Heading into its opening-round game of the PIAA State Class 3A Tournament, the Emmaus field hockey team had surrendered a mere nine goals in 24 games.
Only once this season has an opponent been able to score more than one goal in a game and that came nearly two months ago as Downingtown West out of District One came to Memorial Field and put up three goals in the first half in a 5-3 non-league loss to the Hornets.
Last night at Nazareth High School, another District One foe – Garnet Valley – became only the second team to score multiple goals in a half and in a game as they battled Emmaus toe-for-toe in the first 30 minutes resulting in a 2-2 tie at the break.
Fortunately for Emmaus, they were able to replicate the defensive performance in the second half as they did against Downingtown West back on September 9 keeping Garnet Valley scoreless after the halftime, while finding four goals of their own in putting away the upset-minded Jaguars in a 6-2 victory.
The victory keeps Emmaus unbeaten on the season as they improve to 25-0, but more importantly, it advances head coach Sue Butz-Stavin’s team to the quarterfinal round at Noon on Saturday as the Hornets will make their annual trek to Exeter High School to take on another District One foe – and a familiar one in that – Owen J. Roberts, which advanced with a 4-0 shutout over District 12 champ Cardinal O’Hara. Two years ago in the same round and at the same venue, these two teams hooked up with Emmaus prevailing in a tight 1-0 affair.
Penn Sports Radio out of Emmaus will provide Live coverage of the game beginning with the pregame show at 11:50 a.m. Visit www.pennsportsradio.com to listen to all the action.
In last night’s win, senior Liz Mazzella scored a pair of second half goals and registered her eighth hat trick of the season, while teammate, junior Annika Herbine added two goals to go along with two assists for the Hornets who outshot Garnet Valley by a 5-to-1 margin in the game (26-5).
Freshman Rachel Herbine started the scoring for Emmaus with her team-leading 52nd goal of the season and she also added two assists.
Garnet Valley, which was making its first-ever appearance in states, was led by juniors Kendall DiCamillo and Mary Rose Berry who both tallied goals in the first half. The Jaguars closed the books on one of best season’s in school history after suffering just its second loss (21-2).
To keep up to date with Emmaus throughout the playoffs, follow @Emmaussports.com and @EHSFHockey on twitter and like both on their facebook pages.
Around the state: In other first-round games, Central Dauphin, the fourth-place team from District 3, upset District 1 champ Downingtown West 3-2 in overtime and District 3 runner-up Wilson crushed District 7 runner-up Peters Township 7-0. Central Dauphin will take on Wilson in the quarterfinals with the winner taking on either Emmaus or Owen J. Roberts in next Tuesday’s semifinals.
In the bottom part of the bracket, the state’s No.1 ranked team and District 3 champ Lower Dauphin got a scare from District 1 fifth-place Souderton before prevailing 1-0, while Perkiomen Valley, the third-place team from District 1 beat District 2 champ Wilkes-Barre 3-1.
Easton, which finished runner-up to Emmaus in District 11, beat District 1 runner-up Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-1 and Hershey, the third-place team from District 3, blasted District 7 champ Pine Richland 6-0. Lower Dauphin will take on Perkiomen Valley in the quarterfinals with Easton facing Hershey in the other quarterfinal matchup.
Emmaus – 2-4 – 6
GV – 2-0 – 2
Scoring:
1st half
Em (6:28) – Rachel Herbine (assist Annika Herbine)
GV (26:30) – Kendall DiCamillo
Em (27:03) – Liz Mazzella (assist Annika Herbine)
GV (29:22) – Mary Rose Berry (assist Nicolette Saccomandi)
2nd Half
Em (9:18) – Annika Herbine (assist Kaitlyn Csensits)
Em (10:06) – Annika Herbine
Em (14:55) – Liz Mazzella, (assist Rachel Herbine)
Em (18:04) – Liz Mazzella (assist Rachel Herbine)
Shots: Em 26, GV 5
PC: Em 14, GV 1
Saves: Em – Baily Tietz – 1; GV – Megan Finnegan & Maura Greek – 11
Photo gallery courtesy of Derek Huffer
