TCNJ field hockey picks up new season right where it left off – The Trentonian
Despite the loss of a pair of All-America players in Lindsey Hatch and Erin Healy, The College of New Jersey field hockey team picked up right where it left off in 2014, with an impressive win.
After winning the Division III national title in 2014 the No. 4 ranked Lions opened the 2015 season on Tuesday night with an imposing 7-0 win over Stevens Institute of Technology.
“We have seven starters that return from last year’s team and they all gained an enormous amount of confidence through their experience,” said 30-year coach Sharon Pfluger. “I’m sure that will help in this year’s quest to be the best they can be.”
Pfluger now has a 529-80-5 mark at TCNJ and the Lions have won nine national titles under her guidance. She leads all active Division III coaches in wins and winning percentage.
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Alicia Wagner, a former All-Trentonian performer at Hopewell Valley, led the Lions with three goals in the Stevens win. Jaclyn Douglas added a pair while Florence’s Lexi Smith and freshman Taylor Barrett added single scores.
TCNJ (1-0) will have a few days off before they open in Lions Stadium against FDU-Florham (1-0), which opened the season with a win over William Paterson.
There are five nationally ranked teams, No. 2 Salisbury, No. 7 Ursinus, No. 12 Montclair State, No. 13 Messiah and No. 20 Rowan on the Lions schedule this season. However, Pfluger has been impressed with the way the Lions have gone about their business this preseason.
“I’m always impressed by the level of hard work our student-athletes show on a daily basis,” said Pfluger. “They all possess a quiet confidence and they always want to keep learning. They are all very competitive. I have a deep level of respect for our student athletes for this and many other reasons and I feel very fortunate to coach them.”
TCNJ was the preseason pick to win the New Jersey Athletic Conference followed by Rowan, Montclair State, Kean, Stockton, William Paterson and Ramapo.
Besides Wagner, Smith and Douglas the Lions will be counting on All-NJAC player, Mikayla Cimilluca. The senior midfielder is a strong player and one of the leaders on the Lions.
Cimilluca and Wagner are the only two seniors on the TCNJ roster.
“Those two seniors will lead the group,” said Pfluger. “They will be assisted by a large group of juniors that are starters. The key is always teamwork and believing in themselves. It makes the difference when you are pulling through most competitive situations.”
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