Emmaus head coach Chris Hain is probably glad he doesn’t have to see Nazareth’s Bella Danise on the soccer field again.
The Blue Eagles senior, who scored the game-winning goal in her team’s 2-1 double overtime, regular-season win over the Hornets back on October 2, once again proved to be a thorn in the side of Hain and his squad in last night’s District XI Class 4A semifinal match at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown.
Danise tallied a pair of goals in the first 15 minutes of the game and Nazareth stunned Emmaus early with three goals in the first half on their way to a 3-1 win, ending the Hornets hopes and dreams of the winning their first district title since the spring of 2008.
The victory advances Nazareth (21-1-1 overall) to the championship game on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Northampton High School opposite top-seeded Parkland, which rolled to a 5-1 win over fourth-seeded Easton.
For Emmaus, which was looking to reach the district finals for the fourth straight season, their year comes to end with an 18-4 overall mark. The 18 wins is the most for the program since the 2022 season.
“This loss falls on me — it’s my job as the coach to have them prepared to play,” said Hain, the Hornets second year coach. “I was very proud of the continued effort we showed even after being down three goals as the girls just continued to fight.”
Danise got the scoring started for Nazareth less than five minutes into the contest as she scored the first of her two goals on a set piece off an assist from classmate Olyvia Hall. She then added her second goal – and 15th of the season – 10 minutes later making it a 2-0 Nazareth lead.
The Blue Eagles advantage grew to 3-0 in the 26th minute of the first half as junior Abby Kilareski scored her fifth goal of the season.
Emmaus’ lone score of the night came in the 58th minute of the second half when junior Lizzie Bender scored her team-leading 22nd goal of the season. Bender, who had the game-winning goal in the Hornets 1-0 win over Freedom in the quarterfinals, also scored in the earlier-season loss to Nazareth.
The Hornets outshot Nazareth 7-6 in the match with the Blue Eagles holding a 5-1 advantage in corners. Senior Sadie Wallace had three saves in goal for the Hornets, while her counterpart, senior Emma Houchin, made six stops.
The result marked the final high school game for Emmaus’ six seniors — Sadie Wallace, Emma Paradise, Kyana Deabreu, Bailey Johnson, Atlanta Bogert and Andrea Dolcemascolo.
“I hate tonight’s result for the team and for the seniors who will be greatly missed,” said Hain in closing.
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Nazareth 3, Emmaus 1
Em – 0-1 – 1
Naz – 3-0 – 3
Scoring:
Naz – Bella Danise (assist Olyvia Hall)
Naz – Danise ’15 (assist Abby Kilareski)
Naz – Kilareski (assist Ashley Baltz)
Em – Lizzie Bender
SOG – Em 7, Naz 6
Saves – Em (Sadie Wallace 3), Naz (Emma Houchin 6)
Broadcast replay: https://easternpasportsnet1.mixlr.com/recordings/2937275