RECAP >> Emmaus’ reign as the two-time defending District XI Class 3A champions came to a crushing end last night at Freedom High School as the Patriots ended the Hornets season with a thrilling 10-9 victory in the quarterfinals. The game was carried LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network.
Freedom sophomore Alex Greenberg wound up scoring the game-winning goal with just :27 seconds left in regulation as the fourth-seeded Patriots defeated fifth-seeded Emmaus for the second time this season. The two victories by Freedom were by a combined three goals (first meeting 10-8).
Greenberg led the Patriots (15-4) with a team-high four goals, including a hat trick in the critical fourth quarter, as the hosts outscored the Hornets 4-2. Junior Alex Hume added a hat trick for Freedom, which earned a date in next Tuesday’s semifinal at top-seeded Delaware Valley. The other semifinal will pit No.2 seed Easton taking on third-seeded Parkland, which advanced with an easy 15-2 win over Nazareth, the No. 6 seed.
For Emmaus, which closed the season at 13-7 overall, sophomore Will Barber led the way with a game-high five goals, while senior Connor Flok added a pair of scores.
The Hornets, who were in action for the first time since defeating Moravian Academy 7-6 back on May 5, got off to a quick start as they outscored Freedom 4-0 in the opening quarter behind a pair of goals from Barber and solo scores from Flok and senior Logan Mains.
Freedom responded, however, with a three-goal second quarter to cut the lead to 4-3 at the half. The third quarter was even at 3-3. Emmaus built as much as a two-goal advantage at 8-6 early in the final quarter, but the Pates responded scoring four of the game’s next five goals with Greenberg registering the game-winner.
Sophomore Jared Karabinus was dominate at the faceoff-X for Freedom winning 15 of 19.
Last night’s game was the final one in the high school careers of Emmaus’ 13 seniors – Ben Thomas, Connor Flok, Gavin Cronin, Sikander Saeed, Jared Groller, Logan Mains, Sean Higgins, Danny Ahne, Jeremiah Sona, Liam Porreca, Lance Farnschlader, Jared Speicher and Zack Younker who missed the entire season with an injury.
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Freedom 10, Emmaus 9
Em – 4-0-3-2 – 9
Fr – 0-3-3-4 – 10
Em – Will Barber 5g, Connor Flok 2g, Logan Mains 1g, Liam Porreca 1g, Liam Rooney 3a
Fr – Alex Greenberg 4g, Alex Hume 3g/2a, Antonio Solivan 1g, Jared Karabinus 1g, Jake Ballarini 1g/1a, Connor Bevan 3a
PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy Nathan Lewis)
