Big news: Stick Together is launching middle school clinics this spring! Three Sunday afternoons (March 15, April 19, May 17) at Paul Goode Field in the Presidio for novice and beginner players. It's a small way we're working to make field hockey more accessible in our community. Learn more and register here.
This month also brought the bittersweet announcement of Coach Shellie Onstead's retirement from Cal Field Hockey. As a Cal alumna and the program's first-ever First-Team All-American, Onstead returned to Berkeley as just the program's second head coach, leading the Bears to 300+ wins, six NCAA Tournament appearances, 11 conference championships, and nine All-Americans over her career.
Beyond Cal, she's served on Olympic and national team staffs and broke barriers as the first woman to coach a U.S. men's U-16 national team—a tireless advocate for gender equity, Title IX, and the growth of the game. As Cal Women's Basketball coach Charmin Smith said, "I dream of one day having the impact that Shellie has had on her team and Cal Athletics. She's been an incredible leader of young women, mentor for many head coaches within our department and invaluable friend."
Thank you, Coach Onstead, for building something lasting, for championing this sport, and for paving the way for generations to come. Congratulations on an extraordinary career and this next chapter.
Community Spotlight
MAX Field Hockey Announces 2025 All-West/Mid-West Region Awards
Congratulations to four Northern California athletes recognized by MAX Field Hockey for outstanding 2025 high school seasons:
First Team:
Olivia Van de Braak (St. Ignatius, Sophomore, Midfield) - 17 goals, 9 assists. SCVAL De Anza Offensive Player of the Year and NFHCA All-West Region honoree.
Second Team:
Leaya Cleary (Los Gatos, Senior, Midfield) - 48 goals, 47 assists. SCVAL El Camino Offensive Player of the Year. Committed to MIT.
Frankie Lemieux (Lick-Wilmerding, Sophomore, Midfield/Defense) - 16 goals, 6 assists. MCAL MVP and MAX Field Hockey Preseason Player to Watch.
Elle Obenour (Leigh, Senior, Midfield) - 20 goals, 5 assists. BVAL Mt. Hamilton MVP and MAX Field Hockey Preseason Player to Watch. Committed to Indiana.
View full MAX Field Hockey awards
College Commitments
Three local athletes are taking their field hockey careers to the next level:
- Maggie Magnano → UC Davis (D1) Congratulations to the SF Hawks defender on her commitment to UC Davis! Maggie started with the Hawks as a 7th grader and immediately became a defensive asset with her speed, quick reactions, and team-first mentality. She'll join fellow Hawk Paola Brouwers, who committed to Davis earlier this year.
- Alana Clifford → Stevens Institute of Technology (D3) The D-City U19 forward and Davis Senior High School senior is headed to Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey to continue her field hockey career. Congratulations, Alana!
- Leaya Cleary → MIT (D3) The Los Gatos senior and SCVAL El Camino Offensive Player of the Year (48 goals, 47 assists) will study biomedical engineering at MIT while playing for the Engineers. Go Beavers!
Competition Recap
SF Hawks Youth Play Day - San Francisco (January 18)The Bay Area's youngest players gathered at the Presidio for a perfect day of field hockey. Teams from SF Hawks, Rippers, and Hayward Hawks (U6-U12) competed with the Golden Gate Bridge as their backdrop while parents, siblings, and pups cheered from the sidelines.
Roseville FHC - Grand Canyon Tournament (January 16-17) One of NorCal's newest clubs brought multiple age groups to Arizona to compete against teams from Southern California, Arizona, and Mexico. Phoenix Field Hockey Club hosted a welcoming, athlete-friendly tournament that gave Roseville valuable regional competition experience.
NorCal Impact U19 - NFHCA Winter Escape Showcase (January 16-18)The Wolves headed to Florida for high-level competition against established programs from New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Missouri. The team gained valuable experience competing outside their region.
SF Hawks - Sunshine Showcase (January 23-25)SF Hawks brought three teams to USA Field Hockey's largest youth event at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. The U14 co-ed squad went 2-1-2, while the U16 girls (1-4) and U19 girls (1-3-1) competed against top national programs.
