Melea Weber picked the perfect time to reach a personal milestone, but more importantly, keep her team’s season alive.
Whew.
The Emmaus senior, who entered the game with 98 career goals, registered the 100th of her career at just the right time as she scored 2:27 into the 7v7 overtime period as Emmaus survived both an upset-minded Methacton team and an early exit from the PIAA Class 3A State Tournament with a heart-stomping 3-2 come-from-behind win last night at home at Memorial Field.
Facing District One’s fifth-place team for the third consecutive year in states, the Hornets got all they could handle and them some from the Warriors as they found themselves in a unfamiliar position, trailing 2-1 late in regulation.
But a goal from senior Sarah Schaffer, her sixth of the season, with just 5:39 showing on the clock in the final quarter tied the game and then Weber’s second goal of the night, her 61st of the season, in the extra period set off a wild celebration.
Emmaus ended Methacton’s season for the third consecutive season and for the fourth time since 2015. The Hornets and the Warriors were tied 1-1 at the half a season ago when Emmaus pulled away for a 4-1 victory and two years ago in the state quarterfinals, it was a 2-1 win.
The victory was the 16th straight for head coach Sue Butz-Stavin’s squad who improved to 22-1 overall on the season. Emmaus is now 2-0 in overtime games and 5-1 in one-goal games.
The win advances the Hornets to the quarterfinal round on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Nazareth High School where they will face Wyoming Valley West, the District 2 champ, who defeated District One’s third-place entry Boyertown, 2-1.
Emmaus, which was coming off of winning its 35th consecutive District XI Championship over the weekend, had taken a 1-0 lead with 2:23 left in the first quarter on the first of Weber’s two goals on the night off of a penalty corner.
The lead remained 1-0 lead at the half before Methacton scored the first of their two goals with junior Elene Weychert scoring her 10th of the season with 10:37 remaining in the third quarter tying the game.
Sophomore Lea DeWan then gave the Warriors their first lead of the night at 2-1 scoring early in the fourth quarter before Emmaus was able to rally to tie the game and then win it in overtime.
Emmaus outshot Methacton 16-9 with the Hornets holding a 14-10 edge in penalty corners. Senior goalie Emma Cari was credited with seven saves, while Maddie McKenney made eight stops for the Warriors who ended their season at 19-5. Junior Autum Kernechel had a game-high two assists in the win for the Hornets.
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Emmaus 3, Methacton 2 (OT)
Meth – 0-0-1-1-0 – 2
Em – 1-0-0-1-1 – 3
Scoring:
Em – Melea Weber (assist Autum Kernechel) PC
Meth – Elena Weychert (assist Lea DeWan) PC
Meth – Lea DeWan (assist Calie Fisher) PC
Em – Sara Schaffer
Em – Melea Weber (assist Autumn Kernechel)