Ewing, NJ... The College of New Jersey field hockey team continued to churn out wins on Thursday as the Lions dispatched of visiting Gwynedd Mercy University 6-0 at Lions Stadium.
This win was extra special as head Sharon Pfluger earned her 1,000
th career coaching victory. This marks the first time in NCAA history that a coach has reached that milestone by leading two programs. Pfluger has earned 545 wins in field hockey with another 455 victories coming in lacrosse. Included in that impressive number is 20 NCAA Division III National Championships, 11 in lacrosse and nine more in field hockey. Her career coaching record stands at a whopping 1,000-150-10 giving her an .863 winning percentage.
This year's team is a perfect 8-0 and have won 23 straight games dating back to last season.
The loss evened Gwynedd Mercy's record at 4-4.
Top-ranked TCNJ got off to a fast start as junior
Lexi Smith (Florence, NJ/Florence Twp.) opened the scoring with a blast on a penalty corner 8:20 into the game. Earning an assist on the goal was junior
Jaclyn Douglas (Malvern, PA/Great Valley).
The Lions finished off the half with a flurry with three goals in 4:54. Douglas picked up the first of those with an assist from senior
Alicia Wagner (Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley) to double the lead. Freshman
Sidney Padilla (Suffern, NY/Suffern) made it 3-0 with her first collegiate goal, while Douglas closed out the scoring in the opening period with her second of the game. That goal came with 5:29 left before the half.
TCNJ added two more goals in the second half with junior
Danielle Andreula (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) sweeping in a pass from Smith. That goal came 10:52 into the half.
Smith closed out the scoring less than five minutes later with her ninth of the season.
TCNJ's
Kelly Schlupp (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) and
Christina Fabiano (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) shared the shutout with Fabiano picking up four saves and Schlupp had one.
The Lions are back on the field this weekend when they travel to Stockton University for a 1 p.m. start with the Ospreys.