RECAP >> After attaining one of its goals of winning an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference championship this season, the Emmaus boys soccer team is now just one win away from its second goal – a District XI title.
Head coach John Cari’s team moved one step closer to claiming the program’s 16th championship overall as the Hornets blanked Stroudsburg 3-0 in the District XI Class 4A semifinals last night at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown.
The victory was the seventh straight for Emmaus (20-3 overall), which advances to its ninth straight final on Thursday at a site and time to be determined against Whitehall, the No. 6 seed, which pulled off its second consecutive upset in the tournament by knocking off Parkland, the No.2 seed, 1-0 in the other semifinal. The Hornets will be aiming for their first district title since 2016.
Senior Andrew Gaines and juniors Marco Silva and Alexzander Toto all scored goals in the win.
Gaines found the back of the net in the 34th minute of the first half with his 14th goal of the season off a rebound shot from teammate senior Thomas Hanvey to give Emmaus a 1-0 lead.
Silva then added to the lead in the 47th minute with his 7th goal off an assist from senior Jake Groh to make it 2-0, before Toto closed out the scoring heading his 3rd goal of the season off an assist from senior Eric Johnson past goalie Christian Beebe.
Emmaus posted its 13th shutout of the season and fourth in the post-season.
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Emmaus – 1-2 – 3
Stroudsburg – 0-0 – 0
Em goals – Andrew Gaines (34′), Marco Silva (47′), Alexzander Toto (78′)
Em assists – Jake Groh, Eric Johnson