Homecoming week can sometimes be a high school coach’s worst nightmare, no matter what the sport.
Off the field distractions. Players’ minds focused elsewhere.
That wasn’t the case, however, for head coach Sue Butz-Stavin’s team in their much-anticipated Top 20 matchup on Saturday afternoon at traditional District One power Downingtown West.
In fact, the Hornets 49th year head coach probably couldn’t have asked for a better all-around performance from her team.
They were that dominant in a matchup featuring Emmaus (No. 8) and Downingtown West (No. 15) in the latest Max Field Hockey rankings.
Having already posted one big win earlier this week with a dominating 5-0 effort over a one-loss Nazareth team on Senior Night, the Hornets parlayed that effort with a similar performance as they handed the Whippets just their second loss of the season, 6-0.
“I was really happy with our play,” said Butz-Stavin. “Homecoming week can be a huge distraction. The girls were honored at the football game on Friday, and they had their dance last night, but I credit our senior captains (Autum Kernechel and Emmy Horner) for getting the girls focused.”
“We came out with a lot of energy and played as team. We were tested, but we put a lot of pressure on their goalie. It was a very good effort all-around.”
The victory improved Emmaus’ overall mark to 16-1, while the Whippets dropped to 12-2. It was also the second consecutive season that the Hornets have defeated Downingtown West, winning last year’s matchup 3-2.
Sophomore Sadie Nawarynski scored a pair of goals in the win, Nos. 25 and 26 on the season, including the only goal Emmaus would need early in the first quarter giving her team a 1-0 lead.
Another sophomore, Gracie Huffer, tallied her 23rd and 24th goals on the year, while Kernechel had a game-high two assists to go along with her team-leading 28th goal.
Junior Addison Povilaitis closed out the scoring with her third goal of the season.
In goal, junior Aiko Price had one of her best games posting a season-high 13 saves to go along with her 15th shutout.
“Aiko came through and made save great saves, one of her best games of the year,” said Butz-Stavin. “She hadn’t been under much pressure this season and a game like this should definitely boost her confidence facing a Downingtown West with four players (Aimee Largoza, Allison Plzak, Regan Welsh and Scarlett Wood) on the NFHCA ‘watch list’ and a team that was very physical in the striking circle. They were a threat.”
Butz-Stavin also praised the play of junior Mogann Orobono “who had a solid defensive effort” guarding the Whippets top scoring threat.
Statistically, Emmaus held a slight 17-14 edge in shots with the Hornets holding a 13-8 edge in penalty corners.
Emmaus will close out the regular-season portion of their schedule on Tuesday at 7 p.m. as they travel to rival Parkland.
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Emmaus 6, Downingtown West 0
Em – 2-1-1-2 – 6
DTW – 0-0-0-0 – 0
Scoring:
Em – Sadie Nawarynski (assist Sharlise Solano)
Em – Gracie Huffer (assist Emmy Horner)
Em – Nawarynski (assist Autum Kernechel)
Em – Huffer (assist Nawarynski @ Kernechel)
Em – Kernechel PS
Em -Addison Povilaitis
Stats:
SOG – Em 17, DTW 14
PC – Em 13, DTW 8
Saves – Em (Aiko Price 13), DTW (Grace Goodman 10)