Emmaus boys, Parkland, Central girls get shot at semis
John Cari, who this year became the winningest soccer coach in the history of Emmaus High School, is up to 270 in his 16th season in charge of the Green Hornets.
Few of those wins, if any, felt more satisfying than Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 triumph over District 12 champion La Salle
College High School in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals at Memorial Field.
The state playoff victory was the program’s first since 2006.
“That was big,” acknowledged Cari, whocoached his team to its fifth District 11 title in 10 years. “It’d been a long time since we were able to get a state win. It’s a huge monkey off our backs.
“And that was one of the best teams we’ve played while I was here. They’re loaded with multiple high-level college recruits, they were very organized and had eight starters back from a team that played in the state semifinals a year ago. I think it showed we can play with anyone.”
And so, Emmaus is in the state semifinals for the first time since 2000.
Parkland, the girls’ power
program in Class 4A in the Lehigh Valley, also prevailed on Saturday to reach the PIAA semifinals. The Trojans shut out District 4 champion Williamsport, 3-0, in the quarterfinals.
Tuesday will be Parkland’s first appearance in the state semifinals since 2004.
“We played a beautiful game of soccer,” coach Al Haddad said of the recent win. “I thought the girls really stepped up to the occasion.”
For all the local success Emmaus’ boys and Parkland’s girls have enjoyed, both programs have struggled in the state playoffs.
Emmaus has played in the PIAA postseason 21 times in its soccer history. Its overall record is 7-20. Only that 2000 team made it to the state semifinals, then the final. [Emmaus lost to
North Allegheny, 1-0, in overtime in the 2000 Class 3A final.]
Parkland is a 14-time District 11 champion but the Trojans are 9-13 overall in the state tournament. This is their seventh overall trip to the semifinals; they are still aiming for their first finals appearance.
It should be noted that this year’s COVID-19 altered state tournament brackets include district champions only with one less round of contests.
Cari, whose program annually played top-tier competition from around the state until the coronavirus altered this season’s schedule, thinks his teams are capable of beating the best.
“I believe there was a mental hurdle,” he said, “I really do. I’m super proud we were able to get past it this year. We gear so much toward the district title here. But we’ve played Cumberland Valley, Downingtown; we’ve played lots of quality teams over the years.”
Haddad, like Cari, said that despite the defeats, most of those state matchups were decided by one goal, often in overtime.
“Our last three losses in states were all by one goal, one was in overtime and one in P Ks ,” Had dad said. “And two of those games we were winning. In the 2000s, we couldn’t get past Emmaus being the dominant teamof that decade. But we got past it and this decade it’s been our turn. Hopefully, Saturday’s game was a springboard for our state future.”
Both coaches agreed they have had more talented rosters in recent years. But neither Cari nor Haddad was surprised that this season’s team is the one to break through.
They both pointed to chemistry as keys to their success.
“It’s about the dynamics of our kids,” Cari said. “They’re in it for each other and that makes a big difference. And this is a great defensive team.”
“This senior class has been remarkable,” Haddad said. “We don’t really have the go-to player but we’re truly playing as a unit. It’s one-heart, one-beat, and they’ve embraced that. They want to play for the girl next to them. It separates them from some of the past teams.”
Central Catholic is the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference’s third entry in the PIAA’s semifinals.
Coach Robert Spatzer’s Vikings pulled out an exciting 1-0 victory over District 12 champ Archbishop Wood in a Class 2A showdown on Saturday. Senior Erica Dietz scored the winning goal in the final 60 seconds.
Central Catholic played in a state semifinal in 2010. The Vikings play District 4 champion Bloomsburg.
“This win was really big as far as getting some notoriety for the program because we have come very close in recent years but hadn’t gotten over the hump,”
Spatzer said. “Also, it’s great validation for the hard work and commitment the girls have shown over the last few years.”
Michael Blouse is a freelance writer.
PIAA SOCCER SEMI FINALS Tuesday
BOYS
Class 4A
11-1 Emmaus at 1-1 Neshaminy, 6 p.m.
11-1 Parkland at 1-1 Pennridge, 6 p.m.
Class 2A
11-1 Central Catholic at 4-1 Bloomsburg, 7 p.m. DISTRICT11 SNAPSHOTS BOYS
Emmaus
Record: 14-1
Statistics: 38 goals scored, 6 goals allowed
Captains: Sr. Hudson Peck, Sr.
Alexzander Toto, Jr. Jaeden Amato Top scorers: Peck (11 goals, 7 assists, 29 points), Sr. Patrick Walsh (8, 1, 17), Toto (7, 3, 17) Goalie: Jr. Ty Bleiler
GIRLS
Parkland
Record: 14-0
Statistics: 63 goals scored, 3 goals allowed
Captains: Sr. Alex Marsteller, Sr. Abby Lytle, Sr. Jocelyn Fowler, Sr. Maeve Leonzi
Top scorers: Marsteller (10 goals, 13 assists, 33 points), Sr. Emma Schock (12, 5, 29), Sr. Zuzu Mohamed (6, 8, 20)
Goalie: Sr. Teresa Gonzalez Central Catholic
Record: 12-3-1
Statistics: 56 goals scored, 8 goals allowed
Captains: Sr. Erica Dietz, Jr. Julia Roth, Jr. Hanna Hoeing
Top scorers: Dietz (11 goals, 7 assists, 29 points), Maddie Szoke (8, 7, 23), Hoeing (6, 8, 20)
Goalie: Jr. Emily Vaughan