Matchup: #2 seed Emmaus (16-1-3) vs #4 seed Freedom (15-2-3)
When/Where: Saturday 1 p.m./Northampton HS
What’s on the line: Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Championship
Coaches: Emmaus – John Cari (21st season, 355-94-31); Freedom – Tyler Nolan (4th year)
Head-to-Head: Teams tied 1-1 on September 18
How they got here: Emmaus defeated Nazareth 1-0 OT, defeated Northampton 1-0 OT: Freedom defeated Liberty 2-0, defeated Parkland 1-0 OT
Probable starters – Emmaus: Sr. Def. Rio Johnson, Jr. MF Aleksander Przybylski (2 goals in post-season, 2nd Team EPC), Jr. F Anthony Suida (8 goals/6 assists), Jr. Def. Lorenzo LoPiccolo, Sr. MF Conner Powell (8g), Sr. MF Canyon Reinhardt (12 goals/5 assists, 1st Team EPC), Sr. MF Robbie Tumblin, Jr. Def Ben Grossi (1st Team EPC), Soph. Def Noah Delgado, Soph. MF Brennan Stack (4g/5a, 3rd Team EPC), Sr. GK Gavin Yartymyk … Reserves: Jr. F Gabe Reyes (6g/2a), Sr. MF Logan Armstrong, Sr. F Andrew Manz, SR. F Austen Breisch, Jr. F Shaw Cook
Freedom – Jr. GK Ben Rodriguez, Jr. Def. Nate Stannard, Jr. Def. Liam Curtin, Sr. Def/MF Ben Soleymani, Jr. Def. Luke Twiggar, Sr. MF Dylan Shupp, Jr. MF Gavin Lynch, Jr. F Evan Plasco, Sr. F Eduardo Freitas, Sr. Def. Erwin Mora, Jr. MF/F Caden Grimmer
CORNER KICKS – Emmaus is looking to win its second straight EPC title and 20th overall. A season ago, the Hornets defeated rival Parkland in the finals 3-1, after defeating Freedom 1-0 in the semis … Emmaus has allowed just one goal in its last six games and have only given up five on the season … Like the Hornets, Freedom has also been very good defensively, especially in the post-season where they have not allowed a goal in two games. The Pates last appeared in the finals back in 2021, defeating Parkland 5-0.