As we wrap up 2025, Northern California field hockey has plenty to celebrate. From the Hayward Hawks' national success to historic high school seasons and NCAA championship runs, our community continues to thrive at every level. This month we're honoring high school all-league selections, celebrating collegiate achievements, and sharing winter playing opportunities. Most importantly, we're grateful for this growing community and everyone who makes the sport possible in the Bay Area.
Community Spotlight
Hayward Hawks U14s won their pool at the National Hockey Festival in Naples, FL
Hayward Hawks Dominate on National Stage
Major congrats to one of the Bay Area's newest field hockey clubs on their breakout performance. The Hayward Hawks traveled to Naples, Florida for USA Field Hockey's National Hockey Festival (November 27-29), which featured co-ed 7v7 divisions (U10, U12, U14) and girls' 11v11 divisions (U14, U16, U19). The Hawks' co-ed U14 team went undefeated, outscoring opponents 43-3 to claim gold medals.
This national success follows the Hawks' sweep of all divisions at the local Hockey Gobble Tournament on November 2 at Stanford. The club celebrated with a recognition event honoring coaches and thanking Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan and Dr. Sonia Salwan for their support in providing field space for the growing program.
High School All-League Honors
Congratulations to all the athletes recognized for their outstanding 2025 seasons! Check out the major award winners and standout stories from each league below. Full list of all-league selections available here.
BVAL Mt. Hamilton - Elle Obenour's Encore: Leigh's Obenour capped her stellar high school career with MVP honors after leading the league in scoring. Co-Seniors of the Year: Kamryn Krejovsky (Gilroy) and Danica Lopez (Christopher). Junior of the Year: Alyssa Montejano (Christopher). Goalkeeper: Keana Wong (Leigh).
BVAL Santa Teresa - Leland's Leaders: MVP Carolyn Salverson (Leland) and Goalkeeper of the Year Mira Kapadia anchored the Chargers. Co-Seniors of the Year: Eden Svoboda & Kayla Tulowitzki (Live Oak). Junior of the Year: Sophie Tuan (Westmont). Freshman of the Year: Teya Halali (Westmont).
EAL - Davis Dominance: The league champion Blue Devils swept the major awards with MVP Forward Kate Loscutoff (Junior), MVP Goalie Kira Kelly (Sophomore), Co-MVP Defense Sofia Garcia (Senior), and Co-MVP Midfield Bridget Berlin (Senior). Pleasant Valley's Olivie Ernst earned Co-MVP Defense honors.
MCAL - Youth Movement: Sophomore Frankie Lemieux (Lick-Wilmerding, SF Hawks) earned Player of the Year honors, leading a youth-dominated First Team that included three additional sophomores: Anoushka Gollerkeri (University), Claire Gunning (Convent), and Moni Hewlette (Redwood). Goalkeeper of the Year: Layla Grace Dixon (Convent, Senior).
PCAL - Stevenson's Strength: The Pirates' championship run was powered by major award winners: Goalkeeper Zola Ducker and Defensive Player Lucy Aiello. Offensive Player of the Year: Ava Staehle (Carmel).
SCVAL De Anza - Family Legacy Continues: Sophomore Olivia Van de Braak (St. Ignatius) earned Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and added NFHCA All-Region West honors, while her mother Michelle Van de Braak was named Coach of the Year. Other major awards: Defensive Player Alison Wilson (Los Altos), Senior of the Year Maddie Dhillon (Fremont), and Sophomore Goalkeeper Shyla Paredes (Valley Christian).
SCVAL El Camino - Los Gatos Sweep: The CCS Championship Wildcats claimed the top individual honors with Leaya Cleary (Offensive Player) and Leighton Osawa (Defensive Player). Senior of the Year: Monisha Preetham (Monta Vista). Goalkeeper: Brooklyn Barnard (Presentation). Coach of the Year: Henry Reyes (Los Gatos).
View complete all league selections here.
College Hockey Comes to a Close
NCAA National Championships
The weekend before Thanksgiving brought drama across all three NCAA divisions, with all three national championship matches going to overtime on November 23. Northwestern claimed the Division I title in a defensive battle against Princeton, featuring U.S. Women's National Team stars Maddie Zimmer, Ashley Sessa, and Beth Yeager. The Wildcats reached the final with a thrilling comeback win over UNC in the semifinals, while Princeton handed Harvard its only loss of the season.
In Division III, Tufts capped a Cinderella tournament run with a national championship. The Jumbos' victory was especially sweet for the Bay Area—freshman Scarlett Carpenter (SF University HS '25, SF Hawks) made us proud in her first collegiate season!
Watch full replays: D1, D2, D3
Collegiate Honors
Now that the dust has settled on the NCAA tournament, conferences and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) have announced their postseason awards. All-American selections will be announced in mid-December.
