It seemed to be a given each and every year. The Emmaus girls lacrosse team playing in the conference final for the championship. It had happened every year since girls lacrosse was a varsity sport and had league playoffs.

But not this year.

Easton, a team that the Green Hornets split two games with during the regular season, got the better of the Hornets this time around for a 14-11 win in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference semifinals last Wednesday night at Parkland High School.

According to Hornet head coach Nancy DeBellis, there were two key things that prevented her team from winning the game.

“Penalties and ground balls,” DeBellis said. “That was pretty much it. We didn’t do either well, and that’s why we lost.”

With the score tied at six a piece with a few minutes left in the first half, the Red Rovers took the lead back for good with goals from Leanna Deegan and Allison Drake 22 second from each other to hold a two goal lead at halftime.

Emmaus (11-8 overall) rallied from being down by three goals in the second half to get within 11-10 with 20 minutes remaining in the game, but the Red Rovers scored three of the next four goals and then ran out the clock to pick up the victory.

Grace Langen led the way with a game-high four goals and an assist. Hanna Doerner had three goals, and Maddie Caffrey and Emily Jacobsen added a pair of goals for Easton.

The Green Hornets were led by junior Kendelle Conrad, who recorded a hat trick. Freshman Taylor O’Brien and sophomore Paige Weaver both had two goals apiece, while seniors Destanee Watkins, Grace Sullivan and Holly Brinckman all had a goal and two assists.

On the night, Easton outshot Emmaus 24-19 and the Red Rovers won 17 of the 28 draw controls. Junior goalie Cristina Carotenuto, who made her first start in a couple of weeks after returning from a wrist injury, made 10 saves, while Easton goalie Rylee Soltis had 13 saves.

It’s an unfamiliar sight for Emmaus and DeBellis, but she hopes that this will motivate them for a run in the district tournament which begins Thursday.

“We’ll regroup and we’ll work hard as a team and be ready for districts,” said DeBellis. “Whoever we see we’ll be prepared.”

Carotenuto and junior Maddy Dorn were named EPC First-Team All-Stars, and Watkins was named league MVP.