by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
Fusion Field Hockey’s team and fans will spend Thanksgiving break away from home.
Way away from home. Over 2,000 miles away to be exact.
The local club field hockey squad won the ESPN Rise 19-and-under tournament in Florida in July to gain entry into the National Field Hockey Festival in California.
The team departs Wednesday, November 25, a day before Thanksgiving.
“We’ve been building up for it for so long that just getting there, finally, is going to be so exciting,” said keeper Caitlin Riblett, who played for Maggie Walker GS this past season.
Fusion boasts 16 of the top players in the Richmond-area, 13 of which participated in the Central Region tournament a few weeks back.
This will be Fusion’s third trip to the national tournament as an organization.
What an accomplishment for a club that was started six years ago by Brad Powell.
“I didn’t even know what field hockey was when we started it,” said Powell, coach and also the father of Cosby star and future VCU player Kelsey Powell, who leads the team from the midfield. “I was just looking for something else for my daughter to play.
“Fusion was born when more competitive tournaments were desired.”
Said fellow coach Warren Nuckols: “2007 was the last time we went. We haven’t done that well, but I feel with this team we’re going to make a lot of noise in that tournament.”
Current Roster (Alphabetical order)
Name, School, Grade
Carol Brinkley, Thomas Dale, Senior
Taylor Colbert, Cosby, Sophomore
Ashley Cureton, Deep Run, Junior
Mary Beth Danaher, Matoaca, Senior
Haley Matthews, Lee-Davis, Senior
Katie Nuckols, Thomas Dale, Senior
Kelsey Powell, Cosby, Senior
Caitlin Riblett, Maggie Walker GS, Senior
Courtney Richmon, Deep Run, Senior
Siobhan Rigby, Maggie Walker GS, Sophomore
Catherine Rogerson, Cosby, Sophomore
Taylor Rotsted, Matoaca, Senior
Lindsay Rourke, Powhatan, Senior
Hayley Stough, Mills Godwin, Senior
Amanda Stowers, Powhatan, Senior
Linnea Taylor, Lee-Davis, Senior
Players that were on roster for ESPN Rise tournament, who won’t make trip
Jessica Blanks, Eastern Mennonite (Manchester)
Katherine Brady, Shenandoah (Monacan)
Courtney Gold, Eastern Mennonite (Manchester)
Lindsey Marr, Mary Washington (Monacan)
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