Endings are never easy, and last night’s 2-1 overtime loss by Emmaus to Villa Maria in the PIAA State semifinals at Exeter High School was certainly difficult to swallow for the Hornets
It meant the end to Emmaus’ season and hopes of getting back to the state finals and defending their title from a year ago.
It also meant the end to an incredible streak by head coach Sue Butz-Stavin’s team which has been the gold standard in Pennsylvania field hockey winning three of the last four state titles.
Villa Maria’s Caitlin Connell ended that streak with one swing of her stick.
The junior standout, committed to the play at the University of Virginia, scored the game-winning goal with just 17.3 seconds left in the 7-vs-7 overtime sending the Hurricane back to the state final.
Connell, who also had a goal earlier in the game, blasted a backhanded shot into the top of the cage past Emmaus junior goalie Aiko Price as Villa Maria celebrated the win, while the Hornets could only look on in disbelief as their season ended one game short of their ultimate goal.
Villa Maria, a private school located in Malvern, improved to 24-1 on the season and will face a familiar foe in Saturday’s 3 p.m. championship game at Cumberland Valley High School taking on Conestoga, who defeated Central Bucks West in the other semifinal 2-0. The two teams met in the District One final with Villa Maria prevailing 3-2.
The Hurricane will look to win their second straight title after claiming the 2A gold a year ago over Palmyra.
Emmaus was looking for a return trip back to the finals and fourth in the last five years. The Hornets defeated Manheim Township 1-0 a year ago and had won the state’s top prize three of the last four years. Emmaus ends its season at 25-2 overall.
After falling behind early in their previous two state wins over Avon Grove and Methacton, the Hornets were able to score first as sophomore Maddie Lenig tallied her 18th goal of the season off a penalty corner with just 21.9 seconds left in the first quarter giving her team a 1-0 advantage.
That lead, however, was short-lived as Villa Maria was able to tie the game less than five minutes into the second quarter as Connell blasted a shot from 15 yards out into the far corner of the goal as the two teams headed to the break tied at 1-1.
Both nationally-ranked teams would have good scoring chances in the second half, but neither was able to get the go-ahead goal. Emmaus had the best chance to win the game in regulation when they were awarded back-to-back penalty corners with no time left on the clock, but Villa Maria’s defense stood tall as the game went to overtime where the Hurricane eventually won it.
Statistically, Villa Maria held a slight 12-11 advantage in shots on goal with the Hornets dominating in penalty corners 16-5. Junior Aiko Price had 10 saves in goal for Emmaus, while Catie Connelly turned away six shots for the Hurricane. Mackenzie Cush had three defensive saves and teammate Gabby Balzano had two for Villa Maria.
Emmaus’ two seniors — Autum Kernechel and Emmy Horner played in their final high school game. Both will be playing field hockey at the next level with Kernechel headed to Ohio State University and Horner to Cornell.
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Villa Maria 2, Emmaus 1 (OT)
Em – 1-0-0-0-0 – 1
VM – 0-1-0-0-1 – 2
Scoring:
Em – Maddie Lenig (assist Morgann Orobono)
VM – Caitlin Connell (assist Jack Shaw)
VM – Connell (assist Shaw)
Stats:
SOG – Em 11, VM 12
PC – Em 16, VM 5
Saves – Em (Price 10), VM (Connelly 6)
Defensive saves – VM (Cush 3, Balzano 2)