Whenever Whitehall plays Emmaus in field hockey, they always try to learn something from the experience, with the ultimate goal of closing the gap between the two teams.

Unfortunately, that gap grew a bit wider after last Wednesday’s game against the defending state champs. They lost 9-0 to the Green Hornets, the biggest margin of victory for Emmaus in over eight years.

Head Coach Jennifer Bodnar knew it would be a challenge. Still, they were looking forward to playing the Hornets, a team they’ve been chasing for the last few years. However, the Hornets scored five first half goals, and they added four in the second to gain the win on their home turf.

“Anytime you lose to that degree, it’s disappointing,” said Bodnar. “Emmaus was well prepared. We just didn’t show up with the right mindset.”

Bodnar said that they committed too many errors that they shouldn’t have been making. Eventually Emmaus will capitalize on those mistakes.

When watching the Green Hornets, it becomes apparent that you have to think a few moves ahead. If you dribble too much, they quickly pounce on you and soon the ball is going the other way.

That’s what happened to Whitehall, especially in the first half. They could never establish any rhythm because Emmaus’ defense was constantly swarming. When a Zephyr forward looked to be in the clear, a defender quickly zeroed in and was right on their stick ready to poke the ball away.

Bodnar said that’s a byproduct of good coaching. Bodnar also said that when they face the Green Hornets, it “truly has to be a passing game.” Additionally, everyone has to move well off the ball, and use the angles.

She said that she knew their defense would be tested.

Now it’s a matter of working on the little parts of their game. She also said it served as a teachable moment, learning what to do and what not to do.

Meredith Sholder, who finished with two goals and three assists, had a play that looked like it belonged at the top of her personal highlight reel. She took the ball around midfield and then motored through the Zephyr defense like a freight train, an unstoppable force as she buried the ball in the back of the cage from a few feet away.

Bodnar said that Sholder is the best player they’ll see all year, and the senior played like that on Wednesday.

Whitehall didn’t have a lot of time to dwell on that loss since they had another Pennsylvania powerhouse in Crestwood on Saturday.

They traveled to Mountaintop to play the Comets and won 3-0. It’s the first time they’ve defeated Crestwood since they started playing in 2014.

Bodnar said that she was really happy with the way they bounced back.

“It was quite an accomplishment for our team,” she said.

Kylee Cunningham netted two goals in the game, while Emily Wells added another.

It was a little bit of a different story against Lehighton, their next opponent. While they won 3-1, Bodnar said that were too many missed opportunities. They had 21 shots and 21 corners.

“We just didn’t find the cage very well,” she said.

Wells opened the scoring, her goal assisted by Caitlyn Cunningham. Kylee Cunningham also scored, while Kassidy Cunningham closed out the scoring on the afternoon. Her goal was assisted by Cara Bonshak.

Bodnar said that their defense picked them up, allowing Lehighton just five shots. Kayla Nailor wound up with three saves in the win.