Fusion Field Hockey’s new year-round player development program begins now!
Shannon Karl, VCU Field Hockey Assistant Coach, will coordinate training
Training provided weekly by top-level current or recently graduated Division I field hockey players.
Our goal is to provide an exciting platform that will increase individual skill and understanding of the game, expose players to a higher level of coaching and knowledge, help those who want to play at the next level get there.
Emphasis on base-level individual skills as well as developing a more tactical style of play, both individually and as a team.
U12-U19. All players are welcome, regardless of skill level, and you can join at any time. Interested players should contact us to find the next scheduled practice for your age group
Monthly fees of $150 will cover coaches’ salaries and administrative expenses. There are discounts for advance payment and early registration.
U19 Head Coach Sarah Blythe-Wood will select her National Field Hockey Festival team by mid-September. U19 and U16 teams for Disney Showcase will be finalized in November.
Tournament teams will be selected from players already in the player development program. Tournament participation is optional and additional fees apply.
Additional fees for tournament play will cover tournament registration expenses and coaches’ travel. There may be additional fees for practice facility rental as needed.
Player travel is not included in fees. Families make their own travel and lodging arrangements and are encouraged to stay at the designated hotel for Festival and Showcase, per USFHA requirements.
The fee for National Hockey Festival will be $450 per player. This includes tournament registration and referee fees, coaches' travel and hotel expenses and player's Thanksgiving dinner. Families are responsible for player's travel and hotel expenses. Player may stay either in her family's room or in a player room. FOR THIS TOURNAMENT ONLY, we will make flight and hotel reservations for players traveling without a parent who would like us to do so.
Additional details will follow. Please keep in touch with your questions and concerns about the program, and we will get information to you as soon as possible.
Information on our new additions to our coaching staff follows.
Thank you all for showing an interest in our new FUSION program by showing up in a large number at the meeting last Sunday. Everyone involved in the changes are very excited and committed to bringing you the best we have to offer to help develope your young player to be the best on the field.
Have gotten many phone calls and emails from many interested in signing up and getting started.
Well the time has come, registration is now open and there are several options for you to get involved.
Please find below the price of your commitment level to FUSION. The pricing is as follows:
Monthly fee is $150
6-month Commitment will be $750 ($125/month)
Annual Commitment will be $1200 ($100/month)
Please note that this is a total charge for the commitment, no installments or partial payments will be allowed.
The discounted commitments will be offered for a limited time only. Renewals will be charged at the same rate unless you cancel or change your commitment level.
Tournament fees, uniforms, player travel and coaches tournament expenses are not included in the above pricing. Those fees will be posted for each event; however tournament participation is not mandatory.
Pricing for the FESTIVAL TEAM WILL BE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEKEND!
If you have any questions at all about the pricing, how the new FUSION works or just want to chat about field hockey please do not hesitate to email me or call me.
Former VCU standout Laura Baker was named to Kelly McQuade’s staff prior to the 2009 season as a graduate assistant. In 2010, Baker was elevated to the position of full-time assistant.
Baker works closely with the Rams’ goalkeepers, with whom she can share many common experiences. A native of Kent, England, Baker appeared in 59 matches as a goalkeeper for VCU from 2005-08. Baker registered 310 saves and four shutouts as a Ram. As a freshman in 2005, she burst onto the scene with a pair of shutouts and a 1.59 goals-against-average.
In 2006, Baker helped England win the silver medal at the European Junior Nations Field Hockey Championship. As a senior in 2008, Baker logged all but 16 possible minutes in goal for the Rams. She made 53 saves and posted two shutouts.
Baker earned her bachelor’s degree from VCU in 2009.
SHANNON KARL JOINS FUSION HOCKEY AS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Former collegiate standout Shannon Karl is entering her fourth season as an assistant coach with the VCU Field Hockey program.
A native of Centreville, Va., Karl possesses a depth of field hockey expertise to draw on as she assists in all facets of the Rams’ program.
She enjoyed an outstanding career as a midfielder at William & Mary, leading the Tribe to a 47-33 record from 2002-05. As a freshman in 2002, Karl was a part of the second team in program history to play in the NCAA Tournament. In 2004, she helped steer the Green and Gold to a 13-7 mark, including a perfect 7-0 ledger in CAA play.
