Facebook-f Instagram

Our Coaching Philosophy and Culture

Hammers Field Hockey believes in equal opportunity for each athlete to develop and play to the goals they set for themselves. We coach and teach players to be well-prepared for competition and to have fun enjoying their passion for the sport. Our culture is rooted in respect for all both on and off the courts and field. We believe in promoting the benefits of youth sports to carry over into all areas of our athletes' lives.

Hammers Field Hockey only hires coaches that align specifically with our Coaching Philosophy. Our coaches are players themselves and USAFH certified Level I or II . Most of them have competed collegiately at D1 and D3 colleges. Each of them has a passion for the sport and a desire to develop players and grow the game. We invite you to get to know them by reading about them below.

Travel Coaches

Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft

Hammers Travel Commissioner & Recruiting Director

Ashley is a Level II USAFH and Head Field Hockey Coach at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. She was a full scholarship D1 player at Michigan State and helped MSU to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances and a Big Ten Championship. Ashley was an assistant coach for D3 powerhouse University of Rochester where they appeared in the 2012 NCAA Quarterfinals after spending a year as a graduate assistant in 2007 at her alma mater, MSU. She took the Head Coach position at Shenandoah in 2013. Her first year at SU she led the team to 10 overall wins and 6 ODAC victories setting a new program record. SU finished as runner-up in the ODAC in the regular season that year earning Coach Ashley ODAC Coach of the Year her first year! Two years later, Ashley coached the SU Hornets to 11 overall wins including a 9 game winning streak with 6 ODAC victories. The following year, she coached the team to their first ever ODAC Championship win earning her VaSID Coach of the Year along with a second ODAC coach of the year. Fun fact is Ashley grew up playing soccer for one of the most competitive clubs in the country and didn’t begin playing field hockey until high school.

Meg Dudek

PFH/Hammers Founder

Meg is a Level II USAFH and VHSL certified coach. She helms the Broad Run Field Hockey team. Meg was named 2016 & 2017 Conference 14 Coach of the Year. She has been coaching travel teams of all ages since founding the club in 2011. Meg led the 2015 U12 team to win a gold medal in their pool at the National Indoor Tournament. Fun fact is the 2015 U12 team won a medal at every tournament they played in that year. The National Field Hockey Coaches Association awarded her the 2014 Junior Field Hockey award for all of her hard work in bringing and growing field hockey in Loudoun County. Meg is also a Region 8 USA FH Head Futures Coach. She enjoys coaching because she loves to see the players and their confidence grow both as field hockey players and people. You can often find her volunteer coaching a 7/8 PFH Rec team every spring.

Caroline Fletcher

Hammers Travel Assistant Commissioner

Caroline is a Level 1 USAFH and VHSL certified coach. Caroline grew up in Richmond, playing for Panthers United and has played field hockey since she was 9. Caroline played field hockey and lacrosse at Bridgewater College, and was an All-ODAC selection for both sports. She was part of Bridgewater’s first field hockey ODAC Championship in 2015. She enjoys running and spending time outdoors with her family and friends! Caroline was the former Head Field Hockey Coach at John Champe High School and is a third grade teacher at Goshen Post Elementary School. Caroline has coached multiple U14 pool champions at the National Indoor Tournament, Summer Bash at the Beach, and Sunshine Showcase.

Wendy Ware

Head Goalie Coach

Wendy was a field hockey and lacrosse standout at Shenandoah University, where she currently is an assistant coach and lead goalkeeping coach. Ware played four years of lacrosse and field hockey at Shenandoah, helping the 2006 women’s lacrosse team to a USA South title. Wendy graduated as the all-time leader in field hockey saves, save percentage, goals against average, shutouts and wins and is still the leader in saves per game. In lacrosse, she graduated as the all-time leader in saves and wins and is still second in both categories. Wendy has coached and developed Izzy Morande, the 2019 ODAC Defensive Player of the Year, for three years. As a Hammers coach, Wendy works with all age groups and goalkeepers within

Skye Koutstaal

current 5/6 coaches

Skye is a field hockey coach here with Hammers and at South Lakes High School. She grew up playing field hockey in Fairfax County where she earned a State Championship Title in 2013.In college, Skye led Liberty University’s Club Field Hockey team as a captain to multiple national tournaments and Top 3 finishes. When she’s not coaching, you can find Skye teaching elementary school music, visiting her friend Mickey Mouse, or jet setting to far away lands. She strives to inspire players to reach their full potential through dedication, discipline, and a strong work ethic not only for success on the field, but also for personal growth.

