The Emmaus High School field hockey team was two wins away from completing its third straight perfect season. Emmaus had won 69 straight games since it’s last loss, which came at the hands of Wilson West Lawn in the 2019 state semifinals.

Well, enter the Bulldogs once again in the very same game three years later. And unfortunately for the Green Hornets, it was the same result, a one-goal setback at the hands of the Bulldogs in last week’s state semifinals.

Ironically enough, that 2019 contest was played at Hamburg High School, and so was the 2022 version of the state semifinal.

Wilson’s Caroline Horace found the back of the cage with just four seconds left to play and the Bulldogs defeated Emmaus 2-1 last Wednesday night to advance to the state championship game. The loss was the first on the season for the Green Hornets, as they finished at 25-1 overall and won the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 titles, their 34th district title in a row.

Head coach Sue Butz-Stavin felt that her team executed its game plan in last week’s game. Wilson was just the better team that day.

“We can’t take away from our game plan,” said Butz-Stavin. “I thought it was well-executed. I think we played our hearts out. But Wilson is a great team and we know all about them and their history. It was just a great game against two great teams.”

The Bulldogs improved to 21-2-1 overall and advanced to the final where they lost to Lower Dauphin, 3-2 in overtime.

Ava Zerfass scored the lone goal for Emmaus on an assist by Abby Burnett, and it came in the second quarter, putting her team out in front. Grace Chisholm tied the game in the third quarter.

Emmaus outshot Wilson 13-10 in shots on goal and created most of its chances in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs defense, led by goalie Catherine Wolf, continued to keep the door closed for a Green Hornet attempt at a winner. Wolf finished with 10 saves.

“Wilson played stellar defense right on the doorstep,” Butz-Stavin said. “She (Wolf) had a very good game. She tracked the ball very well. We had some rebounds on some initial shots, we just couldn’t get a final touch on the ball.”

Emmaus goalie Emma Cari had six saves on the night.

Zerfass, Burnett and Rachel Herbine are three seniors that Butz-Stavin and the program will certainly miss for their talent and leadership throughout their four-year careers. They are the only seniors on the team’s 2022 roster.

“I am so proud of how this team was led by our seniors,” said Butz-Stavin. “They just did a tremendous job all season.”

Emmaus will have a majority of its team back next season, looking to get back to the state final and win it.