Karl ranks fourth in Tribe history in assists with 18, third in games played with 80 and is second in career starts. In addition, she was selected to the CAA All-Tournament squad in 2004.
In addition to her college exploits, Karl was selected for United States Field Hockey Association’s (USFHA) A & B Camps in 2002-04. Those camps serve as a pipeline to the national team, and her presence at the sessions earned her a spot as an alternate for the USA Field Hockey U19 and U21 squads in 2004. Karl was also selected to the South squad for the NFHCA North-South All-Star Game in 2005.
She has also worked numerous college field hockey camps at William & Mary and the University of Richmond, as well as Champions Edge in Chicago and at the University of Connecticut. Additionally, Karl served as head coach at VCU’s “Futures” site in 2007.
Before becoming a college standout, Karl was a two-sport star at Centreville High School in lacrosse and field hockey.
Karl received her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from William & Mary in 2006 and earned The President’s Award for Leadership the same year. She added her master’s in sports administration from Louisville in May of 2007.
2009 (Senior): NFHCA Third-Team All-American, just the fifth Spider to earn All-American honors...WomensFieldHockey.com Second-Team All-American...finished 18th in the nation in points per game (2.35) and 19th in the nation in goals per game (0.96)...Longstretch First-Team All-South Region...Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year...First-Team All-Atlantic 10...Academic All-Atlantic 10... Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP...A-10 All-Tournament Team...VaSID First-Team All-State...set single-game Richmond record with five goals on Oct. 9 vs. Saint Louis...finished career fifth at Richmond in points (91) and sixth in goals (36)...tied for 10th on Richmond's career list for assists (19)...her Atlantic 10-leading 55 points in 2009 rank third on Richmond's single-season list...her Atlantic 10-leading 22 goals in 2009 rank third on Richmond's single-season list...11 assists in 2009 are tied for ninth on Richmond's single-season list...had six multi-goal games.
2008 (Junior): Named Second-Team All-Atlantic 10...played in 21 games, started in 19...scored seven goals and five assists...ranked third on the team in goals and third in points with seven goals and 19 points...scored the game winning goals against William and Mary on Sept. 21 and No. 14 ranked American on Sept. 26...took a team-high 10 shots in a win over St. Joseph's on Oct. 17...scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Temple during the Atlantic 10 Championship semi-final.
2007 (Sophomore): Named First-Team All-Atlantic 10...started 16 out of 19 games played...led the team with seven goals and 17 points...tied for second on the team with three assists...named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after scoring two goals in a win over Hofstra on Aug. 25...also had a multi-goal game at Virginia Aug. 30...scored game-winning goal at Saint Joseph's on Oct. 7...had assists against Temple, West Chester and Saint Louis.
2006 (Freshman): Played in seven games as a freshman, taking two shots, one of which was on goal...trained with Zimbabwe's National Indoor and under-21 squads during the summer of 2006.
High School: Earned a total of 14 letters at Peterhouse, including three in field hockey...earned full colours in field hockey during her prep career...received cocks ties for service in field hockey, tennis and swimming.
Personal: Born Feb. 23, 1987...daughter of Anthony and Amanda Blythe-Wood...majoring in international studies with a focus on world politics and diplomacy. Home town is Harare, Zimbabwe.
The U19 Fusion team traveled to Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ this past weekend to compete in the 2nd Annual Surf and Sand College Showcase. The team left saturday night from Midlothian and arrived around midnight....went to bed got up around 7 sunday morning and played their first game at 8:30. The team went 3-1 in pool play and ended up ranked 4th overall to advance to the single elemination tournament where the top 8 teams played for the overall champion of the tournament.
Our first game was at 5:30 and if we won we played again at 6, we won so we played at six, if we won this one we played for the championship at 6:30, well we won so we met a team from Surf and Sand field hockey club for the championship...and we won! We ended up with an overall record of 6-1.
Congrats to the team that traveled to the tournament, Kelsey, Taylor R., Caitlin, Ashley C., Julianna, Siobhon. We did add one player to the team Meagan who playes with Quick Stix field hockey club from NJ.
