Tara and Steve Danielson are returning to lead Cal Field Hockey, taking over for the legendary Shellie Onstead after her retirement. The coaching duo built Stanford into a powerhouse with nine NCAA Tournament appearances and six conference titles before Stanford's 2020 decision to cut the field hockey program (later reversed) ended their tenure. Their homecoming marks an exciting new chapter for Cal. Read the full story below.
In Stick Together news, we've launched our first-ever middle school clinics—and we still have a few spots available! Three Sunday afternoons (March 15, April 19, May 17) at Paul Goode Field in the Presidio. Register for one session or all three—whatever works for your schedule. If you know a middle schooler looking for a new sport, or if you're a parent seeking a welcoming introduction to field hockey, we'd love to have you join us. Register here
There's much more to cover this month. From youth clinics to World Cup-bound Masters athletes to the National Indoor Tournament, Northern California field hockey continues to grow and thrive.
Community Spotlight
Bay Area Masters Athletes Heading to World Cup
Congratulations to the NorCal athletes selected to represent Team USA at the 2026 World Masters Hockey World Cup this summer! Following nine months of training and selection sessions, USA Field Hockey named 15 men's and women's teams across multiple age divisions to compete at four tournament locations in the Netherlands and Belgium (July 22 - August 16). Full rosters
The NorCal delegation includes several exceptional leaders, none more distinguished than Shiv Jagday (O-50 Men's Head Coach). Jagday, recently named Director of Coaching Development at Roseville FHC, brings decades of international coaching experience to the O-50 men's squad. His career includes serving as Head Coach of the Canadian National Team ('82-'86), where he led Canada to its first-ever Pan American Games gold medal, and coaching at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and 1986 London World Cup. He later guided the U.S. National Team ('98-'05) and was inducted into the Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame in 2020.
NorCal Men's Selections:
- O-35: Derek Cheng (San Francisco)
- O-45: Jatinderpal Chahal (Fremont), Jatinder Dhaliwal (Elk Grove), Harpreet Juneja (Clovis), Sukhwinder Kullar (Sacramento), Gursev Singh (San Jose), Malkiat Singh (Fremont)
- O-50: TJ Bamrah (Roseville), Peter Buckingham (San Francisco), Harry Labana (Mountain View), Saran Mandair (San Jose), Konix Varahoor (Windsor) | Alternates: Damian Glennon (Berkeley), Andre Sequin (San Francisco)
- O-55: Paramdeep Brar (Fairfield)
- O-60: Prashant Aji (San Jose), Caz Pereira (San Francisco) | Alternate: Vijay Zaver (San Ramon)
NorCal Women's Selections:
- O-40: Savannah Devarney (San Rafael), Lisa Lohre (San Francisco)
- O-45: Nicole Ketterer (San Francisco)
Masters athletes are self-funded and support their coaching and medical staff expenses. Savannah Devarney, who founded the Olympic Club field hockey team 10 years ago, now leads fundraising efforts as Sponsorship Committee Chair for the U.S. Masters program. To support the teams' journey to the World Cup, visit the MWC fundraiser.
High School Athletes Earn NFHCA Academic Honors
Congratulations to 36 Northern California student-athletes named to the 2025 NFHCA High School National Academic Squad, recognizing juniors and seniors with GPAs of 3.50 or higher. Additionally, 20 local athletes earned Scholar of Distinction honors for maintaining unweighted GPAs of 3.90 or higher.
- Davis Senior HS: 2 honorees (2 Scholars of Distinction)
- SF University HS: 14 honorees (8 Scholars of Distinction)
- St. Ignatius: 12 honorees (3 Scholars of Distinction)
- Stevenson School: 19 honorees (9 Scholars of Distinction)
Part of a national program honoring 3,300+ student-athletes across the country. View full list of NorCal honorees.
New Organization Hosts Elite Performance Camp
NorCal Field Hockey Foundation made its debut last month with an advanced performance camp at University of the Pacific in Stockton (February 16-18). The new group brought international coach Scott Barker from Australia's Epic Hockey Academy for three days of high-intensity training for high-performance pathway players.
The camp marks the beginning of a partnership between Epic Hockey Academy and the Foundation, established through the efforts of local leaders Harry Labana and Sarandeep Mandair. Their long-term vision is to create sustainable, community-owned world-class playing surfaces to support clubs, tournaments, leagues, and international events across the Bay Area. Learn more
Local Athletes Named to MAX Field Hockey Top 150
Congratulations to Olivia Van de Braak (St. Ignatius) and Frankie Lemieux (Lick-Wilmerding) on being named to MAX Field Hockey's Class of 2028 Top 150 Player Rankings! This national recognition, released in early March, identifies the top high school field hockey players in the country based on competitive performance, Nexus selections, All-Region honors, and high-level play. View full rankings
Danielsons Return to the Bay Area to Lead Cal Field Hockey
The Bay Area field hockey community welcomes back two beloved coaches: Tara and Steve Danielson have been named Co-Directors of Cal Field Hockey, taking over for the legendary Shellie Onstead after her retirement.
The coaching duo built Stanford into a national contender from 2010-2021, where Tara compiled a 153-59 record with nine NCAA Tournament appearances, two Elite Eights, and six conference titles while developing 14 All-Americans. Their successful run ended abruptly in 2020 when Stanford announced plans to eliminate 11 varsity sports, including field hockey, citing budget constraints. Though the university reversed course after widespread backlash and the programs were reinstated in 2021, the Danielsons had already departed—Tara stepping away from coaching and Steve eventually landing at the University of New Hampshire.
