For the first time since the 2012 season, the Emmaus High School girls lacrosse team will enter the season as defending District 11 champions. The Green Hornets won the 3A title last season. They were also Eastern Pennsylvania Conference runners-up, finishing the year 19-4 overall and 16-2 in the EPC.

Emmaus advanced to the PIAA state tournament and fell in the first round to Radnor out of District 1.

Head coach Roxann Betz was happy with how the team performed last season and is looking forward to another strong year with high goals and expectations with the 2023 team.

“Our team chemistry on and off the field has been phenomenal,” said Betz. “Senior leadership is at its strongest and sure to lead the team to success this season. We have significant depth on the sideline.

“And the college commitments continue to increase and continue to drive the girls to push to continuously improve. We will need to focus on communication on the field. We lost six senior starters to graduation and will be working to fill in those spots to build the strongest team on the field.”

The six senior starters that graduated were Julia Cote, Mikayla Viola, Marybeth Smith, Kam Watkins, Maddie Conway and Sophia Candy.

Emmaus has a core group returning, looking to continue the winning ways this season, including Emily Hollinger, Emily Wassel, Hannah Schneider, Jordyn Poll, Alani Shotwell, Olivia Schmidt and Melea Weber. Newcomers to the varsity program that have chances to contribute include Bri McClain, Brooke Peterson, Veronica McGraw, McKenzie Schuler, Mattie China and Rylie Poll.

The season kicks off on Tuesday with a nonconference road game at Spring-Ford. The home and EPC opener is set for Thursday, March 23 against Nazareth at Memorial Field.

“We are working hard each and every day to rebuild a team to defend the District 11 championship,” Betz said. “We are keeping our goals set high and want to repeat as district champs and also bring home a conference title to add on.”