The postseason finally arrived for high school field hockey teams last weekend.

Two-time defending state champion Emmaus remained unbeaten after taking out Liberty 9-0 in the first round of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference playoffs Saturday at Emmaus High School’s Memorial Field.

It took nearly an entire quarter for Emmaus to get on the board. However, after the Hornets’ first goal came with 25 seconds left in the first period, they added four more for a 5-0 halftime lead then kicked in the mercy rule with a goal just 23 seconds into the second half.

“It took us a while to find the back of the cage,” said Emmaus head coach Sue Butz-Stavin. “I think overall we played well. We gave opportunity for everyone on the roster to get in today and get a taste of a playoff game. I’m happy. A victory is a victory this time of year.”

The Hurricane defense and goal keeper Abigail Mayes held of the powerful Emmaus offense as long as most teams could hope for, successfully defending five corners in the first quarter before the Hornets finally converted one.

Senior Abby Burnett scored the first of her three goals in the game off an assist from teammate Autumn Kernechel on a corner play.

Burnett, who also assisted on a pair of goals in the game, added to more goals in the second quarter, while teammates Ava Zerfass and Rachel Herbine also scored before halftime.

Herbine, the team’s leading goal-scorer, added two goals in the second half while picking up two assists in the win. Zerfass capped the Hornets’ scoring with a fourth-quarter goal with 13:02 left in the game.

“I think it’s a great win for us,” said Burnett, one of three seniors on the EHS roster along with Zerfass and Herbine. “We played great hockey. We used inside-outside passes. We connected really well. We had great shots on goal. It was a really good game for us.”

The Hurricanes gave the Hornets a good a test early in the game while getting some good competition before they head into the district tournament.

“It was just getting that fire in their belly and the confidence to know that this is a great preparatory game for districts,” said Liberty head coach Jill Dorn. “It’s an honor to play against the caliber of Emmaus. We responded.

“First quarter, fourth quarter, couldn’t ask for anything more. We challenged them in the fourth quarter to play the way they did in the first. One goal allowed in each of those two quarters, that’s great. We gave up some here and there on corners, but that’s what happens. Emmaus creates great opportunity and their corners are executed so well.

The top-seeded Hornets (19-0) move on to play No. 5 seed Parkland in Tuesday’s semifinal round.

Liberty (8-10-1) was the eighth seed in leagues and will now have a week off before moving on to the District 11 playoffs. The Hurricanes are seventh in the district rankings and would likely face No. 2 Easton in the first round of districts.

Dorn likes the way her team handled its first postseason action this year and looks to build on that performance.

“It’s not even a matter of who you play but how you respond to it,” she said. “This is the best possible opportunity to get better. They stayed positive and they stayed together and we found some good things we’re going to use moving on to districts.”