Practice corners for a purpose.
It’s a saying that the Emmaus field hockey players know all too well.
It’s something that they believe in, and oh by the way, are good at it.
“It’s an opportunity you get in game with the defense down and you try to capitalize on it,” said Emmaus head coach Sue Butz-Stavin. “A lot of our practice sessions is working on corner execution because sometimes it just comes down to that.”
Facing archrival in Parkland in Saturday morning’s District XI Class 3A championship game, the Hornets made the most of one of just three penalty corners in the game as they defeated the Trojans 1-0 to win their 37th consecutive title.
Senior Sharlise Solano, who entered the game with just one goal on the season, wound up being the hero as she scored arguably the biggest goal of her high school career with 8:59 left in the third quarter to give Emmaus the only goal they would need.
“It’s definitely amazing,” said Solano with her gold medal draped around her neck. “I’m so proud of this team. We had very high energy today and we worked really hard for this.”
Emmaus certainly did as they got yet another battle against a Parkland team who they had defeated less than a month ago in another one goal game, 2-1.
“The way the game was going it certainly looked like one goal was going to win,” said Butz-Stavin. “I thought whoever got the first goal today probably would be the winner because how the way the game was being played on the field.”
“Parkland did a great job putting pressure on the ball and I think they won more of the 50/50 balls today than we did, but sometimes the team with more possessions doesn’t always win. That’s just the nature of the game.”
Solano, an Old Dominion University commit, took a pass from classmate Morgann Orobono off an insert from junior Madi Lenig and blasted a shot past Trojans goalie Audrina Stewart.
“She’s a very steady player and she can come through for us in many different modes that we put her in,” said Butz-Stavin of the diminutive Solano. “She has been part of the offensive battery, and it was great that she was able to put a ball on goal.”
Emmaus, which had also defeated Parkland in the finals in both 2023 (3-0) and 2021 (5-0), improved to 23-1 on the season. During their district run, the Hornets did not allow a goal in three playoff games and on the season have now posted 19 shutouts.
“It’s just like a weight off of our backs,” said Orobono, the Hornets leader of keeping the incredible streak in-tact. “I think all the effort we put in this season really helped us.”
Butz-Stavin was very complimentary of her squad and the team’s eight seniors.
“I don’t want that extra pressure on them and I’m sure they don’t want to be that team either when they leave their senior year,” said the Hornets coach. “What this senior group has accomplished is great. They have hung together very well and I’m proud of how they have kept this team together.
“It’s been a pleasure to coach every one of the girls on the team. It’s been an easy coaching year, and they adjust to every situation and whatever we ask them.”
With two of its three goals in hand, Emmaus now turns its focus towards the upcoming PIAA State Tournament which will get underway at 5 p.m. on Tuesday against District One’s sixth place entry Garnet Valley. The two teams last met back in 2019 with Emmaus winning 6-2. The Hornets are aiming for the program’s 16th state title.
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Emmaus 1, Parkland 0
Pa – 0-0-0-0 – 0
Em – 0-0-1-0 – 1
Scoring:
Em – Sharlise Solano (assist Morgann Orobono)
SOG – Pa 6, Em 9
PC’s – Pa 3, Em 3
Saves – Pa (Audrina Stewart 8), Em (Emily Romano 6)