University of Vermont Athletics

Pfeifer enters her 11th season as head coach of the Vermont field hockey program in 2025. She was named the fourth head coach in program history on January 16, 2014.

In 2024, the Catamounts recorded 11 wins and made the playoffs for the third straight year. The second time, from 2004-2007, they made it three straight years. UVM recorded 50 goals and had 139 points, which are the most under Pfeifer and rank second in program history. Sophia Drees was named the America East Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Catamount to earn the honor. She was also named to the NFHCA All-Region First Team and Senior Team. Sophia Lefranc was named to the Second Team. Two other Catamounts joined the two on America East All-Conference Teams (Drees – 1st Team; Lefranc – 2nd Team; Marie Dijkstra – 2nd Team; Dijkstra– All-Rookie; Lara Cleophas – All-Rookie; Merle Vaandrager – All-Rookie).

In 2023, the Catamounts recorded eight wins and made back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 2007. UVM recorded 44 goals and had 127 points, which are the most under Pfeifer and rank second in program history. Alina Gerke was named to the NFHCA All-Region First Team, while Sophia Lefranc was named to the Second Team. Two other Catamounts joined the two on America East All-Conference Teams (Gerke – 1st Team; Sophia Drees – 2nd Team; Lefranc – 2nd Team; Lilly Leiprecht – All-Rookie).

Pfeifer followed up a successful 2021 season as UVM won a program record 13 games in 2022. UVM made its first playoff appearance since 2018. The Catamounts outscored opponents 43-26 over the course of 18 games – at the time, the 43 goals were the second most in program history and most under Pfeifer. Sophia Drees and Alina Gerke were both named to the NFHCA All-Region Second Team, and three other Catamounts joined the two on America East All-Conference Teams (Gerke – 1st Team; Drees – 1st Team; Sierra Espeland – 1st Team; Sophia Lefranc – All-Rookie; Mora Fernandez de Oliveira – All-Rookie Team).

Pfeifer led UVM to its most successful season in over a decade in the fall of 2021. Vermont won 10 games – the most since 2007 – and knocked off two ranked opponents during the run. UVM outscored the opposition 30-27 over the course of 18 games – the 30 goals are the second most in a season under Pfeifer. Clodagh Ferry was named to the NFHCA All-Region Second Team for the second straight season, and three other Catamounts joined Ferry on America East All-Conference Teams (Ferry – 1st Team; Sierra Espeland – 2nd Team; Alina Gerke – All-Rookie; Lydia Maitland – All-Academic).

The Catamounts played an abridged 2020 season in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pfeifer led the team to a pair of wins, including one over rival New Hampshire. Clodagh Ferry and Kate Hall were both named to the NFHCA All-Region Second Team. Five total Cats landed on All-Conference teams, headlined by Ferry, Hall, and Claudia Cotter on the Second Team, while Puck Kwaspen earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team and Lydia Maitland on the All-Academic Team.

In 2019, the Catamounts recorded 6 wins on the season with a shutout win over Hofstra. Sydney Melfi and Clodagh Ferry received America East All-Conference Second Team, and Kate Hall was awarded the America East All-Rookie Team.  

In 2018, Vermont posted eight wins, the most since 2007, and earned a berth to the 2018 America East Tournament in Palo Alto, California. Vermont claimed a 3-0 road victory over 15th-ranked Maine late in the regular season. It marked the first win over the Black Bears since 2007 and just the 10th in series history.

In 2017, Vermont grabbed five wins, including its first win over New Hampshire since 2007, with more than half the roster comprised of newcomers. Landon Warren received America East All-Conference honors, and Olivia Hurd grabbed All-Academic honors for the second consecutive year.

The Catamounts continued to make tremendous strides in 2016, Pfeifer’s third year at the helm. UVM matched its combined win total from the previous two seasons and won its first six home matches for the first time since 1979. Lauren Tucker received NFHCA All-Region recognition, and three Catamounts, including Tucker, picked up America East All-Conference awards.

In her second year, UVM notched four wins and returned to the America East Tournament. The Catamounts saw three players garner All-Conference recognition, two of whom were coming off their freshman season. Under Pfeifer’s watch, two members of the squad also earned All-Rookie honors.

Pfeifer guided the Catamounts to three victories in her first season at the helm of the program in 2014, including two wins in the team’s final four games. That year, Pfeifer coached four players who earned All-Conference honors–the most since 2008, when Vermont also had four players selected as All-Conference performers.

Before arriving in Burlington, Pfeifer spent seven years working under Cheryl Murtagh at Northeastern.  After three seasons as an assistant with the Huskies, she was promoted to associate head coach.  She worked with all aspects of the team's tactical and technical development, specifically training the NU defensive unit, and was also the program's recruiting coordinator.

During her tenure at Northeastern, the Huskies achieved the top ranking in the Northeast region in 2011 and 2012 and advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) finals in 2011, 2012, and 2013. NU earned back-to-back berths to the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and 2012.

While with the Huskies, Pfeifer coached and recruited four CAA Rookie of the Year honorees and, over her last three seasons, 13 players received All-Conference honors. Three Huskies also earned All-America laurels.

Pfeifer brings a wide range of coaching experience to the Catamounts. Prior to joining the Northeastern staff, she was an assistant at Babson College for the 2006 season. In 2005, she coached at Franklin Parker West High School and the Windy City Field Hockey Club in Chicago.

She has also worked extensively with the FUTURES program, the U.S. Field Hockey Association's developmental program.  In addition, Pfeifer previously coached the New England Futures Elite Academy, which hosts the best high school players in the region and prepares them for the Olympic development track.

Pfeifer enjoyed a stellar career at Michigan (2000-04), where she was an anchor of one of the strongest defensive units in the country. As a Wolverine, Pfeifer won four Big Ten Championships and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, which included a National Championship in 2001, and trips to the Final Four in 2001 and 2003.  The Wolverines’ 2001 National Championship was the first for any women's team in the history of the Michigan athletic program.

In her senior season, Pfeifer was a team captain and led the Wolverines to a Big Ten Regular Season Championship, a Big Ten Tournament Title, and a trip to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament.

In 2003, Pfeifer was the recipient of the Brian Fishman Award at Michigan for exceptional work ethic, passion, and pursuit of excellence.  She was also awarded the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2004 and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten Award winner. She was also selected to play in the NCAA Division I North-South Senior All-Star Game.

Pfeifer graduated from Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and earned a master's degree in business administration at Northeastern in 2010.  She holds a Level II coaching accreditation from USA Field Hockey.