October 6, 2019
RECAP >> Needing a win in the worst way with the post-season right around the corner, the injury-riddled Emmaus boys soccer team was finally able to get back into the winning column.
And they did it, despite losing two more starters to injuries, adding to a growing total which is now up to seven for head coach John Cari’s team.
Senior forward Jacob Groh scored his second hat trick of the season and juniors Marco Silva and Nathan Romig added solo goals as the Hornets bounced back from a difficult three-games in seven-day stretch as they defeated Whitehall 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Field.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for head coach John Cari’s team (14-3 overall/12-3 EPC) who entered last week ranked No.1 in the state according to the Pennsylvania Coaches Association ‘Big School’ poll and 17th nationally by USA Today.
“Very pleased with the win,” said the Hornets 15th year coach, who was without starters seniors Eric Johnson, Andrew Gaines and Joe Huck yesterday to go along with seniors Thomas Hanvey and Jake Perry who have both been sidelined with injuries. “We lost two more starters – juniors Josh Miller and Patrick Walsh – early in the game to injuries and we had other kids that really stepped up.”
“I have junior varsity kids logging serious minutes,” he added. “Carlos Morales and Bryan Flor each played more than a half and Jack Lawrence and Holden Brown both got time, too.”
The Hornets rebounded with their first win in 10 days following a tough stretch that saw them manage just one goal in losses to rival Parkland (2-0), a .500 Northampton team (1-0) and a five-win Nazareth squad (2-1).
“There were some mental aspects that we needed to fix,” said Cari earlier in the week following his team’s head-scratching loss to Nazareth, its first to the Blue Eagles since 2008. “We have to be sharper in situations and be more cognizant and aware of what we are doing out on the field.”
“We’re not getting scored on in the flow of play, but we have to do a better job in the mental aspect to be sharper and be stronger and realize and see the things that we are doing that are letting goals in.”
Despite the recent struggles and the injuries, there is good news to report: the Hornets are expected to be at full strength and get all their starters back once the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference playoffs get underway next Saturday.
“We didn’t want this (three game losing) streak to happen, but let it be now,” said Cari who’s closing in on career win No. 250. “For the first time in a long time this season we will have some time to correct things.”
“After we get through the game with Central Catholic on Monday we’ll have some time to train. We haven’t had that opportunity and to get refocused. These guys are absolutely capable. You don’t win 13 games in a row with a fluke. We just have to find that edge back and that’s going to be up to me to figure out.”
EPC Standings (Top 8 to playoffs): Liberty 14-1, EMMAUS 12-3, Parkland 12-3, Easton 12-3, Stroudsburg 9-3-2, Whitehall 10-5, Freedom 9-6, Northampton 7-7-1, ES South 7-7-1, Central Catholic 7-7-1, PM West 7-7, Pleasant Valley 6-8-1, PM East 5-9-1, Becahi 4-9-1, Nazareth 5-10, Allen 3-12, ES North 1-13, Dieruff 0-15