Methacton can't hold on to early lead versus state powerhouse Emmaus, falls in quarterfinals

QUAKERTOWN — For the fourth year in a row, Methacton faced the ultimate field hockey challenge on Saturday afternoon – a state tournament match against Emmaus, which came into the contest as defending champion, winner of three of the last four titles and 15 all-time.

And as was the case the three previous times, Emmaus ended the Warriors' season, this time by a score of 3-1 in a PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal at Quakertown High School.

Lea DeWan gave District 1 fifth-place entrant Methacton (17-6-2) an early lead. But the Hornets (25-1) – District 11 champions for the 36th straight year – tied the score later in the quarter, went ahead early in the second and added an insurance goal midway through the fourth, with all of the scores coming off the stick of sophomore Gracie Huffer.

Warrior goalkeeper Maddie McKenney made eight saves, Hornet goalie Aiko Price made five and Emmaus had an 11-7 advantage in penalty corners. The Hornets advance to a Tuesday semifinal against Villa Maria Academy, a 2-0 winner over Manheim Township.

The chances of Methacton returning to the state tournament didn't look all that good early in the season after the Warriors lost to Spring-Ford in their second match of the season and then to eventual Pioneer Athletic Conference champion Boyertown their next time out.

But they bounced back to tie for the Liberty Division championship, finishing second in a tie-breaker to Boyertown, made it to the PAC final, earned the fifth seed in the district and advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals for the second time in four years with a 5-1 opening-round win over Wyoming Valley West.

"After back-to-back losses in the beginning of the season, it was tough on our morale," said Warrior senior forward Elena Weychert, who scored three in the first-round win. "With our friendships and bonds, we were able to bring it back up."

"I attribute it all to them," said Methacton coach Amanda Parrezzi. "I'm just so proud of them, their hard work and dedication. After the first three games, I didn't know if we could do it this year. They turned it around and they put their heart and soul into it, heart and determination and a positive mindset."

DeWan scored off an assist by Adriana Hopple on a corner play 5:41 into the contest on Saturday. Huffer tied the score with an unassisted goal five minutes later. The Hornets threatened to take the lead at the end of the quarter on a corner play after time had expired, but McKenney came up with three saves to keep the score at 1-1.

Then Eastern Penn League champion Emmaus took the lead just 1:47 into the second quarter on a corner when Madi Lenig passed the ball into Huffer, who drove a hard shot into the cage.

"As soon as we were down, we had to get our energy up," said Huffer. "We did a good job adjusting. You just have to come out as strong as possible. It was a good challenge."

The Warriors had four corner opportunities in the third quarter to just one for the Hornets, two midway through the period and two late.

"Early on, we were getting our chances on the goal cage," said Parrezzi. "As the game progressed, we were losing our opportunities inside the 25. You're tired when you get into the circle. That hurt us a little bit."

"Obviously, we started out strong," said Warrior senior midfielder Carmela Maro. "I'm proud of what the team did."

Methacton came close to evening the score with 11 minutes left in the contest, but Price stopped a shot and then made a sprawling save on a rebound try. The Hornets quickly came down the field on a counter-attack and kept the ball deep in the Warrior end until Huffer knocked in her third with 8:52 remaining.

"We didn't let down," said Maro. "I don't think we stopped playing after that."

But the Warriors couldn't put together any threats after that against the Emmaus defense that has allowed only 11 goals the entire season.

"Our outside defense was doing a really good job," said Huffer. "Addison (Povilaitis) was shutting them down in the middle and Morgan (Orobono) was our saving grace in the back. We were ready for this. People expect a lot of us."

"That's a good team," said Weychert. "We played hard. I don't think we ever gave up."

The Warriors had lost to Emmaus 2-1 in the quarterfinals in 2021, 4-1 in the first round in 2022 and 3-2 in overtime in the opening round last year.

"We want to keep playing our game," said Maro. "It's definitely a goal of ours to advance further and further every year."