In a matchup of two teams ranked in the top 10 of Max Field Hockey’s Pennsylvania pre-season poll, it was No.5 Emmaus edging No.7 Downingtown West 3-2 in a highly-anticipated non-league game played on Friday night at Memorial Field.
Junior Emmy Horner’s goal off an assist from classmate Lauren Kushma early in the fourth quarter wound up being the game-winner for the Hornets who remained unbeaten on the season (5-0).
The two teams were meeting for the first time since 2018 when Emmaus defeated Downingtown West 1-0 in the opening-round of the PIAA State Tournament.
After a scoreless first half – marking the first time all season that the Hornets were held without a goal – Emmaus was finally able to break through on junior Autum Kernechel’s second goal of the season off a penalty corner with 4:26 left in the third quarter.
Downingtown West, which had also entered the game undefeated (4-0), then tied the game at 1-1 just minutes later on Aimee Largoza’s goal. It was the first goal allowed this season for head coach Sue Butz-Stavin’s team which had outscored its first four opponents 41-0.
Moments later, and with the clock winding down in the quarter, Emmaus answered with the go-ahead score as they once again converted off yet another penalty corner as senior Autumn Held scored her first goal of the season.
Horner’s goal, her third on the year, proved to be big insurance as Emmaus built a 3-1 lead before Downingtown West made it 3-2 on a controversial goal with just 1:05 left in regulation. The score, credited to Largoza, was allowed despite the ball being hit outside of the circle and going off the foot of an Emmaus player.
The Whippets then had a chance to tie the game in the waning seconds on a penalty corner, but the Emmaus defense proved stout preserving the one-goal victory.
For the first time all season, Emmaus did not have the advantage statistically as the Whippets outshot the Hornets 16-13 and held a 9-8 advantage in penalty corners. In goal, senior Emma Cari was credited with 11 saves, while her counterpart, Kayla Chepow, made 10 stops.
Emmaus will return to league play at 4 p.m. on Tuesday as they travel to Pocono Mountain West.
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Emmaus 3, Downingtown West 2
DTW – 0-0-1-1 – 2
Em – 0-0-2-1 – 3
Scoring:
Em – Autum Kernechel 1g, Autumn Held 1g/1a, Emmy Horner 1g, Sarah Schaffer 1a, Lauren Kushma 1a, Emma Cari 11 saves
DTW – Aimee Largoza 2g, Kayla Chepow 10 saves