Field Hockey – 3-Peat? Loaded Hornets squad has legitimate chance to win third straight PIAA Championship. PREVIEW

Coach – Sue Butz-Stavin (47th year, 1,015-82-35)

Assistants – Allison Haas, Kristin Boyer, Laree Beans, Allie Mikelson, Lisa Gaumer

Last year – 14-0 EPC/28-0 overall. EPC, District XI (33rd straight) & PIAA State 3A champs (14th overall)

Losses to graduation –  Lexi Kociban, Kyleigh Faust (13 goals/4 assists, 2nd Team EPC, Liberty University), Brooke Mancini, Abigail O’Donnell, Jenna Villeneuve (14g/28a, 3rd Team EPC, Cornell), Maddie Huffer (Mercyhurst), Emily Buss (Millersville), Tatyanna Lainez, Morgan Suppes

Returnees –  Sr. F/MF Rachel Herbine (46g/38a, 1st Team EPC, Iowa commit), Sr. MF Abby Burnett (28g/32a, Tri-MVP EPC, Michigan commit), Sr. F Ava Zerfass (54g/12a, Tri MVP EPC, Monmouth commit), Jr. GK Emma Cari (21 shutouts), Jr. F/MF Melea Weber (UNC commit), Jr. B Emmy Condrack, Jr. MF Addison Kleinle, Jr. F Hailey Cook, Jr. B Autumn Held, Jr. F Haley Kvacky, Jr. B Sage Pilarski, Jr. B Jordyn Poll, Jr. MF Sarah Schaffer, So. MF Autumn Kernechel (10g/13a), Soph. MF Lauren Kushma

Newcomers: Jr. Cyan Kvacky, Jr. Abby Romano, Soph. F Emmy Horner

Season-opener: Friday, August 26 vs Pleasant Valley (3:30 pm)

Follow the team on social media: Twitter (@Emmaussports.com, @EHSFhockey)  Facebook (Emmaussports)

EPC Challengers: Easton and Parkland

Coach Butz-Stavin on:

Getting ready for the season – “Pre-season is going well. The seniors did a tremendous job of getting this team ready. With one week less of training we have to be physically-fit field hockey wise and I think we are doing a very good job. Our job now is to maintain what we worked on all summer in those six-to-nine weeks.”

Makeup of the team – “It’s a good group of kids. They all seem to all enjoy each others company and I don’t think we have any sidebars going on at the moment and that’s where our senior leadership has really blossomed.”

A third straight state title? – “We’re in a good place and they have a legitimate chance of doing that but we have to stay healthy, positive and unified. If we can keep the chemistry going the outlook looks positive. We just can’t look at the othe end of the rainbow. I want these kids to stay focused.”