The Emmaus High School girls lacrosse team came just one win shy of winning its first league championship in more than a decade. But a strong, second half push from Easton Area High School derailed that as the Red Rovers defeated the Green Hornets 10-5 last Thursday evening in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference championship game at Northampton Area High School’s Al Erdosy Stadium.

Compared to the regular season matchup between the teams about two weeks before the league title game, Emmaus (16-2 overall) battled and was within striking distance for all of the first half and into the second half. The first meeting saw Easton score four unanswered goals in the opening five minutes of the game to take control early. The Rovers remained unbeaten on the year.

Jocelyn Morgan opened last week’s game with a goal to put Easton ahead 1-0 just eight minutes into the contest. Junior Julia Cote then answered for Emmaus and tied the game at 1-1. She finished with a team-high two goals on the night. But Morgan added another for the Rovers (15-0) and they went into halftime leading 2-1.

In the second half Easton took control of the game by drawing fouls. The Rovers scored four of their seven goals on the free position, and were able to control the Green Hornets offensively for the most part.

Junior Mikayla Viola tallied a goal and an assist, while sophomore Emily Hollinger and senior Rebekah Brosky both contributed a goal to round out the Emmaus scoring. Marybeth Smith added an assist. Senior goalie Ellie Ervin finished with 14 saves.

Emmaus is the number two seed in this week’s District 11 Class 3A playoffs. The Green Hornets will face Hazleton on Thursday in the quarterfinal round at Emmaus High School.

Cote, Alexandra Shaffer, Nesiah Bertram, Smith, Viola, Jordyn Poll and Ervin were all named to the All-EPC all-star teams.