The Bucknell women’s lacrosse team makes its official 2025 season debut on Wednesday at No. 22 Penn State, but head coach Jackie Dando says that this year’s squad really planted its roots back in the fall.
“I feel like we had our most productive fall since I’ve been here,” said Dando, who is entering her sixth season at the helm of the Bison. “We were able to install quite a few new concepts, and more importantly, we were able to establish everyone’s roles much earlier than in the past. Everybody is embracing their roles and expectations, and I think that will help us improve our consistency.”
Bucknell finished 5-10 overall and 3-6 in the Patriot League last season, and in order to climb back in the top six and qualify for the Patriot League Tournament, the Bison will have to flip a close loss or two. Last year they finished in a four-way tie for fifth place in the regular-season standings but missed out on the postseason on tiebreaker criteria.
The Bison did graduate a large, 10-person senior class and have endured some preseason injuries, but the squad brings back plenty of game experience along with an impact first-year class. Headlining the returnees is senior attacker Allie Boyce, a Second Team All-Patriot League honoree last season and a Preseason All-PL selection this year. Bucknell was picked seventh in the preseason poll.
“I like where we are heading into the season,” said Dando. “Our defense has been strong in the preseason scrimmages, which helps our goalies see the ball better. I have good confidence in our attack because they are so talented, and I think we have more scoring threats than ever before. We have lots of options, and even though we have a tough non-conference schedule I think we are ready to hit the ground running.”
Bucknell will have a tough test on Wednesday with a trip to State College to face No. 22 Penn State, which is looking to bounce back from a 12-10 home loss to Richmond on Saturday. Bucknell’s home opener will be on Saturday with a first-ever meeting with Rider, and in an exciting change in 2025, the Bison will be playing their home games in Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Even though the venerable stadium turned 100 years old in the fall, the facility has a brand new FieldTurf surface and a two-year-old high definition video board to enhance the spectator experience.
Bucknell will also host Villanova and Kent State in non-league play. After starting the month of March on the road at Mount St. Mary’s, the Bison will head to Tampa, Fla., to face Xavier and USF during Spring Break Week. The Patriot League slate then gets going on March 15 at Boston University.
“I couldn’t be happier with the chemistry of the team off the field,” said Dando. “The team is very close, they really care about each other, and they really care about wanting to be good. As a coach, that buy-in is very rewarding to watch.”
Let’s take a closer look at the 2025 Bison by position.
ATTACK
The attack unit is Bucknell’s deepest position on the roster. So deep, in fact, that a couple of former attackers are now playing midfield in order to get the most dynamic offensive unit on the field together.
“Attack is definitely our most seasoned group,” said Dando. “Three of our five seniors are in the attacking group, and we have several top performers there who have scored a lot of big goals over the years. The starting attackers have had really good experience together.”
Senior Allie Boyce and junior Megan Krestinski tied for the team lead with 37 points last season. Boyce, who in 2023 became only the second player in team history to score 50 goals in a season, tallied 30 more last year despite playing through some injuries. She needs only 28 more to equal Suzanne Raffaele’s Bucknell career mark of 144.
Boyce has led the entire nation in free position shooting percentage in each of the last two seasons. She led all Division I players in overall shooting percentage (.649) in 2023, and last year she ranked second nationally while upping her accuracy to .667. Boyce holds a share of the Bucknell single-game record with 10 goals against American in 2023, and her 50 goals that year were just two shy of Sue Gray’s record that has stood since 1984. With 136 career points, Boyce is just seven away from moving into the top-10 in school history in that category.
“Allie really wants to embrace her senior season,” said Dando. “She’s not afraid to put her body on the line, draw fouls, and get to the eight-meter line. She might have been a little more tentative last year while dealing with her injuries, but I think especially come Patriot League time we will see her being more aggressive again. She’s so vocal and such a great leader, so we need her out there.”
Krestinski, who moved to attack from the midfield last season, tallied 21 goals and 16 assists in 2024. She recorded at least one point in 11 of her 13 appearances, and she posted three four-goal games.
“Megan moved to crease attack last year and had a standout season,” noted Dando. “She will remain an attacker this year because we have to have her on the field with her speed and tenaciousness. Not having to run the full field keeps her legs fresh when we really need her in those tight games.”