Playing Opportunities
Upcoming Clinics & Camps
- New Player Clinic - Davis D-City hosts their final introductory session on Thursday, February 6 for first-time players. More info
- Stanford Winter ID Clinic February 6-7 for class of 2027-2029. Includes on-field training, campus tour, performance coaching, and student-athlete panel. More info
- Stick Together Middle School Clinics Three Sunday afternoons (March 15, April 19, May 17) at Paul Goode Field in the Presidio. Small-group training for novice and beginner middle schoolers. More info
- Leap Academy - Tamalpais HS High-impact technical clinic returns for the fourth year, now at a new location in Mill Valley to accommodate more players (U14-U19). This popular event often sells out. More info
- Nike Sports Camps Two Bay Area sessions: Pebble Beach/Stevenson School (July 19-22) and Marin (June 15-18). More info
Nexus Player Development
USA Field Hockey's Region 11 training begins February 28 at Stanford, with additional weekends at UC Davis and Cal Berkeley. View schedule | Watch info session | Register
Adult Opportunities
- Western Regional Club Championships NCFHA is forming a Northern California women's team for the qualifier tournament leading to Nationals. Express interest
- Cal Cup Women's Team NCFHA is organizing a competitive division team for Cal Cup in Moorpark over Memorial Day weekend. Estimated cost: ~$120 per player (15-player roster). Sign up
- Weekly Pickup - San Francisco Tuesdays, 7-8 PM at Kimbell Field (Steiner & O'Farrell). All levels welcome. RSVP on Facebook
Community Events
SF Hawks AstroTurf Minipitch Grand Opening
You're invited to celebrate the opening of the SF Hawks' new turf field on Sunday, February 22 in Pacifica! Experience NorCal's first dedicated youth field hockey facility and help the Hawks reach their fundraising goal—the community has raised over $160,000 in just one year. Ceremony begins at 2:30pm with a new player clinic from 3:30-5pm. Contact info@sfyouthfieldhockey.com for more information.
Coaching Corner
USA Level 1 Certification Clinic Feb. 21
Coach Educator Pasindu Wanigasooriya is hosting a Level 1 Instructional Clinic on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pro Strikers Facility in Sacramento. This in-person session covers fundamental skills, coaching techniques, and session design. Participants must complete the online Level 1 Foundations course beforehand (separate registration). Cost is $85 for USA Field Hockey members, $105 for non-members. Space is limited. Register here.
Bessant Grow the Game Grant Applications Due March 15
USA Field Hockey is awarding $50,000 in grants to clubs and organizations building sustainable youth, club, and high school field hockey programs—applications are due March 15, 2026. In 2024, the SF Hawks received grant funding to support their growth, and now your program could be next: individual grants of up to $10,000 are available for initiatives that expand access to the sport and grow USA Field Hockey
What to Watch
USMNT World Cup Qualifier - LIVE Watch the U.S. Men's National Team compete in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt (March 1-7). The No. 25 USMNT takes on No. 7 England, No. 17 Egypt, and No. 18 Japan in Pool A. Full schedule and streaming on watch.hockey
USWNT 3 Nations Tournament Highlights Relive the U.S. Women's National Team's undefeated run in New Zealand (January 20-24), including their 2-1 championship victory over the host nation. The team went 6-0 overall with wins over New Zealand (twice), Japan, and New Zealand A. Watch tournament highlights
Looking Forward
We've heard from several of you asking how to get more involved with Stick Together—and we love it! Here are a few ways to help:
- Share Events: Know about a clinic, tournament, or camp we should feature? Submit it to our Community Calendar so others can find it.
- Suggest Ideas: Have thoughts on events we should host or sponsor? Email us—we're all ears.
- Volunteer: We're organizing more community events this year (clinics, invitationals, awards) and would love help with planning and execution. Let us know if you're interested.
Building this community takes all of us. Thanks for being part of it.
See you on the sidelines,
The Stick Together Team