- Karina Hoffman (Vassar, Willow Glen, NorCal Impact) - Liberty League All-Conference Second Team and NFHCA Division III All-Region III Second Team. Hoffman scored two goals in Vassar's come-from-behind semifinal victory over William Smith, then added a goal and an assist in the 4-2 championship win over Union to claim the Liberty League Tournament title.
- Audrey Pace (Wesleyan, St. Francis, NorCal Impact) - NESCAC All-Conference First Team (also First Team in 2023). Pace closed out her stellar Wesleyan career with several league and team records in goal as the Cardinals finished runner-up in the NESCAC Championship Tournament.
- Jordan Reicher (American University, St. Francis, NorCal Impact) - Added NFHCA Mid-Atlantic Region First Team honors to cap her breakout junior season as Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year.
- Mia Karine Myklebust (Brown, Los Gatos, NorCal Impact) - Earned NFHCA Northeast Region First Team recognition before heading to Chile to compete for Team USA at the Women's Junior World Cup.
Playing Opportunities
Adult Women's League Crowns Fall Champions
The NCFHA Women's Fall League wrapped up on November 23 at Hayward High School with a unique championship story. After Buckeye and Sequoia battled to a 2-2 tie through regulation and two overtime periods in the semifinals, the teams combined forces as "Suqueye" to take on top-seeded Redwood in the final.
The makeshift squad jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Redwood fought back to level the match at 2-2. But Suqueye found a late winner and added an insurance goal to claim the title 4-2, capping a memorable day of competitive hockey.
The men's BAFHA season begins in spring—stay tuned for details!
Youth Club Winter Programs Underway
Winter club seasons are back at it across Northern California, with teams preparing for spring and summer tournaments. Find a club near you.
High-Level Training for Committed Players
USA Field Hockey's Nexus program offers serious youth players (U14-U21) three weekend training camps with experienced coaches teaching "The USA Way" framework used across all national teams. Players are assessed and grouped by skill level to ensure appropriate challenges, with opportunities to advance as they develop. The program includes on-field training, online learning with U.S. National Team athletes, and personalized development plans. Top athletes may be invited to compete at the Nexus Championship. Financial aid available. All genders welcome. Learn more.
Bay Area Schedule
Weekend 1: February 28-March 1 at Stanford
Weekend 2: March 21-22 at UC Davis
Weekend 3: April 18-19 at Cal Berkley
Selection Camp: May 9-10 at Stanford
Information session: December 11, 2025 at 5pm PT Join here, no registration is required.
Interested in coaching? USA Field Hockey hires Nexus coaches nationwide to deliver weekend training camps at over 50 locations, offering competitive compensation, professional development with National Team staff, and exclusive access to elite training resources. Register your interest to be considered for 2026.
Coaching Corner
USA Field Hockey National Coaches Forum Recap - Did you miss the three-day virtual event? This recap covers key sessions from international coaches on press defense, warrior mindset training, drag flicking technique, and championship leadership from NCAA finalists Tracey Fuchs (Northwestern) and Carla Tagliente (Princeton). Read the full recap or purchase recordings.
What to Watch
U.S. Junior Women Compete at World Cup
Mia Karine Myklebust (Los Gatos, Brown, NorCal Impact) and the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team are competing at the Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile. After falling 4-1 to Belgium in the quarterfinals, Team USA bounced back with a thrilling 2-1 victory over England—their first win against England since 2005. The team faces Germany on Friday, December 13 at 10:45 AM PT for 5th/6th place, which will be the program's best-ever Junior World Cup finish. Watch live.
Giving Back
SF Hawks Breaking Ground on Pacifica Field
The SF Hawks are making progress on their long-awaited mini pitch in Pacifica—a major milestone for Bay Area field hockey. Since announcing the project one year ago, the Hawks community has raised over $150,000 to build what will be the region's first dedicated youth field hockey practice facility. Construction is greenlit to begin, bringing the club one step closer to their vision of a permanent home for training and development. Support the final push: Hawks Field Project GoFundMe
Looking Ahead
This is our sixth and final issue of Stick Together for 2025, and what a year it's been! Watching our subscriber base grow and reaching more people across Northern California's field hockey community has been incredibly rewarding. From youth players picking up a stick for the first time to college athletes earning national honors, this small but mighty community continues to inspire us.
What's next? We're planning to host middle school clinics for novice players in 2026, helping more young athletes discover this incredible sport. But we want to hear from you—what do you see as the biggest gap or opportunity in our community today? What would make field hockey more accessible, competitive, or connected in Northern California? Email us and let us know.
Thank you for being part of this community. We're grateful for the players, coaches, parents, officials, and fans who make this sport possible. Here's to an amazing 2026!
Happy Holidays,
The Stick Together Team
