RECAP >> They won’t be part of the four-team Eastern Pennsylvania Conference league tournament next week, but the Emmaus boys’ lacrosse team will be carrying momentum as they look to defend their two-year reign as District XI Class 3A champs.
Head coach Stu Speicher’s team closed out the regular-season this week with two one-goal victories in a 24-hour period — one an epic come-from-behind win over rival Parkland (12-11) on Wednesday and another over Moravian Academy (7-6) on Thursday.
With the two victories, Emmaus closes out the regular-season with a 13-6 overall mark – 6-3 in the EPC – and will take a three-game win streak into districts.
Against rival Parkland, the Hornets pulled off one of the best comebacks in program history as they overcame a five-goal deficit midway through the third quarter, outscoring the hosts 6-2 in the final 12 minutes and stunning the Trojans who were on a six-game win streak.
Sophomore Will Barber wound up scoring the game-winner with just 5.2 seconds left in regulation breaking an 11-11 tie as he got around two Parkland defenders and his shot from side of the cage beat Trojans goalie Zade Afif, setting off a wild celebration on the Emmaus sideline. Barber finished the night with five goals and two assists and he scored his team’s final three goals in the last 1-minute, 30-seconds of play.
Senior Logan Mains added a hat trick in the win, while classmates Liam Porreca and Connor Flok each scored two goals. Sophomore Sam Rainford picked up the win in goal making 10 saves.
Parkland (7-2 EPC/14-3 overall) was led by sophomore Jake Parker who scored three goals. Classmate Anthony Schultz had a four-point night (2 goals/2 assists) and junior Drew Filipovits and senior Jake Hurd each scored goals. Senior Matt Baraco, a Harvard commit, dominated at the faceoff-X winning 21 of 25 faceoffs.
In the regular-season finale at Moravian Academy, Emmaus outscored the Lions in three of the first four quarters, while the hosts won the last 12 minutes of play but couldn’t get any closer as the Hornets held on for their second-straight one goal victory.
Barber once again led the attack for Emmaus with a four-point effort (2 goals/2 assists), while Porreca and sophomore Liam Rooney each scored a pair of goals.
Moravian Academy (9-6) was paced by Gavin and Logan Gibbs who both scored two goals.
Emmaus will now prepare for the upcoming district playoffs which are set to get underway on Thursday, May 19. Currently, the Hornets are the No.5 seed and would travel to No.4 Freedom in the quarterfinals. The official matchups will be released once the EPC Tournament has concluded.
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Emmaus 12, Parkland 11 (Wednesday)
Em – 2-1-3-6 – 12
Pa – 4-2-3-2 – 11
Em – Will Barber 5g/2a, Logan Mains 3g/1a, Liam Porreca 2g/1a, Connor Flok 2g, Sam Rainford 10 saves
Pa – Jake Parker 3g, Anthony Schultz 2g/2a, Drew Filipovits 2g, Jake Hurd 2g, Matt Barraco 1g/1a, Aidan Finnegan 1g, Zayd Afif 5 saves
Emmaus 7, Moravian Academy 6 (Thursday)
Em – 3-2-2-0 – 7
Mo – 2-1-1-2 – 6
Em – Will Barber 2g/2a, Liam Porreca 2g, Liam Rooney 2g, Logan Mains 1g, Sam Rainford 6 saves
Mo – Gavin Gibbs 2g, Logan Gibbs 2g, AJ Lozano 1g, Luke Grindrod1g, Cristofero Cucciuffo 9 saves