Prior to last night’s much-anticipated matchup with Nazareth, Emmaus head coach Sue Butz-Stavin was looking for her team to bounce back following its first loss of the season.
The Hornets did just that with arguably their best game from start to finish.
Facing a Nazareth team riding a nine-game win streak and with just one loss on their resume, Emmaus totally dominated the Blue Eagles by scoring goals in all four quarters while getting stellar play from their back line in a 5-0 shutout win at Memorial Field on Senior Night.
Senior Autum Kernechel, one of two seniors honored before the game, scored a pair of goals in the victory, while sophomore Gracie Huffer also found the back of the cage twice as the Hornets remained the only unbeaten team in the EPC improving to 12-0 while upping their overall mark to 15-1.
“It was an outstanding response coming off of a loss last Saturday against Penn Manor,” said Butz-Stavin following the game on the LIVE coverage on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network. “I thought the girls took the field with a lot of heart and wanted to play for the seniors tonight.
“It was a great team execution,” she added. “I thought we stayed with our game plan and moved the ball well. We finished and we had some great goals tonight.”
Kernechel, the team’s leading goal scorer, got the scoring started with 6:22 left in the first quarter on her 26th goal of the year off an assist from junior Morgann Orobono. She would later add her second goal after halftime on a penalty stroke in the third quarter.
“Coming off of a loss was not a good feeling so we wanted to redeem ourselves and show that we are worthy of being a top team,” said Kernechel.
“Our main focus tonight is that we wanted to come out with a lot of energy and have possession of the ball. Its special to win on senior night and this was our last regular-season home game as well.”
Huffer scored the first of her two goals in the second quarter off an assist from junior Avery Burnett to give Emmaus a 2-0 lead and then later added her second in the fourth quarter with sophomore Maddie Lenig getting credit for the assist, her 20th of the season.
Junior Addison Povilaitis closed out the scoring with her third goal of the season.
Statistically, Emmaus dominated Nazareth outshooting the Blue Eagles 21-0 and holding a 12-0 advantage in penalty corners. In goal, junior Aiko Price posted her 14th shutout of the season, while her counterpart, sophomore Teagan Moore was busy making 10 saves.
Prior to the game, Emmaus honored its two seniors – Kernechel and Emmy Horner – along with their parents. Both players will continue their field hockey careers in college with Kernechel attending Ohio State University and Horner going to Cornell.
The Hornets will return to action at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday as they travel to District One power Downingtown West in a much-anticipated non-league matchup.
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Emmaus 5, Nazareth 0
Naz – 0-0-0-0 – 0
Em – 1-1-1-2- 5
Scoring:
Em – Autum Kernechel (assist Morgann Orobono)
Em – Gracie Huffer (assist Avery Burnett)
Em – Kernechel PS
Em – Huffer (assist Madi Lenig)
Em – Addison Povilaitis (assist Burnett)