Lily Neilson has starred on the pitch for Bucknell Field Hockey over the past three seasons. Her slashing attack and speedy form, encased in a #12 jersey, have devastated opposing ranks to 42 goals, which ranks third-highest in Bucknell history and first among modern players. Neilson looks born to play the sport with her wire-steel form and deft footsteps. However, as with every "natural athlete," their success is less pure chance and more dedicated drive sandwiched between hard work and spirit ready to combat every challenge.
Like most athletes, Neilson spent her youth playing multiple events before settling on a specific sport. She swam, rode horses, played tennis, and tried netball. She came by her athletic ability naturally. Her parents might not have played collegiate sports but their athletic skills stack up with anyone. Her mother started performing half-Ironmen in her mid-20s, a prodigious endurance test. Her dad was an excellent track runner (Lily inherited her father's speed) and played rugby at a high level before injuries halted his ascension to playing for Australia.
Her field hockey career began not because of her inspiration but because her younger sister Hannah's playing the sport drew her interest.
"When I moved to my hometown of Armidale, Hannah started playing before me. When I saw her play, I thought I could give it a go. Sure enough, I fell in love with the sport. I was ten years old when I started playing which is rather late in starting play in Australia. I enjoyed the running and the camaraderie with my teammates. Field hockey was the first sport I wanted to be good at."
She started her career as a midfielder and stated in her pleasantly classical Australian accent, "I think everyone starts as a midfielder." It is a versatile position and ideal for beginners. Lily transitioned to the forward/striker position, a perfect marriage between the role's responsibilities and her athletic talent. Her slick speed and bold shooting have become a goalkeeper's terror. Her tomahawk shot (a fanciful term for backhand) is especially potent. Historically, the best strikers have owned such a shot in their arsenal.
"I loved the sense of chasing the ball. My dad has always used the expression, "working like a sheepdog." Chasing and herding the ball and the defender to make the turnover in attack. You do the work and you can get the reward as a striker."
Watching Neilson shoot resembles the meter of an Edmund Spenser sonnet. Each movement bounces along to a stressed beat. Every goal is a line from Amoretti. The phrase, "poetry in motion," is a cliche but Neilson's play truly personifies what poets strain for when they scratch out verses. She glides while other players strive. The "natural" effort is a product of training and technique.
"It started with developing the shot and making sure I hit the ball well on my forehand. Hitting the ball on my left. Hitting the ball on my right foot. Making sure no matter what position the ball is in. I had a coach early on that told me you want to trick the ball into the right position which involves using your hands to manipulate it."
Her reserve shot especially glows. Lily is a master of obtaining the ball in the circle, stopping dead in her tracks, and sending the sphere flying past the startled defense. It is a deft trick that opponents cannot seem to figure out. She admits that some would say it is her favorite shot.
With her position and shot secured, Neilson looked to continue her field hockey career at university. How does a young lady from Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, a charming town wedged two hours inland between Brisbane and Sydney, end up in the equally delightful and flirtatious Susquehanna Valley? There are similarities. Cotton farms and cattle ranches surround Armidale while cornstalks and dairy operations encircle Lewisburg. Society talks about going away to college but Neilson isn't a short trip from home sweet home. She is continents and oceans away.
Bucknell's previous head coach Jeremy Cook recruited Neilson from the Land Down Under. She originally wanted to attend a larger school until senior level biology. That switched her stance to desiring a school with a strong academic and athletic foundation. Bucknell filled the dual role.
"I always wanted to play field hockey at the best level. I wanted to balance the academic and athletic roles. Jeremy reached out to me through a recruiting platform. We started talking and he requested that I enroll. I said this plenty but looking at other schools that other girls go to and end up not enjoying, I got incredibly lucky picking Bucknell. I have made the most amazing friends and the field hockey team has the best culture."
Bucknell was incredibly lucky to land Neilson. That team culture ensured Neilson's transition from Down Under to the Keystone State. She struggled during her freshmen year (2021) being away from her family and COVID-19 restrictions barred any visitors from Australia. Now, the most difficult aspect is tedious international taxes.
Her favorite part about America is the sense of hospitality highlighted by how her teammates's families have been welcoming.
She first experienced it when fellow senior Isabella Pavlides's family housed her for a week before preseason camp started in 2021.
"That was my introductory experience of USA culture. Her family was just so beautiful in letting me stay with them. I have stayed with other teammates's families and they have accepted me as their second daughter. They have made me feel like I am at home."
Pavlides notes how their bond began that first week.
"It was so cool meeting Lily. We clicked instantly and had a great last week of our summer together, training and preparing for preseason. I was so lucky to have gotten close with her before going into the season as we had each other's back through and through and supported one another."
The Patriot League and the greater field hockey world have noticed Lily's incredible talent, appropriately showering her with laurels. It is expected since she has led the circuit in goals last three seasons. She won the last two Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Awards, thrice named to the First Team All-Patriot League Team, slotted on the 2023 NFHCA First Team, and became Bucknell's first Second Team All-American in 2023.
