Athlete Spotlight: Lily Pfefferle
Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications
Salem, Mass. -- Our athlete spotlight features the reigning MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week, Lily Pfefferle from St. Paul, Minnesota. Pfefferle this past Saturday saved 18 of 19 shots in a 1-0 loss to Bridgewater State on the road. The Vikings goalkeeper currently is second nationally in saves per game with a 13.40 average.
"It feels like a full circle moment for me in my career, stated Pfefferle on winning player of the week honors. I haven't gotten a conference honor since my freshman season when I got rookie of the week. This is a nice reminder for me that I can still be the goalkeeper my teammates rely on in important games."
As far as how surprised she was by the achievement. "I was extremely shocked... I'm no stranger to receiving more than my fair share of shots against a good team. If it were up to me, I would give the award to my teammates. I watch how hard they sacrifice every game, and it can be a thankless job at times. The game against Bridgewater remained competitive because we forced them into shots that were in my wheelhouse. Got to give it up to the girls."
The Minnesota native talked about her first shutout victory of the season against Mass-Maritime. "I'm really proud of our team for never letting up both on offense and defense. Before the game, I told Brenna (Paquette), Savannah (Scrodin), and Macy (Hudzik), "I want you to be relentless to the point where I don't touch the ball this game". It feels nice to have a shutout on the record and that's entirely thanks to my team not wavering for even a second."
Pfefferle, who started playing soccer when she was in her freshman year of high school talked about her pre-game routine. "Before games, I throw a tennis ball around in the locker room and sometimes at my teammates to make sure they're ready."
The Interdisciplinary Studies major spoke about her mindset during the middle of a game. "Being a goalkeeper is at least 70% a mental game. Every decision I make on the field when the ball is coming my way is a make-or-break decision because if it goes by me, it's in the goal. Some teams we play are better than others, but every game I go out with the mentality that we have the same opportunity to win. I'm always ready for the ball to come my way, but if I haven't gotten much action, I usually pass the time singing or talking to myself."
She mentioned what kind of activities she performs in the off-season to stay prepared for the upcoming season. "I do a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, running, and rock climbing. I try to get in a lift a few times a week and play some pick-up basketball. I commute everywhere by bike, both in season and off-season, so getting in those 25 miles per week definitely helped with fitness."
She explained her decision on why she chose Salem State and became a Viking. "I wanted to do something different and leave my hometown. I've always had a passion for history and Salem was the perfect spot to explore that. Coach Wood recruited me in the spring of my senior year of high school so I was overjoyed when I realized I could play a few more years of soccer."
The senior explained her transition from one state to another, and being far away from her relatives. "After the initial shock of being over 1000 miles away from my mother for the first time in my life, I settled in relatively fast. Since preseason starts before most students are on campus, I had like a full week to adjust and make 22 new friends on the soccer team. Since then, it's just been five years of people making fun of my accent and my favorite sports teams."
The Minnesota native talks about what message she has for anyone who wants to play soccer. "Don't wait. Not only is soccer a great game, but it leads to so many different avenues in life."
She expressed what coach Wood means to her. "I respect and appreciate her for everything she does for our team and as an athletic director. Without coach Wood, I never would have come to Salem State. She took a gamble recruiting me halfway across the country, and with only three years of goalkeeping experience under my belt at the time. She saw in me what not many other coaches saw at the time, and that was the potential to grow. I can't thank her enough for giving me the chance."
A person who has impacted her life is her cousin, who passed away at the age of 27. "My cousin David, who was a marathon runner and passed away when he was 27. He was a firm believer in living life with intention and I hold that advice close to my heart."
Pfefferle's idol is Anne Bancroft, something that we don't know about her is that she does a good impression of Jennifer Coolidge.
She expressed what the word "Viking" means to her. "For me, the word Viking means togetherness in the face of adversity. Every season comes with a new set of challenges, but every time I walk off the field, I know I'm doing it with my sisters."
Pfefferle and the Vikings will remain on the road as they head to MCLA this Saturday for a conference game. Game time is at 1:00 p.m.