RECAP >> The margin of victory wasn’t as great as it was two years ago, but nonetheless the result was the same and at this time of the year that’s all that matters.
Unbeaten and the top-ranked team in the country, head coach Sue Butz-Stavin’s juggernaut field hockey squad had no trouble in their PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal round matchup on Saturday evening at East Stroudsburg South High School as the Hornets of Emmaus ended the season for the Honesdale Hornets cruising to an easy 7-0 victory.
Five different players scored goals for the Hornets (25-0) led by senior Ava Zerfass and junior Melea Weber who each scored a pair of goals. Senior Rachel Herbine also had a big day with four assists to go along with her team-leading 49th goal of the season. Sophomore Autum Kernechel and junior Autumn Held also found the back of the cage for Emmaus.
Defensively, the Hornets posted their 18th shutout of the season behind junior goalie Emma Cari who was credited with nine saves and the play infront of her of juniors Jordyn Poll, Sarah Schaffer, Held and freshman Morgann Orobono.
Emmaus outshot Honesdale 25-11 in the game and held an 11-8 advantage in penalty corners.
The victory marked the second time in the last three years that Emmaus has ended Honesdale’s season in this same round. The two also met back in the Covid year of 2020 at Memorial Field and the margin was much wider — an 11-0 victory for Emmaus.
With the win, the Hornets advance to the semifinals for the 13th consecutive year on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Hamburg High School where they will face Wilson, the District 3 runner-up who knocked off District One champ Downingtown West, 1-0. The game will be carried LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network (www.easternpasportsnetwork.com) beginning at 4:40 p.m.
Emmaus and Wilson are no strangers to meeting each other in the state tournament. Back in 2019, the Bulldogs ended the Hornets season 1-0 in the same round and at the same venue. Wilson then went on to win the state title.
Honesdale ended its season at 17-4. The Hornets were coming off of their first-ever win in the state playoffs on Tuesday, a dramatic last-second 5-4 win over Spring-Ford, the fourth place team from District One.
To stay up to date on Emmaus sports, follow @Emmaussports.com on Twitter and like Emmaus field hockey on facebook.
Emmaus 7, Honesdale 0
Em – 2-3-2-0 – 7
Hon – 0-0-0-0 – 0
Scoring:
Q1 Em – Autum Kernechel
Q1 Em – Ava Zerfass (assist Abby Burnett)
Q2 Em – Zerfass (assist Rachel Herbine)
Q2 Em- Melea Weber (assist Herbine)
Q2 Em – Herbine (assist Weber)
Q3 Em – Weber (assist Herbine)
Q3 Em – Autumn Held (assist Herbine)