Over the past several years, getting off to a slow start in games has kind of been the norm for the Emmaus girls soccer teams.
Not anymore says Chris Hain.
“Our goal and our challenge to the team has been start on the front foot,” said the Hornets third year head coach. “Traditionally, we start slow and for the first 10 minutes it takes us a while to build into the game.
“This year, we’ve tried some things to get on the front foot and just go at teams early. We always set a goal to try to score in the first 15-20 minutes, and we’ve done that in most of the games that we have played.”
Including in Tuesday night’s big early-season matchup at home at Memorial Field vs Northampton.
Facing a Konkrete Kids squad that had lost just once through their first five games and had entered riding a four-game win streak, Emmaus served notice early to the visitors, dominating play as they scored four goals in the first six minutes of action on their way to 5-1 win.
Freshman standout Brooke Evans scored three goals, and the Hornets defense was once again stout as Emmaus remained unbeaten on the season improving to 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the EPC.
Evans started the scoring less than two minutes into the match with her team-leading seventh goal of the season on beautiful pass from senior Giuliana Meyer. She later added to more goals to complete her first-ever hat trick.
“She shows up with the same attitude every day and shows up to games with the same attitude every day. That’s the player you get whether she’s in training or in games – that what makes her so good,” said Hain of Evans.
Senior Lizzy Bender assisted on a pair of Evans’ goals and finished with three assists on the night. The Delaware commit also scored her fifth goal of the season in the first half.
Northampton was able to avoid the shutout in the second half and become the only team to score a goal against the Hornets season as senior Carly Pearl found the back of net. Emmaus, however, would quickly respond as Evans completed the hat trick off a Bender assist.
“I don’t even blame the goal they scored on our defense,” said Hain. “I’ll have to look at the film to see what we could have done better. Any time a ball starts to bounce around the 18 you never know what’s going to happen. You’re never okay giving up a goal. You always want to finish with a clean sheet, but I was okay with it in that we reacted well after the goal.”
Through the first six games of the season, Emmaus has outscored their opponents 34-1. Hain was quick to point out the play of defenders senior Ella Daly, freshman Lily Desiderio, juniors Cecilia Lower and Stella Pietrulewicz and sophomore Koli Esterly along with goalies sophomore Zoe Reppert and freshman Morgan Betz.
Emmaus was right back at it yesterday afternoon as they picked up a 9-0 road win over Dieruff. The Hornets will close out the week with an early 9 a.m. start on Saturday hosting Easton.
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Emmaus 5, Northampton 1
No – 0-1 – 1
Em – 4-1 – 5
Scoring:
Em – Brooke Evans (assist Giuliana Meyer)
Em – Evans (Lizzy Bender)
Em – Bender (assist Meyer)
Em – Cecilia Albeck (assist Bender)
No – Carly Pearl
Em – Evans (assist Bender)