It’s the time of year the Emmaus High School field hockey team plays for each season.

All of the preseason practices and regular season games are a dress rehearsal for the postseason. The

Hornets took care of business thus far in winning the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 3A championships.

Emmaus advanced on to the PIAA tournament and won its first two games, defeating District One’s sixth-place team, Avon Grove, 2-1 last Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the first round of the state playoffs. The Hornets followed that with a 3-1 victory in the quarterfinal round on Saturday against District One’s fifth-place team, Methacton.

Avon Grove actually held an early lead, scoring the game’s first goal in the second quarter of the first-round game.

The third quarter, however, was a good one for Emmaus, and specifically Morgann Orobono, who connected on two penalty corners for goals, one on an assist by Madi Lenig, to put her team in front 2-1.

Hornet goalie Aiko Price, who finished with one save, and her defense kept Avon Grove out of the cage the rest of the way.

Emmaus controlled the game and held a 33-2 advantage in shots, 28-2 on cage. The Hornets also had a 24-2 edge in penalty corners.

Four days later, Emmaus was once again in the same predicament, facing a deficit.

Methacton scored the game’s opening goal in the first quarter, but a Gracie Huffer hat trick accounted for all three EHS goals.

The sophomore forward tied the game with a first-quarter goal then put her team ahead with another in the second. She added the insurance goal in the final stanza. Autum Kernechel and Maddie Lenig each contributed assists in the game. Price finished with nine saves in cage.

Emmaus advanced to the semifinals and played District 1 champ Villa Maria Academy (23-1) Tuesday night at Exeter Township High School. That game was played after Press deadline.

A win Tuesday would put the Hornets in Saturday’s state title game at 3 p.m. at Cumberland Valley High School. Emmaus is seeking its 16th state title and its fourth in the past five years.

District 1 runner up Conestoga (20-3) plays Central Bucks West (22-4), the seventh-place team from that same district, in Tuesday’s other state semifinal.