There haven’t been too many teams around the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference or the eastern part of the state for that matter, that have been able to slow down Emmaus’ Will Barber.
Heading into his team’s EPC semifinal matchup on Wednesday night at Northampton, the newly-named MVP of the league had been putting up record numbers with an incredible 83 goals and 47 assists on the season.
Facing rival Central Catholic for the second time this season with a berth in the league championship game on the line, the fourth-seeded Vikes did a good job of limiting Barber to just two first quarter goals and two assists.
But it didn’t matter, as head coach Justin Fuhrman’s No.1 seeded Hornets had other players step up in crucial situations leading the squad to the hard-fought victory.
A balanced scoring attack that saw six different players score goals, backed by a solid defensive effort and stellar play in goal from senior Sam Rainford proved to be just enough as Emmaus defeated Central Catholic for the second time this season 9-7, punching their ticket to the EPC championship game.
Awaiting the Hornets, who improved to 18-1 on the season after their 13th consecutive victory, will be third-seeded and the defending champs, Easton, which knocked off second-seeded Parkland, 12-10 in the other semifinal. Emmaus will be aiming for its first league title since the 2012 season.
The title tilt will be played onTuesday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. back at Northampton and will be aired LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network, beginning with pregame coverage at 7:15 p.m.
In last night’s win, the Hornets got everything they could handle and then some from the Vikings, who led 3-2 after the first quarter and played Emmaus to a 5-5 tie at the break.
The second half, however, was a different story as the Hornets ‘D’ limited Central Catholic to just a pair of goals, while forcing key turnovers late in the game.
Rainford, a 1st Team EPC All-Star, came up with 16 saves on the night, including a number of big stops in the second half, while defensemen seniors John Wassel, Erick Wentz, Zach Yenawine played outstanding in limiting the Vikes to their second-lowest offensive output of the season.
Senior midfielder Michael Chies scored two goals on the night, including what proved to be the game-winner early in the fourth quarter, putting the Hornets ahead 8-6.
Fellow senior Liam Rooney added a pair of goals in the win, while senior Marcus Puentes and juniors Reilly Bechtel and Kaleb Mains also added scores. At the faceoff-X, senior Jahkari Christian was solid winning 15 of 23.
For Central Catholic (10-6), junior James McCarthy led the way with a five-point effort (two goals, three assists), while senior Luke Schmiko added a goal and two assists. Junior Chris Burke was credited with 13 saves between the pipes.
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Emmaus 9, CCHS 7
CC – 3-2-1-1 – 7
Em – 2-3-2-2- 9
Scoring: James McCarthy 2g/3a, Luke Schimko 1g/2a, Quinn Driscoll 1g, Tate Shoemaker 1g, Liam Farrell 1g, Chris Burke 13 saves
Em – Will Barber 2g/2a, Michael Chies 2g, Liam Rooney 2g, Kaleb Mains 1g, Reilly Bechtel 1g, Marcus Puentes 1g, Jewlien Torres 1a, Sam Rainford 16 saves
CC –