TCNJ’s All-American Tobler leading by example
It seems the more challenges Ally Tobler endures the stronger she becomes.
Whether those trials are on or off the lacrosse field, The College of New Jersey senior becomes more determined, focused and passionate.
When the No. 10 ranked Lions (5-0) handled Johnson and Wales on Saturday, the All-America player surpassed the 200-point plateau.
“It is honestly so hard to wrap my head around having 200 points,” said Tobler. “I didn’t even know it was happening until my family told me about it the week before. I feel very happy to be on this team with such talent, I could not have done any of this without my teammates, this year and from previous years. Being on a team with such skill and potential makes me a better player and I am so thankful for them. Being coached by the best staff is also a plus and I am grateful to play for them and they also make me a better player every day.”
Tobler and the Lions have a tough test on Thursday when No 1 and two-time defending national champion Middlebury (5-0) enters the TCNJ Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex with the first draw control at 4 p.m.
TCNJ and Middlebury have met 11 times, several times in the Final Four, and the Panthers hold a 7-4 advantage, including the last three.
The last TCNJ win was in 2018 when former Hun coach and now Stevens assistant coach Kathleen Jaeger netted five points and former Notre Dame High star Olivia Cleale had three goals in a 10-6 win.
Tobler is ready to leave her mark on this classic series.
“I am very excited for Middlebury, they always come to us and I am so thankful because they are a very classy team with such great talent,” said Tobler. “As someone who is super competitive, I always love to have some good competition in the middle of the season. The key to this game with will be confidence and communication, just making sure that my team is working as a whole unit together because that is when we are at our strongest.”
TCNJ’s Hall of Fame coach Sharon Pfluger enjoys these battles between two perennial national championship contenders, as well.
“We always enjoy playing Middlebury,” said Pfluger. “We have a long standing competitive, yet very mutually respectful history. It is great for us to see how we compare to each other each season.”
Tobler, who was an AllAmerica player and the NJAC’s Attack Player of the Year last season, leads the leads the Lions with 26 points on 19 goals and seven assists.
“This season has already been one of my favorites I have played at TCNJ,” said Tobler, who earned preseason AllAmerica honors. “The key to this is having confidence every time you are on the field. I always tell myself and my team to fake it till you make it, which is what helped me as a collegiate athlete. Another key to a great season is making sure that my team and I are more than just teammates, that we are friends off the field, this has helped me throughout preseason and the first few games. Just knowing that they have my back is so wonderful and I am grateful to be a part of it.”
One of the challenges Tobler had to overcome was having her senior season at Washington Township High washed away by Covid, leaving recruiting in an uncertain state.
But with the help of Washington Township coaches Sandy Stockl and Erin Waller, two former TCNJ players, the Lions became aware of Tobler’s talents.
“I think losing my senior season to Covid made me stronger mentally as a college player,” stated Tobler. “Not being able to play that season and then going right into college was a struggle for me. Realizing that college lacrosse is extremely different from high school lacrosse is something that I struggled with and had a loss of confidence. But after a hard couple years I worked really hard to be where I am today on the field. Having a different mentality about it really was a game changer for me, I was very pessimistic that freshman year, I am glad that I changed the way I look at things.”
It’s not only on the field where Tobler has had to overcome, as her dad recently passed away, and she has learned to lean on her family for support and are her role models.
“My mom (Dawn)is at every game and talks so highly of me to everyone we know, I am grateful to have her support,” said Tobler. “Sadly, my dad passed away a little over a year ago, but he has always been a huge role model for me as well, because without him putting me on a club team for lacrosse I probably would have never played in college, he also never missed a game. My siblings are huge role models in my life as well, they always give the right amount of confidence I need for games and in my academic life as well. Having such a wonderful support system has shaped me into the player and person I am today.”
A terrific player and an equally amazing young woman.
Being a senior, Tobler had another decision to make, what to do about 2025?
“I have decided to take my fifth year next year because my major is English, secondary ed, and special ed,” stated Tobler. “Which is a five-year degree while coming out with both my bachelors and my masters. So, I will be here anyway for that and I love lacrosse too much to give it up so soon. It’s going to be very hard to leave TCNJ so might as well continue as long as I can.”
TCNJ would love that, too. People like Tobler don’t come along that often.