Joely Helder, one of the top reserves for Lower Dauphin's state champion field hockey team, made her verbal commitment to St. Joseph's.
“I felt that coach [Michelle] Finegan and the team is a great fit for me,” Helder said. “They're really building a strong team and I wanted to be part of that.”
The statistics may not show it, with one goal and two assists last season, but Helder was a contributor in the midfield for the Falcons, preventing the opponents from moving downfield and setting up the forwards ahead of her.
Helder said that she plans on majoring in either food or sports marketing.
The Hawks were 6-13 last fall. One other midstate native, Eva Gekas of Red Land, is currently on St. Joseph's roster.
Helder commitment makes for 10 members of the Falcons' state championship squad to have commited to a Division I program.
Other juniors who have given their verbal commitments include Gini Bramley (Penn State), Morgan Bitting (Duke), Abby Julius (Louisville), and Maddie O'Neill (Michigan State).
Lower Dauphin seniors who have signed their Letters of Intent include Delani Higgins (Penn State), Taylor Lister (University of Delaware), Maggie Mostoller (Brown), Devyn Barry (Lock Haven) and Anna Smuda (California).