Timing, reunion, and humor, Team State College wins first bronze medal of the ‘25 PA Field Hockey Senior Cup

State College High School head coach Sharon Herlocher poses with Team State College (West pool) with their bronze medals at the 2025 PA Field Hockey Senior Cup. Photo: Submitted

Adison Geer wasn’t scripted to be part of an attack penalty corner in the first quarter of the 2025 Pennsylvania Field Hockey Senior Cup bronze medal game.

But nearing the end of it, she suddenly found herself playing a role for Team State College.

It was the first time Female Athlete News included a bronze medal game in its annual statewide tournament featuring selected high school field hockey seniors. The format is an East vs West tournament.

The inaugural event was in 2024. The second annual event hosted 10 teams, five from the East and five from the West. State College was in the West pool. And, had made it into the bronze medal game after beating Lancaster 3-2 the day before. They played Philadelphia South in the bronze medal game.

Geer was called upon to fill Addie Gagnon’s spot. The State College high school and rising Kent State field hockey player had been injured in the face when she leaned into a low block tackle and found herself on the wrong side of a follow through.

Geer, a Newport High School senior, received an insert from Autumn Albright (West Perry, Penn State) to smash in the goal. The final score was 1-0 in the end and a win over Philadelphia South on Sunday morning at Lower Dauphin Middle School.

Of course, Geer might not have been able to play at all if the timing of her life was different.

Geer had an appointment with a surgeon today to discuss treatment of a genetic condition in her hip socket. She long believed that her hip socket was “tight,” but she recently learned that it was more serious than that.

Geer wants to study nursing – and play a little field hockey – at Ohio University starting in the Fall.

“I found out a few weeks ago that I have a genetic condition,” she said. “My dad has the same thing – I found out that a joint in my hip is in the shape of an egg. It’s been rubbing in my socket, and potentially, may have caused my labrum to be shredded. I have the follow-up with my surgeon on Tuesday to figure out the plan of action for my surgery.”

Geer credits Newport trainer Benjamin Pazuchanics with helping her get through the season, which ended in Newport reaching the PIAA Class A semifinals. Geer’s father Craig Geer has the same condition.

“I do have a really good trainer at my high school,” Adison Geer said. “[Pazuchanics] would get me through field hockey season with stretches, rolling out and massages. They decided to get me checked out before I went ahead with my academic and hockey career. I thought that, all of these years, that I was just tight in my hip and my legs. This past season, I was having a bunch of problems, so my parents decided it would be a good idea to get me looked at.”

State College lost its first game Saturday to Lancaster, 4-0, but rallied throughout the day and eventually defeated Lancaster 3-2 to reach the third-place game.

“It was really fun,” Geer said. “I love our coaches and a lot of the girls. It’s fun playing with a lot of leaders who come from different schools. It’s an enjoyable experience. I would recommend it to anyone if they got the opportunity.”

The Senior Cup created a reunion of sorts for two Philadelphia South teammates.

Elsa Nelken, now of George School, and Veronica Goettner, now of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, have been best friends since second grade and were neighbors for some time, but they have not played together in a long time.

So imagine their surprise when they realized that they were assigned to the same team for the Senior Cup. What are the odds?

“I got really excited because I finally had a chance to play with [Nelken] one last time before we leave for college,” said Goettner, a Quinnipiac signee.

“I got to play with my best friend again,” Nelken said.

Philly South lost its first game 3-1 to Philly North, but rebounded with wins over Allentown, Scranton and Reading to reach the bronze medal game.

“We played really well together,” Goettner said. “At first, it was hard because we hadn’t played with the rest of the players on the team. As the day progressed, we got used to how each other played. We adjusted to that really well. It was really fun to play field hockey one last time before college.”

Nelken had to get re-adjusted to the outdoor game after playing some indoor.

“Going from indoor to outdoor more recently was a little tough, especially for me,” Nelken said. “The first game was a little tough, but we meshed. The last three games were amazing. We just really clicked together.

“It was really great meeting people and playing with people from around the state. I’m honored to be here, actually.”

State College took a team picture of each Class of 2025 senior biting or holding the bronze and then they superimposed a picture of Gagnon with them. Gagnon is in good spirits and recovering.

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Tim Shoemaker is a freelance writer.