Matchup: District 11 champ Emmaus (24-1) vs District 3 runner-up Lower Dauphin (20-3)
When/Where: Tuesday, November 14 @ 6 pm/Hamburg High School
Coaches: Emmaus – Sue Butz-Stavin (48th year); Lower Dauphin – Erin Catalfano (1st year)
What’s on the line: Winner advances to the PIAA Championship, Saturday, November 18 @ 3 p.m. at Cumberland Valley HS vs winner of Manheim Township/Warwick.
Coverage: LIVE The Eastern Pa Sports Network (https://easternpasportsnet1.mixlr.com/events/2914069)
How they got here: Emmaus defeated Methacton 3-2 OT and Wyoming Valley West 7-1; Lower Dauphin defeated Cardinal O’Hara 5-0 and Conestoga 2-1 OT
Probable starters: Emmaus: Sr. Melea Weber (63g/26a), Sr. Emma Cari (18 shutouts/87% save), Jr. Autum Kernechel (6g/24a), Soph. Morgan Orobono, Sr. Autumn Held (13g/11a), Sr. Haley Kvacky (12g/18a), Jr. Emmy Horner (20g/18a), Soph. Sharlise Solano (9g/2a), Sr. Sara Schaffer, Soph. Avery Burnett, Fr. Gracie Huffer.
Lower Dauphin key players: Sr. Avery Pollock, Sr. Katelyn Strawser (PSU commit), Sr. Victoria Kutz (Ohio St), Sr. F Emily Baum (Millersville), Jr. GK Kai Killian
About LD: Falcons are a perennial power out of the hotbed for field hockey in the state – District 3. LD trailed Conestoga in its quarterfinal round matchup on Saturday but rallied to tie the game and then win it in overtime 2-1 on Pollock’s penalty stroke. It was the second consecutive season that the Falcons have eliminated the Pioneers ….LD has posted 11 shutouts on the year … Their losses have come against rivals Hershey (3-2), Palmyra (2-1) and Manheim Township (2-1 OT) in the district final …Catalfano took over for legendary head coach Linda Kreiser (875) who stepped down after 46 seasons as head coach