RECAP >> Stu Speicher joked following Saturday afternoon’s home game at Memorial Field with Hershey that maybe he should have went home after the visitors put up two early goals against his team less than three minutes into the game.
Little did the Hornets first-year head coach know that despite the early deficit, that his team would be just fine. In fact, Speicher was probably glad he stuck around.
Led by a barrage of scoring that saw 10 different players net goals, Emmaus put together its best all-around performance to date as they scored early and often in steamrolling the Trojans 19-4 in a non-league game.
“I was very impressed and very happy for the boys,” said Speicher, a longtime assistant who was named the head coach last October. “It’s a group that obviously with everything that they’ve gone through, to get to a game like today, they just appreciate it so much and they want to play as a team and be unselfish with the ball and that’s what you saw today.”
“It’s a small sample size, but of the four games we’ve played I have to say that this is the one I’ve been the most happy with and their energy level.”
Prior to yesterday’s game, Emmaus had rolled to victories over three opponents – Moravian Academy, Bethlehem Catholic and Saucon Valley – that have a combined just one win on the season.
So how would they fare against a Hershey team just two years removed from playing in the Class 2A state final?
Just fine.
Emmaus scored six unanswered goals in the first quarter after falling behind 2-0 and were never challenged the rest of the way. The second quarter saw the Hornets put up an incredible nine goals as they led 15-3 at the half.
Junior Connor Flok led the offensive barrage and continued his torrid early-season scoring for the Hornets (4-0 overall) as he recorded his second five-goal game of the season.
“I got a little taste of watching him play last summer and talking to (former Emmaus coach) Desi Gonzalez about the steps he had made,” said Speicher of his junior who leads the team with 17 goals. “He’s a foot taller, he’s stronger and more confident and what a finisher he is. It’s so great to have him out there on the attack. He doesn’t miss.”
Besides the efforts of Flok, Emmaus also got big performances out of seniors Adam Monek and Zach Whalen who both recorded hat tricks, classmate Cade Speicher’s two-goal, two-assist effort and junior Zack Younker, who had a monster day with a career-best six assists.
“The (Jacksonville) Jaguars are making a mistake going (Clemson’s) Trevor Lawrence as the No.1 quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft,” joked Speicher. “I really think Zack Younker is the best quarterback around. He’s just running the show.
“You saw his vision today. Hershey has good athletes on defense and he’s moving the ball and finding the open guy. He probably deserved more than six (assists) the way he was feeding today.”
Younker’s teammate freshman Will Barber also had a big day with his second straight three-assist performance of the season, while junior Logan Mains and senior Gannon Mesko scored their first goals of the year.
Emmaus outshot Hershey 25-5 and won all but four of the 25 face-offs with sophomore Aidan Garrett and Mesko dominating.
Emmaus will return to action on Tuesday as they host Pleasant Valley (1-4) at 5:30 p.m. on Mentor Night.
To keep up to date on the team, follow Emmaus boys lacrosse on social media: Twitter (@Emmaussports) and Facebook (Emmaus boys lacrosse).
Emmaus 19, Hershey 4
Hershey – 3-0-1-0 – 4
Emmaus – 6-9-2-2 – 19
Hershey goals/assists – Trevor Bradshaw 2g, Allec Angello 1g, Ryan Grace 1g
Emmaus goals/assists – Connor Flok 5g/1a, Zach Whalen 3g/1a, Adam Monek 3g, Cade Speicher 2g/2a, Zack Younker 1g/6a, Justin Hollinger 1g, Logan Mains 1g, Gannon Mesko 1g, Nate Seidel 1g, Liam Porecca 1g, Will Barber 3a
Emmaus saves – Ben Franco 5, Matt Nelson 0, Sam Rainford 0