Boys Soccer – Fresh off winning EPC title, Hornets now focused on defending District XI 4A championship with opening-round matchup vs Whitehall. PREVIEW:

Photo: Nathan Lewis.

Matchup: No. 9 Whitehall (8-7-3) vs No. 1 Emmaus (18-2-1)

When/Where: Wednesday 6:30 p.m. @ Memorial Field

What’s on the line: Winner advances to the semis on October 29 to take on either No. 4 Northampton/No. 5 Pleasant Valley

How they got here: Whitehall defeated PM East 3-2 in OT; Emmaus – BYE

Coaches: Whitehall – Chris Malone; Emmaus – John Cari (20th season)

Probable starters – Emmaus: Sr. Kai Mattern (10g, 2nd Team EPC), Sr. Callum Harvey, Jr. Connor Powell (4g/4a), Sr. Mohamed Hassanali (9g) Jr. Canyon Reinhardt (10g, 2nd Team EPC), Jr. Robbie Tumblin, Jr. Rio Johnson, Sr. Bryson Moyer, Soph. Ben Grossi (3rd Team EPC), Sr. Brayden Dang (1st Team EPC), Jr. Will Peck (10 shutouts). Subs: Soph. Gabe Reyes, Fr. Brennan Stack, Sr. Miles Cook, Sr. Ethan Dublin

CORNER KICKS – Coming off of winning its first EPC Championship since 2019, Emmaus will now look to defend its District XI 4A title taking on a very familiar foe in Whitehall. The Hornets opened their season with a 5-0 win over the Zephyrs back on August 27. The Zephyrs, who defeated PME 3-2 in OT earlier this week, had beaten Emmaus the past two years in the opening round of the league playoffs … Emmaus has won four of the last five D11 titles and has been to the championship game 13 consecutive seasons. Overall, the program has won 19 titles.

District XI 4A Tournament (Weds., Oct. 23)

No.9 Whitehall @ No.1 Emmaus

No.7 Liberty @ No.2 Parkland

No.6 Allen @ No.3 Freedom

No.5 Pleasant Valley @ No.4 Northampton

October 29 – Semis

October 31 – Finals