The league awards are nice and All-American honors certainly delight the soul, but Lily has achieved a distinction many athletes pray for in vain; acceptance to play on a national team. Neilson survived numerous cuts and tryout camps to represent Australia at the 2023 Junior World Cup, as a member of the prestigious 18-woman Jillaroos squad.
The 2023 Junior World Cup was held in Chile during November and December. Australia's group consisted of host Chile, Netherlands, and South Africa. The Jillaroos shined in the group play, defeating Chile and South Africa while tying the Netherlands. They advanced to the quarterfinals. Argentina bested them, 3-1, but the team proved resilient, rebounding to finish fifth with victories over Japan and Germany. The Netherlands ended up winning the whole competition.
Lily played in all six games, including one start against Chile. While she did not record a goal, the experience will prove valuable as she continues her dream of playing for the Australian National Team. Australia has a rich and proud field hockey history. Neilson eagerly wants to contribute her threads to the Green and Gold's tapestry.
"It was an amazing experience to be coached by a great staff. I got to play with some Hockeyroos. The culture was amazing and I will carry the experience for the rest of my life. I received valuable lessons about establishing a strong team culture and becoming the best striker I can be. Hopefully, someday, I will play for the Hockeyroos!"
When she isn't scoring goals and winning league awards or playing for club and country, she stars in the lab. The senior selected biology for her major, a typical choice reinforcing the Patriot League's scholar-athlete mantra. Neilson has not worked a typical internship yet, but on break, she met an old Bucknell alum in Sydney. The alum owns the pharmaceutical lab at a local university. She plans to return to Australia and start medical school in 2026, to become a doctor. Cancer will be cured if she can diagnose as well as she shoots.
"I got to spend time with him over break and see what his lab does. It was a cool experience and so crazy that the world is so small I met a Bucknell alum at a random pub in Sydney!"
Neilson enters her final campaign, not seeking personal accolades and glory, but wanting to bring home a ring and a trophy for Bucknell. She has a good reckoning of becoming Bucknell's all-time leading scorer. Her 42 goals are third behind Karin Wegener's 55 (1975-78) and Kathy Kline's 48 (1976-79). Neilson owns the modern scoring mark but could eclipse the all-time record. She also has a fashionable chance to own the career points record. But Neilson knows she plays better when she doesn't seek stats.
Symbolic of her drive and leadership, Neilson was named captain along with fellow senior Hope Davis for the 2024 season. It is a grand honor and one that Neilson does not take lightly. Like any great leadership duo (Marlborough/Eugene, Washington/Greene, Walt & Roy Disney), their strengths and weaknesses balance and cover each other.
"Hope is an excellent leader and thoughtful. There are times when I will think about sending something in the group chat and Hope would provide a thought that I did not consider. We balance each other in different ways on and off the field."
For her part, Davis feels the same way about Neilson. The previous three seasons of teamwork have forged a deep bond between the two seniors. Lily leads the forward charge while Hope anchors the defensive line.
"Serving as a captain with Lily is truly an honor. Not only do I respect Lily as a friend, but also as a leader. For as long as I have known Lily she has always been a natural leader, especially in her ability to make confident decisions. She can maintain a calm demeanor and articulate her point very effectively, while always elevating everyone else's level of play with her intensity. I enjoy being a co-captain with Lily because we work very well together, dividing our responsibilities, but also checking-in with each other daily. Lily has made me a better leader.”
Her leadership is exemplified by her work with assistant coach Ali McEvoy. Generally, head coach Kelsey Kojojejchick handles the forwards but McEvoy covers the crucial set-pieces called penalty corners. Bucknell's offensive production centers on executed plays and Neilson does not cherry-pick but involves herself in every aspect. McEvoy explains her work ethic:
"Lily wants to be the best in all she does on and off the field. She is always seeking to find a way to be more detailed. She does the work when no one is watching. She leads by the action of her work rate during practices bringing the intensity to the attack. During corners- she does the work visually to get the production physically on the field. She is a preparation stud."
Kolojejchick was equally as glowing in her praise of Neilson. She and Lily are entering their third season together and the former four-time All-American star at North Carolina knows field hockey as well as anyone alive.
"Lily is the total package as a fantastic student-athlete. She leads by example, works hard, and challenges herself in practice and the classroom. Her intensity and energy are contagious which positively impacts the teammates around her. I'm so proud of all Lily has accomplished at Bucknell. I look forward to watching her enjoy her last season and work hard to achieve her final goal of becoming a PL Champion."
Since the season has started and isn't close to concluding, Neilson has little time to engage in retrospective musing or recalling the good old days. However, she mined nuggets of wisdom suitable for a motivational poster.
"Being a college athlete comes with its highs and lows and playing Bucknell Field Hockey has made me realize that challenges present opportunity and understanding when things get hard you have a choice to either look at a challenge as daunting, scary, and foreboding or the opportunity to view it as something to help you improve. We had a challenging first weekend but I am hoping we can use it as fuel for learning."
Bucknell Field Hockey and Neilson still have all their goals on the table. Challenges reside in a difficult schedule, tenacious opponents and other hurdles lie ahead, but with Captain Neilson leading the forward attack, goals will be scored and reached and challenges overcome.
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