Newtown Square native Alex Geczy steps up to lead UMass over UPenn in NCAA homecoming

The son of a long-time Wharton College professor proved to be the thorn in the side of the Quakers on Sunday night as they were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament at home.

Alex Geczy, a Newtown Square native and Episcopal Academy grad, made seven saves to record a clean sheet and make an early second half goal from Alec Hughes stand up as the game-winner in an upset win in the second round of the NCAA Championship at Rhodes Field.

“You can’t make storylines like that up,” Geczy said. “It’s great to be back, great to put in a performance in front of a lot of my high school friends and family. It’s just an amazing feeling.”

A senior, Geczy made just four appearances prior to 2024, but was building confidence both as an understudy and playing over the summer with the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals in NPSL for two summers and West Chester United in USL League Two last summer.

“I’m not in this position if it isn’t for the keepers I’ve learned under – Marvyn Dorchin, (Mechanicsburg native) Matt Zambetti – class guys, class keepers,” Geczy said. “Just biding my time under them, being patient, being a sponge got me here.”

Though Geczy had gone to games at Rhodes before with his father, Christopher Geczy, Sunday night was his first time playing there and also a first for his dad wearing a UMass hat on a campus where he has taught since 1997.

“Been going to these games on this field since I was a kid so I’m just so happy I can put in a performance like that,” said Geczy, who played his club soccer at FC Delco.

UMass head coach Fran O’Leary said Geczy has led by example and embodied what their program is all about during his time in Amherst.

“What a great night for him,” O’Leary said. “He’s been patient, he’s exactly what we look for in a player. All freshmen want to start but it took him a couple years, he’s unselfish, he’s unspoiled and he’s a very hard worker.”

The Minutemen head to Virginia on Saturday to face the Cavaliers with a shot at a berth in the quarterfinals. Though he didn’t feature on Sunday, Perkasie native Shane Velez is also on the squad. Velez has three goals and an assist in 15 appearances and 8 starts this season as a sophomore for the Minutemen.

Penn’s exit marked a disappointing end to a season that saw them re-open Rhodes Field with a win over Pitt and go unbeaten at home en route to a regular season Ivy League title and a No. 6 seed and hosting privilege for the NCAA Tournament. Losses in their last two home games – to Princeton in the Ivy League Championship and to UMass – will leave a bitter taste as they look ahead to next season.

Though leading goal-scorer Stas Korzeniowski, star center back Leo Burney, attacking mid Ben Do and Lower Gwyneed native Brandon Curran are among the notable seniors, head coach Brian Gil will have a number of key contributors back, including six of Sunday night’s starters.