Matchup: District 11 champ Emmaus (27-0) vs District 3 champ Lower Dauphin (23-0-1)
When/Where: 3 p.m. Saturday/Zephyr Sports Complex, Whitehall HS
What’s on the line: PIAA State 3A Championship
Coverage: LIVE: www.easternpasportsnetwork.com, 2:40 p.m. pregame. Link: http://mixlr.com/easternpasportsnet/events/piaa-class-3a-field-hockey-championship-
How they got here: Emmaus defeated Souderton 4-1, Methacton 2-1, Conestoga 3-1; Lower Dauphin: defeated Great Valley 4-0, Downingtown West 3-2 OT, Central York 3-2 OT
Coaches: Emmaus – Sue Butz Stavin (46th year); Lower Dauphin – Linda Kreiser
Probable starters: Emmaus – Jr. Ava Zerfass (53 goals/13 asst), Jr. Rachel Herbine (46g/39a), Jr. Abby Burnett (28g/32a), Sr. Alexis Kociban (17g/12a), Sr. Brooke Mancini, Sr. Jenna Villeneuve (14g/29a), Sr. Kyleigh Faust (13g/4a), Soph. Jordyn Poll, Fr. Autum Kernechel (10g/13a), Soph. Malia Weber (2g), Soph. Sarah Schaffer, Soph. Emma Cari (20 shutouts)
Lower Dauphin key players – Sr. MF Paige Bitting (MVP Mid-Penn Conf., Duke University), Sr. F Olivia Cranston (Assumption), Sr. B Emma Yeager (Kent St), Sr. F Alexa Shaffer (Michigan St), Soph. F Avery Pollock, Soph. B Victoria Kutz, Jr. GK Payton Killian
GAME NOTES: The two teams that most expected to reach the final collide for the state’s top prize. Both teams enter with undefeated records. The two met back in the 2013 final with LD winning 2-1 ….. ….Emmaus is in the finals for the second consecutive year and for the 16th time in program history. The Hornets have won 13 state titles in 2020, 2016, 2015, 2010, ’07, ’05, ’04, ’01, ’97, ’96, ’94, ’92, ’91 ….Emmaus has outscored its opponents 209-7 with 20 shutouts on the season ….Lower Dauphin last appeared in the state finals in 2019 losing to Wilson 2-1 in a shootout. The Falcons also lost the year prior to Hershey 2-1 in OT.