The game was full of drama, excitement and angst.

Emmaus and field hockey rival Villa Maria Academy weren’t giving sway, battling their tails off on the carpet of Exeter Township High School’s stadium.

Locked in a 2-2 tie, last Tuesday’s PIAA state semifinal round went into sudden victory overtime, with teams playing 7-on-7 to determine the victors.

And as time dwindled, and nerves kept a steady pace, the Green Hornets (27-1) finally settled the issue thanks to determined sophomore Rylie Povilaitis, who unloaded with one big, huge swat.

Povilaitis scored the game-winning goal to finally settle the issue, 3-2.

The victory sent Emmaus to Saturday’s state title game, where they won the 16th state championship in program history.

For as much as Povilaitis’ winner spoke volumes, the player in net was the real standout.

Goalkeeper Emily Romano had to fend off a strong surge by the Hurricanes’ offensive attack. The District 1 champions, forever, or so it seemed, were attacking Romano, sometimes relentlessly with their offensive thrust.

The Hurricanes (22-3) had a huge 19-9 advantage in shots, it was all Romano who handled the pressure, deftly, with a remarkable, and stunning poise — 17 saves.

“I’m so incredibly proud of my team,” said Romano. “After losing [to Villa Maria in last year’s state tournament] all we wanted was to come back and beat them, and that’s exactly what we did today.”

It was not lost on one of the legendary coaches in this high school sport, Sue Butz-Stavin.

“Emily had a wonderful game,” Butz-Stavin explained with her clam demeanor.

Perhaps that best emulates her team’s calm. Nary a loud sounding voice, just smooth and assured.

Butz-Stavin proudly extolled the reason for the victory: Defense wins championships, after reversing a loss a season past to these same ladies and the same juncture.

“It’s different players, so just go out there and play,” the coach said when asked about the win, not alluding to the loss in 2024. “They graduate players, we graduate players.”

As the ball banged off the boards in net, it set off a wild celebration, as Povilaitis’s teammates ran to her, while others were seeking Romano, hugging her with delight.

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it right now,” Romano would say. “I’m so incredibly proud of my team … we’ve have practiced so hard and this season so important to us … after we lost last year, we just wanted to come out and beat them.”

It began with a strong high for the Green Hornets, taking a 1-0 lead with Povilaitis blasting her first goal of the game, then teammate Gracie Huffer jacking the score to 2-0.

Huffer knows the Emmaus field hockey tradition.

“This is a program with high excellence and expectations,” Huffer said. “We just try to reach that every year.”

To be sure, so does Villa Maria, which has been to the state championship round six times over the last 15 seasons, winning three gold medals as a 2A school.

Their coach, Daan Polders, said the expectations are always high for the Hurricanes.

“This has become what we expect,” Villa Maria coach Daan Polders said. “It’s something that we expect from this program and all the girls work hard to make sure we get these opportunities. I’m so proud of our girls.”

Villa Maria battled back from the deficit, rallying around the play of Caitlin Connell, the state’s leading scorer. She drilled home the Hurricanes’ first score in the second quarter on an assist by Alexa Clark.

Then as things got testy, in survival mode, Connell got the tying goal with 11:17 to go in regulation, which stood up, thus forcing overtime with a chance for the team to return to the state finals.

“I just wanted to get it done, Povilaitis said. “I knew if I didn’t I would regret the rest of my life.”

No regrets, just the thrill of victory and a place in the state championship game alongside Central Bucks West.

QUOTABLE I … “It’s a program with high excellence, we stepped up and we got it done.” Emmaus’s standout Povilaitis on the expectations of the program.

QUOTABLE II … “I’ve never had that many shots on goal … it feels really great saving it.” Romano describing the pressure Villa Maria kept forcing.

QUOTABLE III … “These are tough games … one more step, it’s a great opportunity for the kids to move on.” Butz-Stavin the highly successful Emmaus coach on her team’s advancement to play for a state championship.

NOTES … Emmaus got a big lift from Ella Horner and Avery Burnett in the assist department, with the former assisting on Povilaitis’ score and Burnett on Huffer’s score. Team play for sure.

Scoring:

1st Quarter

Emmaus Riley Povilaitis assisted Ella Horner

Emmaus Gracie Huffer assisted Avery Burnett

2nd Quarter

Villa Maria Caitlin Connell assisted Alexa Clark

4th Quarter

Villa Maria Caitlin Connell assisted Hadley Coupe

Shots:

Emmaus - 15 (SOG-13)

Villa Maria - 24 (SOG-21)

Penalty Corners:

Emmaus - 9

Villa Maria - 16

Saves:

Emmaus GK Emily Romano - 19 & Defensive Save Sharlise Solano - 1

Villa Maria GK Catie Connolly - 6 & Defensive Save Mackenzie Cush -5