After rolling through the competition in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, Sue Butz-Stavin was looking forward having her team challenged in the non-league portion of their schedule.
Emmaus, which has outscored its league foes 118-1 this season, had already passed one of their toughest challenges earlier this season as they went on the road and defeated perennial New Jersey state power Oak Knoll, 3-2 back on September 13.
Yesterday, the Hornets, playing their third game in as many days, were faced with their second difficult challenge against a familiar foe in one of the state’s strongest programs in Penn Manor from District 3 and the Lancaster-Lebanon League.
Once again, Emmaus passed the test — but it wasn’t easy.
Junior Gracie Huffer’s goal in the fourth quarter gave the Hornets a two-goal advantage and it wound up proving to be the game-winner as Emmaus survived a late rally by the Comets to earn a thrilling 3-2 victory on a beautiful Saturday morning at Memorial Field.
Penn Manor, which had entered the game with a 10-1-1 record, had gotten to within a goal just two minutes later as senior Chloe Hook converted on a penalty stroke, but the Comets couldn’t complete the comeback thanks in large part to Hornets junior goalie Emily Romano who came up with two big saves in in the waning seconds on back-to-back penalty corners.
The victory was the third straight in as many days for head coach Sue Butz-Stavin’s squad who remained unbeaten on the season at 14-0.
Emmaus, which had its 33-game win streak snapped in a 4-3 loss at Penn Manor a year ago, had taken a 1-0 lead with a little over six minutes to go in the first quarter as sophomore Marissa Gigliotti scored her 15th goal of the season off an assist from classmate Ella Horner.
Penn Manor, ranked #12 in Max Field Hockey’s pre-season rankings, then tied the game less than four minutes later on junior Sophia Geiter’s goal assisted by sophomore standout Kelby Dings.
With the game tied at 1-1, the Hornets regained the lead less than five minutes into the third quarter converting on their third penalty corner as senior Morgann Orobono tallied her 13th goal of the season off an assist junior Madi Lenig, who recorded her team-leading 21st assist.
Statistically, Penn Manor wound up outshooting Emmaus in the game 13-10 and holding a 11-7 advantage in penalty corners. In goal, Romano wound up with a career-high 11 saves, while her counterpart, junior Marissa Harnish, made five stops.
The Hornets will return to action on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. as they travel to Nazareth.
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Listen back to a replay of the game, including post-game interviews with Morgann Orobono and head coach Sue Butz-Stavin: https://easternpasportsnet1.mixlr.com/recordings/2909525
Emmaus 3, Penn Manor 2
PM – 1-0-0-1 – 2
Em – 1-0-1-1 – 3
Scoring:
Em – Marissa Gigliotti (assisted Ella Horner)
PM – Sophia Geiter (assisted Morgan Hook)
Em – Morgann Orobono (assist Madi Lenig)
Em – Gracie Huffer (assist Orobono)
PM – Chloe Hook (PS)
SOG – PM 13, Em 10
Penalty corners – PM 11, Em 7
Saves – PM (Marissa Harnish 5), Em (Emily Romano 11)
PHOTO GALLERY – Courtesy of Nathan Lewis
