The girls soccer team came into the District 11 playoffs in pretty good shape. Based on their overall record (11-6-2), they were seeded ninth, but had played much better soccer over the last half of the season. Had the seedings been based on just the latter part of the season, Emmaus would have been given a lot more respect.

The tournament opened for Emmaus against eighth-seeded Pottsville and Kristen Roth took over in that game, scoring two goals, while the defense stymied the Pottsville attack as the Lady Hornets picked up a 2-0 win to advance to the quarterfinals against Parkland.

The teams played at Parkland thanks to the Lady Trojans top ranking and the home team was able to send its fans home happy.

Emmaus tried a couple of different approaches to attack and made adjustments at half-time that seemed to be giving the Hornets more of an offensive push. In the end though, Parkland made adjustments of its own and kept Emmaus off the scoreboard, while Parkland was able to push one goal across for a 1-0 win.

"We made some changes at the half and we came out much better, but we couldn't get enough pressure on them," said coach Rob Rooney. "We did everything we could, we just weren't quite good enough to pull out the win."

Goalkeeper Katie Thomas made one spectacular save after another, but Parkland's Jill O'Connell was able to sneak a shot past her for the only goal of the game. O'Connell was able to take advantage of a rebound to hit the upper left side of the net.

"She struggled early in the season and I think as coaches, we had questions whether or not she had the ability to turn it around," said Rooney of his senior goalie. "And, I think maybe she questioned it, but at the end of the day, she looked within herself and rededicated herself to being as good as we knew she could be."

The goal that Emmaus allowed was the first since September 27 when Bethlehem Catholic put three shots in the net. It was also the first time the Lady Hornets were shut out since playing Easton on September 21.

Rooney will lose five key seniors - Kelsey Bacon, Aubrey Berrigan, Megan Paradise, Thomas and Esther Younger - to graduation. Rooney said he doesn't know if his seniors have come to grips with the fact that this was their last high school game, but he does know that they won't be easy to replace.

"They've been great kids, good leaders and there's never been anything but positivity from all of them," said Rooney.

Preparation for the 2013 season has actually already started, with current juniors Alyssa Guthrie and Mandy McCarthy have been picked as co-captains for next year's team. McCarthy led the team in goals with 14, while Guthrie tallied four goals and three assists for Emmaus.