In the first full week of the new year, the Emmaus varsity ice hockey team split a pair of games in the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Ice Hockey League last week.

The Hornets first defeated Nazareth 5-1 at the Bethlehem Municipal Rink last Monday, Jan. 5. Later in the week, Emmaus fell to the Bethlehem Saints 5-3 Friday at the Steel Ice Rink.

In the win over the Eagles, there was a scoreless first period and then Emmaus got on the scoreboard with two second-period goals and added three more in the third, holding Nazareth to just one goal in the third period.

Ben Nichols paced the attack with two goals, one in each of the second and third periods, and each of Aidan Nichols, Aiden Bloom and Silas Wellhoener found the back of the net once.

Aidan Nichols and Tucker Farnand both had two assists and Wellhoener, Jason Ware and Kaleb Dingler all added one. Cayden Saul finished with 20 saves in net for the victory.

In the game with the Saints, they doubled up the scoring with the Hornets in the first period, holding a 4-2 lead. The two teams traded goals in the second and were both held scoreless in the final frame.

Austin Schmidt opened the scoring in the game just 0:54 in off an assist by Ware, but the Saints rattled off four consecutive goals. Aidan Nichols capped the scoring in the first with a goal and added his second in the second period.

Saul made 44 saves in net.

Emmaus took on first place Northampton this past Monday night at the Municipal rink.

The next game will be Monday night, Jan. 26, in another game with the Saints at the Municipal rink.