Alicia Wagner races to the ball during a game against Cabrini this season. (Photo courtesy of The College of New Jersey.)
As a resident of Hopewell Township, Sharon Pfluger knew all about Alicia Wagner as a field hockey player. As the Hopewell Valley Central High field hockey coach, Pam Edwards knew all about The College of New Jersey’s success and tried to steer Wagner to Pfluger’s ultra-successful program.
It didn’t work out at first, but karma has a way of making things right and Wagner is now one of the leading scorers on the defending NCAA Division III national champion.
All it took was a slight detour to Maryland, where Wagner played for Towson University for one year before returning home.
“Pam Edwards played at TCNJ and during the recruiting process had suggested I look into it,” Wagner said. “But since I was set on Towson I didn’t give it much consideration.”
She became enamored with Towson the summer prior to her senior year when she attended a camp there.
“I loved everything about it,” Wagner said. “The school, and especially the other priority recruits. At the time, it was the move for me and I don’t have any regrets about my decision. I enjoyed my time there and made some of the best friends.”
The senior forward also upheld a family tradition as her mom, Sara Wagner, played Division I field hockey at the University of Michigan. Sara is currently the middle school coach at Stuart Country Day School and was the school’s varsity lacrosse coach for eight years, so she knows about the rigors of recruiting from a couple of different angles.
Sara also knows about being a mom, which is why she wasn’t about to try and sway Wagner in any direction. It’s probably one of the reasons why her daughter listed her as “The Person I Admire Most” in her Towson field hockey profile.
“I let her make whatever choice she wanted to make, I didn’t steer her one way or the other,” Sara said. “I wanted her to make the decision that was good for her. It seemed like a good fit at the time. I think it was a combination of things for why she left and it turned out to be good decision. But she made a lot of friends there and still keeps in touch with them.”
Wagner played 10 games for the Tigers and enjoyed her experience. She decided to transfer because of academics, though, as TCNJ had a better program for her speech pathology major.
“Everything happens for a reason, and I couldn’t be happier where I am,” Alicia said.
She’s not the only one who feels that way.
“I am so happy she and her family are a part of our field hockey program,” said Pfluger, who recently became the first NCAA coach to win a combined 1,000 games in two sports. “She is a warm, kind and caring person who works very hard to help her team.”
Unlike some parents—especially those with a DI pedigree—Sara was not upset in the least that her daughter didn’t carve out a Division I career. She, as much as anyone, knows how much of a sacrifice that can be.
“Wherever you go and whatever sport you do, the hardest part is the off-season,” Sara said. “That’s the big difference between Division I as opposed to Division II and III. At Division I those practices are mandatory and they start in January. We got back (from holiday break) and you’re practicing as hard you can. You do it because you have to do it and it becomes your identity in college. I think that’s the great thing about Division III or Division II. It allows the students to be students.”
Unfortunately, Wagner couldn’t be much more than a student her first year at TCNJ. During just her second session of practice with the Lions, she tore her ACL and missed her entire sophomore season.
She said the process wasn’t easy, but she felt fortunate to not be dealing with a more serious health matter.
Wagner bounced back last season, scoring two of her four goals in big-time situations. She had a goal in a 4-3 victory over 13th ranked Messiah and added the insurance goal in a 2-0 win over Middlebury in the national semifinals. The Lions went on to win the national title.
“Every athlete has the dream of being a national champion,” Wagner said. “When we were able to achieve that it was surreal. Those memories will last a lifetime.”
Wagner has been playing field hockey for what seems like a lifetime. Influenced by her mom’s background in the sport, she began playing toward the end of elementary school.
“She always supported and encouraged my brother (Brandon, now playing in the Yankees system) and me to play whichever sports we wanted,” Wagner said. “But I ended up enjoying field hockey the most. It definitely worked out pretty well for both of us.”
Hopewell came close, but did not win a county or state championship at HVCHS. Nonetheless, Wagner had an outstanding career both statistically and in the “fun” department.
“You get to do what you love with the people you grew up with,” she said. “I have nothing but amazing memories playing field hockey at Hopewell. We were all such great friends off the field and meshed so well on the field.”
Throughout her career, Wagner has had access to a great hockey mind in her mom.
Sometimes she would ask Sara for help, sometimes Sara would offer it—but she would definitely pick her spots.
“It’s a balance,” Sara said. “You kind of have to know when to give it and when to hold back. Sharon and her coaches do a fantastic job, they always know the game and what’s going on. My input is more positive re-enforcement and more pointing out the really good things the team did, or she did on the field and hopefully it comes to a good conclusion.”
Sara added that she speaks to Wagner from a player’s perspective, rather than a coach’s.
Whatever she is being told, Wagner is putting it to good use. In the Lions’ 12-1 start, she was third on the team in points (28) and second in goals (13). Alicia credits her defenders and midfielders for getting her the ball. In assessing her ability as a scorer, she never once talked about herself.
“Major components of field hockey consist of possession, smart passing and good communication,” she said. “We concentrate on the simple things and play a simple game. Our defense keeps it out of our circle, the midfield shifts and distributes the ball up the field, and as forwards we do everything we can to put the ball in the cage.”
Sara, who feels that a change in the interference rules over the years has given players more freedom offensively, thinks her goal scoring talents are a combination of two things.
“She’s got much better stick skills than I had,” Sara said. “And I think she just sort of has a nose for the ball that serves her well.”
For Pfluger, it has almost been like watching her own daughter come to maturity.
“I followed her closely in high school and it is very special to coach her and witness her growth as a field hockey player in college,” the coach said. “She is doing such a great job for us.”
Wagner took a medical red-shirt her sophomore year and could play one more season, but said “As much fun as that would be, it’s time for me to move on to grad school.”
She hopes to receive her masters and then decide if she wants to work at a school, hospital, private practice or nursing home. She is especially interested in working with children with autism and other special needs.
Whatever Wagner decides, rest assured Sara will support it. It’s a trend that doesn’t seem likely to change, be it sports or professional career.
“My brother and I truly are the luckiest people in the world to have the mom that we do,” Alicia said. “She is the most supportive, fun, influential and loving person in our lives. She’s the person we look into the stands and want to see. She always has been and always will be our number one fan. Without her we honestly wouldn’t be where we’re at.”
And rest assured Wagner is very happy with where she ended up.
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