5/11/19
RECAP >> Trailing by as many as six goals in their Eastern Pennsylvania Conference semifinal on Thursday night at Northampton High School, Emmaus rallied with four unanswered goals to get within 7-5 of Central Catholic early in the third quarter, but the the Hornets couldn’t get any closer as the Vikings scored nine of the game’s next 10 goals on their way to a 16-6 win.
The loss marked the second consecutive year that Central has defeated Emmaus in the semifinals (16-8 in 2018), and it was also third time the season that the Hornets have fallen to the Vikings as they were outscored 40-17 in the three games. The loss also marked the 10th straight time that Emmaus has been defeated by the Vikings with the last win coming back in 2015 (8-6).
Emmaus dropped to 12-7 with the loss, while Central advances to Monday’s championship game at 7:30 p.m. back at Northampton to take on defending champion Parkland, which eliminated fourth-seeded Easton 8-2.
Seniors Bailey O’Connor and Sam Conway each had two goals to lead the Hornets offense, while classmate Evan Bhagat and junior Michael Leschinsky also scored for Emmaus which was outscored in all four quarters. Sophomore Ben Franco made 13 saves in goal.
Central Catholic (16-3) had seven different goal scorers. Seniors Justin Pasquale and Matt Scandone, along with sophomore Jack McGorry each had a hat trick for the Vikings. Seniors Luke Talago and Todd Gloss and junior Louie Baloh all added two goals.
Emmaus will now prepare for the upcoming District XI playoffs which are set to get underway on Thursday, May 16. The Hornets are likely to be the No.3 seed and will host sixth-seeded Freedom (7-10) tentatively set for 6 p.m. at Memorial Field.
Nazareth, the No.4 seed will host fifth-seeded Easton in the other quarterfinal, while top-seeded Parkland and second seeded Delaware Valley will receive first-round byes.
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Emmaus – 1-2-2-1 – 6
Central – 3-4-4-5 – 16
Scoring:
Q1
CC 1-0: Louie Baloh
CC 2-0: Luke Talago
CC 3-0: Justin Pasquale
Em 3-1: Evan Bhagat (assist Bailey O’Connor)
Q2
CC 4-1: Matt Scandone
CC 5-1: Jack McGorry
CC 6-1: McGorry
CC 7-1: Todd Gloss
Em 2-7: Michael Leschinsky (assist Grant Hawkins)
Em 3-7: O’Connor (assist Matt Dapper)
Q3:
Em 4-7: Sam Conway
Em 5-7: Conway (assist Devon Boyko)
CC 8-5: McGorry (assist Scandone)
CC 9-5: Baloh
CC 10-5: Tyler Schifko (assist McGorry)
CC 11-5: Scandone (assist Pasquale)
Q4
CC 12-5: Pasquale
Em 6-12: O’Connor
CC 13-6: Talago
CC 14-6: Gloss
CC 15-6: Scandone
CC 16-6: Pasquale