Coming into the final game of the season, the Emmaus ice hockey team was unbeaten in its last three games and hadn’t lost since a 7-6 setback on December 21.

And after one period of play last Monday night it looked as if the Green Hornets (5-9-1) were going to continue their unbeaten streak, up 3-1 after one.

But three straight goals and some heavy hitting helped Easton to a 7-6 regular season finale win at the Bethlehem Steel Ice Center.

“It was a tough one to lose,” said head coach Jamie Rieder. “Losing in the last game is never a good way to go out. I know the kids really wanted to end the season on a high note. But they battled, and played hard for three periods and I’m proud of them.”

The Red Rovers (5-9-1) were right behind Emmaus in the standings, but Easton looked like the team that wanted it more, flying around the ice and putting checks into the bodies of the Green Hornets players.

Even with the two teams seemingly out of playoff contention, the game had a playoff-like atmosphere. Players were racing up and down the ice, there were precise passes, hard checks, and ripped shots on goal left and right.

Sean Verbics opened up the scoring for Easton with a goal seven minutes in. But Emmaus quickly answered with two goals from Noah Brown and Jackson Goodman. Matthew Shaeffer tallied his team leading 33rd goal late in the first period to give the Green Hornets a 3-1 lead after the first period.

But then the Red Rovers had a three-goal spurt in a four-minute span early in the second period.

Liam Hughes had two of his three goals and John Sidoti found the back of the net in that stretch to put Easton ahead for good, as the Rovers never trailed again.

Austin Odonnell tied the game midway through the second on a delayed penalty, sending it home from a tough side angle. Less than three minutes later, however, Garett Russell beat two defenders and scored a shorthanded goal while Emmaus was up a man playing 5-on-4.

The Red Rovers were forced to play down a man a lot in this one. The penalties were six to one in favor of the Green Hornets, but they just couldn’t capitalize at a higher percentage on the power play.

The two teams traded goals in the final period. Shaeffer and Daniel Miller each had one for Emmaus in the period, and Hughes and Billy Verbics scored for Easton.

“Overall it was a great game, a great team game,” said Rieder. “It was probably one of the best games we’ve played this year so far. We just didn’t catch any breaks there with the power play opportunities. But it was a fun game to be a part of.”