The Bison must replace Taylor Kopan’s 24 goals, but junior Katie Browne scored 18 of her own and will have a prominent role as a runner. Browne scored one of the biggest goals of the season a year ago, a dramatic game-winner with 4.9 seconds left in a 14-13 home victory over Lafayette. Senior Taylor McLain is an outstanding feeder who already ranks fourth on Bucknell’s career assists chart with 61.
Keep an eye on freshman Kat Reynolds, a lefty crease attacker who should see plenty of reps early on, as should senior Carly Cenci, junior Caroline Sheridan, and sophomore Ava Harris. Junior C.C. Webber is back after missing her first two seasons due to injury. Sophomore Mimi Sue Novak gives the Bison good depth on the crease, and freshman Olivia Selleck is battling for time as well.
MIDFIELD
Senior co-captain Aliza Thir heads up a midfield unit that will have a bit of a new look in 2025. Thir is an outstanding defender who is excellent on ground balls, and she could have a bigger scoring role this season. Juniors Alex Nesbitt and Regan Sansiviero have moved from attack, and freshman Alex Macutek, who scored 232 goals in high school, is an outstanding two-way player with great reach at 5’10”.
“Alex Nesbitt has proven she can score goals, and she was too good to be our fifth attacker,” said Dando. “She’s really come a long way with our defensive concepts as she has gotten more reps, and she and Aliza are playing very well together. Regan has looked very good and gives us a lefty option there, and Alex Macutek is someone we are very excited about. She’s great in transition, great on draw controls, and she has a chance to be a tremendous offensive as she gets more comfortable in our system.”
Freshmen Estella Geller and Kamryn Schmitt are also knocking at the door. The Bison will miss sophomore Abby Henderson, who suffered a season-ending injury in the fall after chipping in seven goals and three assists as a rookie in 2024.
Sophomore Katie Wolin and junior Juliana Pagano are two experienced defensive midfielders who will be on the field on defense quite a bit. Pagano and freshman Madie Thistlewaite will be the primary draw specialists. Thistlewaite, whose father Scott played football at Bucknell, set the New Hope-Solebury High School team records for goals (254) and draw controls (204).
DEFENSE
The Bison graduated two senior starting defenders in Jamie Fedorjaka and Madison Parke and lost another, Julia Backenstrass, to injury, but Dando remains highly optimistic about a hard-working unit headed up by standout junior co-captain Catherine Dineen. Dineen has been a starter in each of her first two seasons at Bucknell and is not only a terrific 1v1 defender but is also a key figure in the clearing game with her speed in the open field.
“Cat is doing great, working hard as always and now embracing the role of the leader of the defense,” said Dando. “She has more support this year in the clearing game, which is great.”
Perhaps the surprise of the fall was the emergence of junior Jess Leon, who joined the team last season after starting out her college career on the field hockey squad. Leon has quickly grasped the defense and has earned a starting nod this spring.
“Jess has been phenomenal,” praised Dando. “Defense is just very innate to her. She doesn’t foul, and she puts on great on-ball pressure. She has great stamina and just keeps working. She’s fast, she’s athletic, and she’s good at ground balls.”
Two other newcomers to watch are freshmen Harper Throop and Kate Hearns. Throop, a crease defender, joins former Florida club teammates McClain and Backenstrass, who all played for McClain’s father, John. Throop was a U.S. Lacrosse All-American at American Heritage High School. Hearns is a 5’10” rover who can cover a ton of ground and is strong in transition. She played high-level club lacrosse on Long Island and was also a state track qualifier in the 4x200 relay.
Sophomore Kiera McClanahan has returned after missing all of last season with an injury, and she will be vying for time along with freshman Kristina Einberg. Sophomore Corbin Callaway and freshman Morgan Breakey, a High School All-American from the same Wilton High School that produced Dineen, are out with injuries.
GOALIE
Bucknell returns its starting goalie in senior Colleen Kazanjian, who averaged 8.3 saves per game and was in the cage for all five of the team’s wins last season.
“Kaz looks super comfortable and confident entering the season,” said Dando. “When our zone defense is locked in in front over her, she is really tracking shots well. She played great in our scrimmage last week.”
Sophomore Bella Crowley has been competing hard throughout the fall and the preseason. She got a taste of college lacrosse in two appearances totaling 43 minutes last season. Junior Julia Dembowitz, who has also seen some action over the last two seasons, will miss the 2025 campaign due to injury. Freshman Toni Plunkett from Philadelphia will start out as the scout team netminder.