For as much as it’s been a challenge at times and especially in the post-season to score goals, the one thing that head coach John Cari has always hanged is hat on during his long and successful tenure at Emmaus is strong defensive play.
It’s always been that way.
During this season, with a unit that has allowed just a miniscule six goals and posted 18 shutouts, there haven’t been to many opponents – if any – that have had any luck cracking the Hornets back line.
You can now add LaSalle College High School to that growing list.
Playing in their first PIAA state game in two years on the road in a hostile environment on the District 12 champs home field, Emmaus once again came up another outstanding defensive effort holding the Explorers off the scoreboard in earning a hard-fought 1-0 victory on Tuesday night.
It was the first time in five years that the Hornets has won a state game. Ironically, the last time it happened was against the same LaSalle program (3-2 in 2020).
The victory advances the Hornets (20-2-3) to Saturday’s quarterfinal round at 4 p.m. at Quakertown High School where they will face District One’s third place team, West Chester Henderson, who defeated Wyoming Valley West 3-0.
“We know that we are a really good defensive team and we fought for 80 hard minutes out there,” said Cari, the Hornets 21st year coach post-game on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network’s live coverage. “The game was played a little bit more on our end, but I thought we did a really good job and stood tall.”
Perhaps no one bigger than the backline featuring seniors Rio Johnson, Lorenzo LoPiccolo, Ben Grossi and sophomore Noah Delgado who were outstanding in making it a relatively easy night for senior goalie Will Peck, who got the start with classmate Gavin Yartymyk sideline with an injury.
Emmaus, which had suffered a pair of one-goal losses in their two previous state games against Council Rock North and Abington, held LaSalle without a shot in the game, while making the most of the one opportunity that was presented to them.
With a little over 13 minutes left in the first half, Hornets senior midfielder Conner Powell was taken down in the box earning Emmaus a penalty kick. Junior Aleksander Przybylski, who has had a flare for scoring big goals in the post-season, calmly stepped to the line and buried a shot into the upper 90 past junior goalie Grant Kiefner for the game’s only score.
“I just tried to fake out the goalie, and I put a beautiful shot in the top triangle. I couldn’t have hit it any better” said Przybylski, who scored the game-winning goal in his team’s last penalty kick session against Liberty in the District XI semifinals. “I felt confident stepping up and take penalty kicks.”
“It was a hard-fought victory,” he added. “We were able to keep it together, stay connected and defend well as a unit.
Said Cari of Przybylski: “I have a lot of confidence in him. He’s been outstanding. He was a little excited and might have hit it a little hard then he wanted to, but he put it in the back of net.”
And then Emmaus defended the rest of the way as they held off a few late LaSalle scoring opportunities to pick up arguably one of their biggest wins of the season.
The 20th victory for the squad marks the most for the Hornets since 2019 (21-4).
LaSalle, which was also making its first state appearance in two years, was coming off of defeating Northeast in the District 12 title game. A year ago, the Explorers were stunned by the same Northeast time in the finals. LaSalle also captured their third straight Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) and 14th overall since 1993. They ended their season at 13-6-3.
Look for a preview later this week on Emmaus’ second round matchup with West Chester Henderson.
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Emmaus 1, LaSalle College 0
Em – 1-0 – 1
La – 0-0 – 0
Scoring:
Em – Aleksander Przybylski ’27
SOG – Em 2, LaS 0
Saves – Em (Will Peck 0), Las (Grant Kiefner 1)
Corners – Em 2, LaS 0
Game replay: https://easternpasportsnet1.mixlr.com/recordings/2943706