Boys Lacrosse – Hornets quest to defend District XI 3A title begins Tuesday as they host Freedom in the semifinals. PREVIEW:

Who: No.1 seed Emmaus (16-2) vs No.5 Freedom (11-5)

What: District XI Class 3A Semifinals

When: 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 25 @ Memorial Field

What’s at stake: Winner advances to the championship Thursday, May 27 vs winner of No.2 Parkland/No.6 Nazareth

Coverage: LIVE www.easternpasportsnetwork.com (5:45 pm)

Coaches – Emmaus – Stu Speicher (1st year); Freedom – Tony Fabrizio

Probable starters: Emmaus – Jr. Connor Flok (61 goals), Jr. Zack Younker (15g/52a), Sr. Matt Dapper, Sr Zach Palinkas, Sr. GK Ben Franco, Fr. Will Barber (14 goals), Jr. Ben Thomas, Soph. Aidan Garrett, Sr. Cade Speicher (18g), Sr. Connor Carter

Freedom key players – Sr. Quin Hoke (40g/22a), Jr. Connor Bevan (31g/27a), So. Alex Hume (36g/11a), Sr. Jake Cierech (18g/6a), Sr. Matt Bogardo (12g/6a), So. GK Ryan Hathaway (149 saves)

NOTES – …..Emmaus and Freedom are meeting for the second time this season with a berth in the district finals on the line. The Hornets won the only meeting during the regular-season 16-4 behind five goals from Flok, four from Whalen and a six assist effort from Younker …..Emmaus is the defending champs after knocking off rival Parkland 8-7 in the finals back in 2019. The Hornets also won district titles in 2015, 2014 and 2013 …..Freedom is coming off a 8-7 overtime win at Easton last week in the quarterfinals on a last-second goal from Hoke …