It's our favorite time of year—the San Francisco fog has lifted and field hockey season is officially underway across Northern California! In this month's issue, we're celebrating the first week of high school competitions, recapping an exciting opening weekend of NCAA action, and sharing some incredible national news from our local stars.
Whether you're returning for another season or discovering field hockey for the first time, there's something here for everyone. From high school battles heating up across five NorCal leagues to our NCAA programs finding their rhythm in new conferences, the energy is electric. And if you're new to the sport, welcome to the community—check out our guide for everything you need to know to get started.
Let's dive into all the action that's making this September one to remember!
Competition Recap
Club
San Jose Khalsa hosted the 23rd Annual Khalsa Cup over Labor Day Weekend at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. With 10 divisions—Men Supers, Over-60, Over-50, Adult Competitive, and U8-U17—the tournament was a wonderful way to spend the weekend! Yuba Brothers walked away with the Supers trophy and cash prize, along with another year of bragging rights.
Hayward Hawks and Yuba Brothers at Khalsa Cup 2025 in Stockton, CA
High School
Programs across the Bay Area are settling into their rhythm as teams face their first real tests of the season. While the South Bay leagues are still gearing up, MCAL and EAL powerhouses have already started making statements on the field.
- BVAL: Leigh beat Los Altos 6-0 with an Elle Obenour hat trick and Christopher beat Hollister 3-0. League games begin September 23. Schedules: Mt. Hamilton Div; Santa Teresa Div
- EAL: Davis beat Chico 3-0. Pleasant Valley beat Lassen 3-0. Check MaxPreps for schedules.
- MCAL: Friday, August 29th was an exciting day, with last season’s top four teams in action: Tam bested Redwood 1-0 and Marin Catholic tied University 0-0. League schedule
- PCAL: Games start this week. League Schedule
- SCVAL: Valley Christian beat Branham 1-0. League games start September 10. Schedules: De Anza Div; El Camino Div
Let us know how your teams are doing! Email us with game recaps and anything else you’d like us to feature!
NCAA
Collegiate field hockey began this past weekend and all three of our Northern California programs were on the road.
- Stanford started their season with the Conference Cup at University of Maryland in College Park. They lost 0-3 to the Terps and beat James Madison 1-0. Natalie Hoppe scored the game-winning goal with a deflection off a pass from Scout Butler on a penalty corner and Daisy Ford made a trio of saves.
- UC Davis lost 0-4 at Miami of Ohio and a beat Bellarmine 2-1, with junior captain Ella Franken leading the way by scoring both goals.
- Cal experienced a surprising loss to Monmouth 2-7 but bounced back in a 5-4 win at Delaware with a dominant second quarter in which Liz Klompmaker scored a career-high three goals.
Next up: Cal’s home opener against Harvard this Friday is sure to be an exciting match. Check out all the local games we’re excited to watch in person this month:
- Sep 5 (Fri) 6 pm - Cal vs. Harvard
- Sep 7 (Sun) 1 pm - Stanford vs. Harvard
- Sep 26 (Fri) 6 pm - Cal vs. Virginia
- Sep 28 (Sun) 12 pm - Stanford vs Virginia
- Sep 28 (Sun) 1 pm - Cal vs. UC Davis
National Teams
USWNT Claims Silver at JPAG
The Junior U.S. Women's National Team delivered an outstanding performance at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, winning their pool with dominant victories before earning silver in the final. The team, featuring players like Mia Karine Myklebust from Los Gatos, showcased the bright future of U.S. women's field hockey in this historic first inclusion of the sport at JPAG.
Community Spotlight
Grant Helps SF Hawks Build for the Future
Last week the Hawks were featured by USA Field Hockey as a Bessant Grow the Game Grant recipient, recognizing their incredible work to create a dedicated field hockey facility in the Bay Area. The Hawks' success story - from launching with 24 players in 2017 to hosting 70+ players at their annual free clinic and securing permanent facilities in Pacifica - demonstrates their commitment to growing the game and inspiring the next generation of field hockey players. Check out the full article here.
Kira Kelly Selected for U16 Junior National Team Training Camp
Following the 2025 Nexus Championship, USA Field Hockey announced athletes selected for U16, U18, and U21 Selection Camps. Kira Kelly, the Davis Sr. High School sophomore goalkeeper, will attend the U16 camp December 5-7 at UNC Charlotte, in preparation for competitions in Europe in March 2026 as part of the road to the 2028 L.A. Olympics.
Playing Opportunities
Adult: Fog City hosts pickup on Tuesdays at 7 pm in San Francisco. Starting September 2, the group moves back to Raymond Kimbell (Steiner & O’Farrell St)
Youth: Many clubs have started their fall training sessions, but it's not too late to jump in for additional practices. Find a field hockey club near you.
What to Watch
Final Whistle is a fantastic resource for tracking NCAA field hockey games across all three divisions. This is a great place to start if you’re looking for an exciting upcoming matchup to watch. Need a little orientation on who’s-who? NCFHA released their preseason rankings (D1, D3) and USA Field Hockey has great previews of the D1 & D3 seasons. Local Scarlett Carpenter (SF University HS ‘25) even gets a shoutout as an incoming Tufts Freshman!
Looking Ahead
What a way to kick off the season! From national team selections to dominant early wins, Northern California field hockey is making its mark at every level.
Keep the momentum going! Share Stick Together with teammates, fellow parents, coaches, or anyone who'd love to stay connected to NorCal field hockey. Got game results, community news, or stories we should know about? Email us—we want to hear from you!
Here's to a season filled with great hockey and unforgettable moments on the field.
See you on the sidelines,
The Stick Together Team
