24th in the nation in points per game (1.71).
*She has recorded 60 points on 29 goals and two assists during her first two seasons at Bucknell after leading the League in goals in both seasons.
2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Payton Anderson, Boston University, Jr., Back, Christchurch, New Zealand/Burnside
*Anderson is a two-time All-Patriot League selection, earning first-team honors and League’s defensive player of the year honors in 2022.
*She led a Boston University defense that tied for a League-low 1.17 goals per game in League play while posting the second-best scoring margin (+1.16) in the League.
*The three-time Patriot League weekly honoree started all 17 games and finished fifth in the Patriot League with nine goals, including the game-winner against Bucknell to clinch the regular-season title.
2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Bryn Underwood, American, Sr., Goalkeeper, Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson
*Underwood is a three-time major-award winner, claiming Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021 and 2022 after receiving League Rookie of the Year honors following the spring 2021 season.
*The three-time All-League selection posted a Patriot League-best save percentage (.816) and goals-against average (1.328) last season.
*She is tied for the best goals-against average (1.19) in Patriot League history with former Eagle Allison Fayfich (2003-06).
2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Poll
1. American, 72 points (11 first-place votes)
2. Boston University, 63 (3)
3. Bucknell, 49
4. Lafayette, 39
5. Lehigh, 32
6. Holy Cross, 26
7. Colgate, 14
2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Jr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Payton Anderson, Boston University, Jr., B
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year – Bryn Underwood, American, Sr., GK
2023 Patriot League Field Hockey Preseason All-League Team*
Charllene Boshoff, American, Gr., D
Federica Turina Dellamaggiore, American, Jr., F
Bryn Underwood, American, Sr., GK
Payton Anderson, Boston University, Jr., B
Rachel Borzymowski, Boston University, 5th, B
Martu Coulo, Boston University, So., F/M
Thalia Steenssens, Boston University, Sr., M
Kira Leclercq, Bucknell, So., D
Lily Neilson, Bucknell, Jr., F
Ella Murphy, Colgate, Sr., M
Meggan Fourie, Holy Cross, Jr., M
Lineke Spaans, Lafayette, Jr., M
India Ralph, Lafayette, Jr., D
Julia Gatelein, Lehigh, Sr., M/B
Abbie Brown, Lehigh, Sr., F
*Denotes additional members of the team due to ties in the voting
