Heading into their District XI Class 3A semifinal matchup against Stroudsburg, Emmaus had already beaten the Mounties twice this season by lopsided scores of 5-0 and most recently, 9-1 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference semifinals.
A third meeting between the two teams with so much more on the line provided a similar result.
Emmaus, winners of an incredible 37 straight district titles, got off to a quick start in last night’s contest at the Zephyr Sports Complex in Whitehall as they scored three goals in the opening quarter on their way to defeating Stroudsburg yet again, this time with a 5-1 victory.
Junior Ella Horner led the Hornets offensive attack with a hat trick, and she also assisted on a fourth goal as the Hornets remained unbeaten on the season at 22-0. The win also advances top-seeded Emmaus to Thursday’s championship game back at Whitehall at 7 p.m. opposite rival and second-seeded Parkland, which defeated Nazareth 3-0 in the other semifinal.
Horner scored the game’s first two goals, her 34th and 35th of the season, both off of assists from classmate Riley Povilaitis, and then later added her 36th goal in the second quarter as the Hornets built a comfortable 5-0 advantage at the half.
Sophomore Elin Rainford tallied her seventh goal of the season in the win, and she also assisted on two other goals. Senior Elena Rosati also added her seventh goal of the year.
Stroudsburg, which ended its season at 16-6, was able to avoid the shutout in the fourth quarter on junior Peyton Witmer’s goal. It was just the eighth goal allowed by Emmaus on the season.
Statistically, Emmaus outshot Stroudsburg 14-6 in the game and held a 9-6 advantage in penalty corners. In goal, senior Emily Romano was credited with four saves, while her counterpart, junior Olivia Selena, made eight stops.
Up next for Emmaus will be a third meeting against rival Parkland for the district title. The Hornets won the previous two meetings, 3-1 and 1-0 (4-2 shootout) in the EPC championship game. The game will be carried LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network beginning at 6:45 p.m.
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Emmaus 5, Stroudsburg 1
Stb – 0-0-0-1 – 1
Em – 3-2-0-0 – 5
Scoring:
Em – Ella Horner (assist Riley Povilaitis)
Em – Horner (assist Povilaitis)
Em – Elin Rainford (assist Horner)
Em – Elena Rosati (assist Elin Rainford)
Em – Horner (assist Rainford)
Stb – Peyton Wimmer (assist Skylar Neri)
Stats
SOG – Stb 6, Em 14
Penalty corners – Stb 6, Em 9
Saves – Stb (Olivia Selena 8), Em (Emily Romano 4)