When she was a child, Kileigh Pfluger often accompanied her mom, Sharon, to work.
Except Sharon’s career isn’t a typical desk job. Sharon is a renowned college field hockey and lacrosse coach, and Kileigh was a constant presence at practices and games.
The lessons Kileigh absorbed over those years made an impact on her, who in the fall was a freshman on the Hopewell Valley High field hockey team.
Kileigh was a student of the game long before she even was a student at Hopewell Valley.
“I took my children everywhere with me in their younger years,” said Sharon, who has coached at The College of New Jersey since 1985 and won a combined total of 20 NCAA Division III national championships in field hockey and women’s lacrosse. “Like her brothers (Augie and Jonah), Kileigh sat in on numerous pre-game and post-game meetings and end of the year gatherings. She has seen what I experience as I prepare for a season, as well as what each day brings during the season.”
She even got in on the act, crafting her own plays at team meetings.
“While feeling it was so adorable, I realized that she was always thinking and trying to figure things out,” Sharon said.
Those experiences prepared Kileigh for her first season with the Bulldogs. Growing up around college athletics, she said, impacted her life and opened her eyes to the joy of being a part of a team.
Those memories, she added, are some of the best of her childhood, and that carried over into her first high school season.
“One of my favorite parts of this year was having such a great team,” she said. “I have only ever been around the college game, so as a freshman I wasn’t quite sure what to expect for high school field hockey, and I honestly could not have asked for better teammates to share my first season with. Every practice and game was fun with them and everybody was so close and tight knit.”
Kileigh helped Hopewell Valley to an 8-7-3 record. She scored four goals, which tied for fourth on the squad, and had a team-best four assists.
“Kileigh is a hard working very unselfish player,” Hopewell Valley coach Pam Edwards said. “She worked extremely hard in the offseason and came out in great shape and was able to demonstrate stick skills and strong fundamentals. She makes well-timed and accurate passes and set up many scoring opportunities for her teammates. She is extremely coachable and has a great work ethic. She has so much potential.”
The highlight of Hopewell Valley’s season came in the opening round of the Mercer County Tournament, where the Bulldogs won 2-1 in overtime against four-time defending champion Lawrenceville. Lauren Lytle scored both goals, including the game-winner on a penalty stroke. Keeper Sabrina Gomez made 15 saves.
“We grew a lot over the season,” Edwards said. “This team never gave up in any game. They are a great group of young ladies. What was great about this team is that everyone was so cohesive. Everyone got along wonderfully and they were willing to listen to each other and the coaches to improve in all aspects of the game.”
Incidentally, Edwards and Hopewell Valley assistant coach Maggie Rarich played for Sharon Pfluger in college.
“She is a great role model and mentor to all of her athletes,” Edwards said. “Sharon is a hard-working coach, always teaching not only skills to field hockey, but also life lessons. To have players strive to be their best and work hard for themselves and their teammates.”
Sharon said about Edwards and Rarich, “They are wonderful people who lead in exceptional ways. I respect and admire what they do for the field hockey and lacrosse teams at Hopewell and I am extremely proud of them. I feel blessed that Kileigh is a part of the Hopewell Valley field hockey family.”
In October, Sharon earned the 1,000th win of her coaching career, with 545 of those victories coming in field hockey and 455 in lacrosse. It was the first time in NCAA history a coach reached 1,000 wins by leading two programs.
Sharon is enshrined in multiple halls of fame and is one of just two female coaches, along with former University of Tennessee legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, featured in the NCAA Hall of Champions’ Legends of the Game display located in Indianapolis.
“My mom has had an incredible amount of influence on me in my life and especially when it comes to field hockey and lacrosse,” Kileigh said. “She is always there for me and pushes me to work my hardest.”
And to continue to learn lessons that began so many years ago.
“Kileigh knows that the only way to get something is to earn it,” Sharon said. “Earn the privilege to be on a team, practice every day, wear the uniform, get in the game, succeed in the game, be a part of something bigger than yourself. The team always comes first before any individual player. She has a very humble way about her which I truly respect and she truly cares about her team.”
From left, longtime TCNJ field hockey and lacross coach Sharon Pfluger, her daughter Kileigh, and HVCHS field hockey coaches Pam Edwards and Maggie Rarich. Kileigh’s high school field hockey coaches both played for Sharon in college.,
