The Emmaus High School girls lacrosse team is certainly happy to be back on the field playing in 2021 after having its season canceled last year. The Green Hornets were on the winning end of their first eight games to start the year, and have been playing with a renewed sense of joy.

“It’s been such an uplifting experience for the entire team to be back on the field playing the game they all love,” said Betz. “The girls have worked very hard and to be able to compete this spring for Emmaus High School has been very rewarding to the players, coaches, and families.”

Make it nine games in a row to start the 2021 campaign as five different players found the back of the net and Emmaus was able to honor its seniors with a 9-4 nonconference victory over Southern Lehigh last Saturday afternoon at Memorial Field. It is the most wins to start a season in program history.

Seniors Ally Shaffer, Tori Brown, Nesiah Bertram, Rebekah Brosky and Ellie Ervin were recognized before the contest. Shaffer finished with a team-high three assists and Ervin made five saves in goal.

Betz credits a lot of the success of the first month of the season to this quintet of seniors.

“We’ve had plenty of senior leadership from the girls we honored today,” Betz said. “There’s been selfless play, the girls just wanted to win and play for each other. And I think, especially after last year, there is just a joy for the game of lacrosse and we’re playing like every game is our last one.”

Junior Julia Cote netted a hat trick against the Spartans (6-3 overall). She leads the team with 30 goals this season. Classmate Mikayla Viola and sophomore Emily Hollinger each tallied two goals and both Marybeth Smith and Jordyn Poll added one goal apiece.

“The offense has been playing as a group all season,” Betz said. “They celebrate no matter who scores and they have confidence in each other which helps this attack be so diverse and difficult to defend.”

Emmaus will hit the road to take on Liberty Wednesday, followed by a home game against Freedom the following evening. Betz is happy with the direction her team is taking so far this season.

“This team shows a commitment to compete for each other, to pick each other up and to celebrate with each other day in and day out,” said Betz. “They have the desire to give 110% each and every day. This is a special group this season.”