POOL PLAY:
Surf & Sand Waves vs Fusion - Fusion Won 4-0
Fusion vs Surf & Sand Blue - Fusion Won 1-0
South Jersey Edge vs Fusion - Fusion Lost 1-0
All 4 One vs Fusion - Fusion Won 2-1
Finished 3-1 in Pool Play - Seeded 4th in Crossover Bracket
CROSSOVERS:
Fusion vs Rampage - Fusion Won 2-1
Fusion vs New Heights - Fusion Won 1-0
Fusion vs Surf & Sand White - Fusion Won 3-2
2ND ANNUAL SURF AND SAND COLLEGE SHOWCASE CHAMPIONS
TOURNAMENT GOALS - Kelsey - 8, Ashley - 2, Meghan - 3 (2 Goals in the Championship Game)
The U19 FUSION Team will be headed to Phoenix, AZ to play in the 2010 National Field Hockey Festival held over Thanksgiving weekend.
Last year the team earned a spot to go by winning the first ever ESPN Rise games held at the Disney sports complex last summer. This year we got in through a lottery process that happens each year at selection time.
The U19 Fusion team traveled to Indio, California to play in the US Field Hockey's largest tournament, The National Field Hockey Festival over Thanksgiving weekend.
View Digitalsports.com's team preview story and video here.
Front Row l to r: Caitlin Riblett (Maggie Walker), Taylor Colbert (Cosby), Courtney Gold (Manchester), Jessica Blanks (Manchester), Catherine Rogerson (Cosby), Hayley Stough (Godwin), Taylor Rotsted (Matoaca), Mary Beth Danaher (Matoaca); Back row: Siobhan Rigby (Maggie Walker), Katherine Brady (Monacan), Coach Brad Powell, Lexi Shortlidge (Colonial Hieghts), Lindsey Marr (Monacan), Kelsey Powell (Cosby), Coach Warren Nuchols, Katie Nuchols (Thomas Dale) and Carol Brinkley (Thomas Dale).
THE FUSION U19 TEAM TRAVELED TO ORLANDO TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INAUGURAL ESPN RISE GAMES AND AFTER 3 DAYS OF PLAY CAME AWAY WITH THE GOLD MEDAL. WITH THAT WIN THE TEAM NOW QUALIFIES TO TRAVEL TO CALIFORNIA IN NOVEMBER TO PARTICIAPTE IN THE NATIONAL FIELD HOCKEY SHOWCASE.
(left) MICKEY MOUSE WELCOMES ALL ATHLETES TO THE FIRST EVER ESPN RISE GAMES! (right) WE'RE NUMBER ONE!!!
Donate to FUSION HOCKEY! All donations are tax deductable.
The U19 Fusion select team competed in the 2009 National Field Hockey Festival in Indio, California over the Thanksgiving break. The team ended with a record of 3-2-1.
Game Results
FOLLOW FUSION HOCKEY
U19 FUSION ESPN CHAMPS
The Fusion Field Hockey Team traveled to Orlando, Florida for the ESPN RISE Games 2009. After six grueling games, the team came in 1st place!
Former VCU standout Laura Baker was named to Kelly McQuade’s staff prior to the 2009 season as a graduate assistant. In 2010, Baker was elevated to the position of full-time assistant.
Former collegiate standout Shannon Karl is entering her fourth season as an assistant coach with the VCU Field Hockey program.
...WomensFieldHockey.com Second-Team All-American...finished 18th in the nation in points per game (2.35) and 19th in the nation in goals per game (0.96)...Longstretch First-Team All-South Region...Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year...First-Team All-Atlantic 10...Academic All-Atlantic 10... Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP...A-10 All-Tournament Team...VaSID First-Team All-State...set single-game Richmond record with five goals on Oct. 9 vs. Saint Louis...finished career fifth at Richmond in points (91) and sixth in goals (36)...tied for 10th on Richmond's career list for assists (19)...her Atlantic 10-leading 55 points in 2009 rank third on Richmond's single-season list...her Atlantic 10-leading 22 goals in 2009 rank third on Richmond's single-season list...11 assists in 2009 are tied for ninth on Richmond's single-season list...had six multi-goal games.