Ashley Hiltabrand

current 5/6 coaches

Ashley is a Level II USAFH Certified Umpire. Anytime she isn’t on the field with a whistle, you can find her as the head coach for the u10 age division. Coach Ashley is a native of the Hampton Roads area where she grew up playing for Saints Field Hockey. She continued her field hockey career at Christopher Newport University where she majored in Biochemistry. Ashley began her passion for coaching and umpiring while she was still in high school working with various youth programs. She was a head coach for Stick Power Field Hockey Club throughout college. Since moving to Northern Virginia, she has become a member of the Metro FHA Umpire Association and has had the opportunity to officiate three VHSL state final games. Most people shy away from younger age divisions, but not Ashley! She finds herself drawn to younger athletes since it is at this age that she can begin to facilitate the love of the game while starting with the basics.

Stephanie Moi

current 5/6 coaches

Stephanie is a Level II USAFH Certified Coach. Coach Steph is an English and Journalism teacher at John Champe High School. She took over as the Field Hockey head coach at Champe in 2020 after 4 years as an assistant/goalie coach with the team. In 2022, she was LoCo Sports Coach of the Year for field hockey. Steph started playing field hockey in 7th grade and continued her hockey career at DIII Elizabethtown College from 2008-2011. Coach Steph, a goalie herself, started with Hammers in the summer of 2019, helping the youngest of our goalies at summer clinics. She started coaching one of the u16 indoor teams in 2021 and has primarily worked with our u16 and u19 players since then, along with various clinics, camps, and tournaments with the Hammers younger players and goalies. If she is not on a field hockey field somewhere, you can find coach Steph at the barn riding her horse or at the Champe softball field where she has been one of their assistant coaches for 7 years.

Brooke Slonin

current 5/6 coaches

Brooke is a Level II USAFH and VHSL certified coach. Brooke grew up in Northeast PA and was a two time all state player. Brooke played D1 field hockey at Ohio University. She was a 4 year starter for the Bobcats helping them win 2 MAC championships and reach the NCAA tournament in her 4 years. After her playing career she received her masters in coaching and was the graduate assistant for the Bobcats field hockey team. Since her time at OU she has coached at various levels; head coach at Hathaway Brown School (HS), head coach at McLean High School and was the Program Director for the McLean youth program. Brooke enjoys working out and spending time exploring with her family! Brooke has coached many teams for Hammers across all age groups helping them grow and succeed in the game of field hockey.

Izzy Morande

current 5/6 coaches

Izzy played four years at Shenandoah University where she helped lead her team to an ECAC Championship. Izzy started coaching for Hammers when she was a sophomore in college with the evolution program. She transitioned into a Hammers goalie coach to work directly with Wendy. Izzy works as a Child Protective Services Social Worker in Virginia. Outside of field hockey, Izzy enjoys hiking, reading, playing with her dog, and texting Caroline when the Giants are losing by 40 each week.

Cori Jackson

current 5/6 coaches

Cori is from Northern Virginia where she grew up playing for Southeast Storm. She played field hockey at Virginia Wesleyan University making the All-ODAC selection all four years. Cori was an assistant coach for the VWU Marlins for one season after graduating. She is now a government librarian working with ASRC Federal.

Sam Jackson

current 5/6 coaches

Samantha is a Northern Virginia native where she grew up playing soccer. She picked up field hockey as a freshman in high school and began playing club for Typhoon Elite out of Fredericksburg. She went on to play at Virginia Wesleyan University where she was an All-ODAC selection. After graduating, Samantha returned to Virginia Wesleyan to join the coaching staff as Assistant Coach for 4 seasons. Outside of field hockey, Samantha works for Audi of America Corporate. In her spare time she enjoys being home, reading and spending time with her family and labradoodle pup Clover.

Emma Nugent

current 5/6 coaches

Emma is a Level I USAFH certified coach and a Loudoun County Native. Emma started playing field hockey in 2nd grade and was coached by current Hammers coach, Meg Dudek. She continued to play field hockey at the travel level until Loudoun County introduced field hockey as a high school sport in 2016. Her senior year of high school was the inaugural season of field hockey where she had the honor of being captain of the Varsity squad at Riverside High school. Emma began coaching with Hammers in the winter of 2022 and was the head coach at Gainesville High School for the Fall 2023 season! Emma finds passion in helping players of all age groups perfect their craft and being leaders both on the field and for life!

Rec Program

Travel Program

Alumni

Team Shop

© Hammers Field Hockey 2024