Unlike the last time Parkland and Emmaus met last month, a 10-8, back-and-forth contest won by the Green Hornets, Emmaus led by four goals Monday afternoon at Orefield Middle School. But the Hornets lost it in the second half as the Trojans stormed back to win 11-6.

"Possession was the key," said head Emmaus coach Scott Ketcham. "We weren't able to possess for the better part of two and a half quarters. Even if you have a good defense, it's going to wear you down if the offense doesn't have the ball.

"We spent a lot of time on defense in the second half and just didn't get enough scoring opportunities. It just fell apart for us."

Collin Tucker and Colin Mason combined for three goals to open the first quarter, and when Pat Camilli found the back of the net on an extra man advantage early in the second quarter, Emmaus (11-6) was up 4-0 and in complete control of the final regular season game.

Even after AJ DiPasquale got Parkland on the board, the Hornets' Ben Krauss scored with 6:57 left in the second quarter to regain the four-goal edge.

But then the Trojans put it into an extra gear. Luke Summers, Gavin Saylor, and Ethan Howell all scored to cut Parkland's deficit to 5-4 heading into halftime.

Parkland fought all the way back with a goal from DiPasquale just 1:14 into the third quarter to tie the game.

Tucker took back the lead for Emmaus with a goal, but that would be the final tally for the Green Hornets.

"Lacrosse is a game of spurts, and that is exactly what happened here today," said Ketcham. "We just have to adjust to some things and figure things out moving forward."

Parkland would score six straight to increase it's lead through the end of the third quarter and throughout the fourth. Defensive lapses and lack of possession doomed Emmaus in the second half. A big reason for that was losing faceoffs at midfield after a goals.

"Their faceoff guy, Dante Cavallucci, was great in winning the draws for them," added Ketcham. "The value of that position is so undervalued in lacrosse. We have to do something to stop it."

Senior goalie Matt Horton performed well making 22 saves and keeping his team in it until the end.

The two teams will meet again this week in the East Penn Conference tournament at Nazareth Thursday night. Parkland is the 2 seed and Emmaus is the 3 seed.