"I have a deep respect for the history of this program, and it is a privilege to build upon the legacy that has made Cal so special," Tara Danielson said.
Both coaches bring exceptional credentials beyond Stanford. Tara represented Team USA in the FIH World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers and was inducted into the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation Hall of Fame in 2018. Steve competed in the 1996 Olympics, won bronze at the 1995 Pan American Games, and was inducted into the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018. Most recently, Steve served as associate head coach at New Hampshire, helping lead the Wildcats to the 2025 NCAA Sweet 16.
The Danielsons' return marks an exciting new chapter for Cal as the program cements its place in the ACC. Welcome home, coaches! Full announcement
Competition Results
Olympic Club Women's Team Competes Internationally
The Olympic Club field hockey team represented the U.S. at the Singapore 6s tournament in February, traveling farther than any of the 24 international teams to compete. Battling high heat and humidity in their first tournament of the year, OC went undefeated on day one with a perfect 5-0 record against teams from Australia and Japan. On day two, they fell 3-2 in a shootout to the eventual champions, Australia's Pink Ladies of the Wild West.
Back home, OC scrimmaged Cal on February 27 at Underhill Field, an annual spring season tradition, dropping 1-4 but played a strong 3rd quarter. Up next for OC: West Regional Championships in Moorpark (March 21-22) to compete for a spot at the National Club Championships in St. Louis (July 10-12), followed by Cal Cup over Memorial Day weekend.
SJK Boys Compete at National Indoor Tournament
San Jose Khalsa competed at the National Indoor Tournament in February, one of just four boys teams. SJK went 2-2-1 over the weekend, opening with a 5-2 win before tying Atlanta FHC 5-5. They fell 2-3 to eventual champions DC Dragons on Saturday morning, then bounced back with another 5-2 victory. The team closed Sunday with a hard-fought 2-3 loss to Atlanta. Strong showing from the Bay Area's young men on the national stage. Full results
Playing Opportunities
As always, check our Community Calendar for the full lineup of camps, clinics, and tournaments.
- Stick Together Middle School Clinics - LIMITED SPOTS REMAINING Sundays: March 15, April 19, May 17 | 12:30-3 PM | Paul Goode Field, Presidio - Small-group sessions (4:1 player-to-coach ratio) for grades 6-8. Equipment available to borrow, all skill levels welcome. Sign up for one session or commit to the series. Register now
- Bay Area Hawks Cup Saturday, April 18 | 12:30-7 PM | Fremont - The Hayward Hawks are hosting a youth tournament for U8, U10, U12, and U14 co-ed teams. This locally-focused event gives young players competitive game experience close to home while building community across Bay Area clubs. Contact Aman at (510) 253-8237 for details and registration.
- Cal Tiny Tourney Friday, May 9 | 10 AM-2 PM | Underhill Field, Berkeley - California Field Hockey hosts its annual "pint-sized play day" for U8, U10, and U12 boys and girls. This welcoming 6v6 format tournament is perfect for young players getting comfortable with competition. Space is limited to 6 teams per age group. More info and registration
Coaches Corner
Record Turnout for Level 1 Coaching Certification
Congratulations to 18 coaches who completed their USA Field Hockey Level 1 certification in Sacramento in February—the largest single training session we've seen in the Bay Area. Coach Educators Katrina Carter and Pasindu Wanigasooriya led the weekend, which welcomed coaches young and old, from seasoned PE teachers to junior men and women starting their coaching journeys. A strong foundation for the region's continued growth.
NFHCA Redwood Grant for Field Hockey Entrepreneurs
The NFHCA Redwood Grant awards $2,500 to field hockey coaches developing innovative programs or businesses in their communities. Recipients receive funding, personalized mentorship, and a supportive peer network. Applications are due April 1, 2026. Learn more and apply
What to Watch
FIH World Cup Qualifiers - Catch the Action
Despite the U.S. Men's National Team's unfortunate withdrawal from the Egypt qualifier following a State Department advisory, there's still plenty of international field hockey to watch this month. The FIH World Cup Qualifiers continue through mid-March across three continents, with teams battling for spots at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands this August.
- Egypt Qualifier highlights - Relive the USMNT's first two matches and follow the competition as England, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Egypt, Austria, and China compete for World Cup berths
- Santiago, Chile (through March 8) - Men's and women's qualifiers featuring teams from across the Americas and beyond
- Hyderabad, India (March 8-14) - Women's qualifier with England, India, Scotland, Korea, and more
The top three finishers from each qualifier, plus the highest-ranked fourth-place team, will advance to the World Cup. Watch highlights and live matches
Looking Ahead
March is packed with opportunities to get involved: Stick Together middle school clinics begin next weekend, West Regional Championships bring competitive club hockey to Moorpark (March 21-22), and coaches across the region continue building programs that welcome new players at every level.
As always, if you know someone who should hear about these opportunities—a middle schooler looking for a new sport, a parent seeking summer tournaments, or a coach wanting to connect—forward this newsletter their way. Growth happens when we share what we love.
See you on the sidelines,
The Stick Together Team
P.S. Have ideas for future newsletter content or events we should feature? Reply to this email—we're always listening.
