In a defining week of its season, Emmaus played the defending district champions, senior-laden Bethlehem Catholic, red-hot Freedom and an Easton team that outscored opponents 24-2 in its previous three games.
With a game-winning goal by Giuliana Meyer with less than two minutes left in overtime against the Red Rovers, the Green Hornets capped a perfect week that not only sent them atop the EPC standings but also sent a message to the rest of the league that this could be the year they win their first EPC championship.
Junior standout Lizzy Bender is a huge reason why as she buried eight goals and registered nine assists across a five-game stretch to soar up the area’s point leaderboard and claim the top spot in the league.
Coach Chris Hain’s group improved to 10-0 in league play with the pivotal week and extended their winning streak to 10 following a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Wilson West Lawn to begin the season in late-August. His team is approaching a full month without a loss with their sights set even higher thanks to Bender’s heroics.
Wallis sisters lift Bangor to bounceback wins
Raegan Toomey is emerging as the go-to scorer for the 8-2 Slaters this season, but twin sisters Paige and Sarah Wallis are shining for the maroon and white as well. Paige led the way with four goals against Jim Thorpe while Sarah added two crucial goals in a 3-2 victory over Stroudsburg in a non-conference bout.
Nothing to separate cluster of teams at top of EPC
Parkland, Emmaus and Nazareth have spent the first few weeks of the season separating themselves at the top of the EPC standings, but the Trojans and Blue Eagles each had a chance to send a message and claim the top spot this past week. The two unbeatens faced off at Nazareth last Friday with a 2-2 finish after overtime leaving both unscathed, yet unsatisfied in a fantastic early test.
Nazareth’s Bella Danise continued a terrific scoring run of eight goals in seven games while senior teammate Madison Jankowski added another to lead the Blue Eagles. Mackenzie McNeely and Delilah Zaiter found the back of the net for the Trojans in a thrilling match that will hopefully have at least one rematch when the postseason begins in October.
Standout players
Sophia Schaffer, Northwestern Lehigh
In their most competitive league game to date against Southern Lehigh, Schaffer stepped up with three goals in a 4-0 win over the Spartans. The star junior is already over 50 points on the season with 19 goals and 13 assists to lead the Tigers who appear to be well on their way to defending their state championship from a season ago.
Vivian Botros, Freedom
While a seven-game unbeaten streak came to an end against Emmaus Thursday night, Freedom freshman Vivian Botros made a name for herself during the stretch that revitalized her team’s season. After an 0-2 start, Botros helped turn the season around with seven goals across six wins and a draw for the Patriots, including the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Northampton on Tuesday.
Lana Rush, Easton
The Red Rovers have their own freshman who is lighting up the scoresheet as Lana Rush combined for eight goals in two games against Pocono Mountain West and Dieruff to break into the area’s leading point-scorers in her debut season. Sophomore Bianca Yetta leads the conference with 12 goals, but her teammate is clipping at her heels after a phenomenal breakout week.
Player of the week
Lizzy Bender, Emmaus
Bender’s assist total to begin the season is already at a staggering 21, but the Delaware commit grew tired of merely setting up her teammates in a 5-0 win over Bethlehem Catholic. The outstanding junior buried four goals in the win and continued her streak of three straight games with a goal to climb the point leaderboard.
She contributed four more against Freedom in another 5-0 win and then scored the go-ahead goal against Easton on Saturday before assisting the game-winner by Giuliana Meyer late in double overtime. She’s now scored or assisted on an absurd 31 of her team’s 49 goals this year, which is easily the top percentage of any player in the league.
Other notes
Danise followed up a strong showing against Parkland with both goals of a 2-0 win for Nazareth over Whitehall. She added another goal and two assists later in the week in a 4-0 win over Pocono Mountain East … Allentown Central Catholic responded to a loss and a draw last week with three consecutive impressive wins over Easton, ES South and Stroudsburg. Charlotte Patterson and Aveline Bubnis put the Vikettes ahead in a 2-1 win over the Rovers … Palisades and Moravian Academy engaged in a 3-3 thriller last Thursday after the Pirates battled back from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead before Sarah Pulcini salvaged a point for the Lions with a late equalizer … Southern Lehigh prevailed 3-2 against Bangor in a battle between two of the league’s top contenders. Saige Smith, Maeve Cassaday and Hailey Dougherty scored for the Spartans … Notre Dame-Green Pond defeated Bethlehem Catholic 3-1 after dropping a heartbreaker against Saucon Valley when the Crusaders led 2-0 at halftime … Parkland’s Isabella Hallal extended her EPC lead in goals with all four in a victory over Becahi on Thursday.
Standings
As of 9/20/25
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
(overall and conference record)
Emmaus; 10-1; 9-0
Parkland; 9-0-1; 9-0-1
Nazareth; 9-0-1; 8-0-1
ACCHS; 8-1-1; 8-1-1
Easton; 7-3; 6-3
Freedom; 7-3-1; 5-3-1
Northampton; 7-4; 6-4
Whitehall; 7-4; 6-4
Becahi; 5-6; 5-5
Stroudsburg; 5-6; 5-5
ES South; 4-6; 4-5
Pleasant Valley; 4-6; 3-5
PM East; 2-8; 2-8
PM West; 1-10; 1-8
Liberty; 1-10; 1-8
ES North; 0-10; 0-9
Dieruff; 0-11; 0-10
Colonial League
(overall and conference record)
Saucon Valley; 9-1; 9-0
NW Lehigh 10-0; 7-0
Moravian Academy; 7-1-1; 7-0-1
Bangor; 9-2; 6-2
Palisades; 7-1-2; 5-1-2
Southern Lehigh; 6-4; 5-2
NDGP; 6-3-1; 4-3-1
Wilson Area; 5-5; 4-4
Lehighton; 6-5; 3-5
Northern Lehigh; 3-7; 3-4
Salisbury; 1-6; 1-6
Palmerton; 2-7; 1-7
Catasauqua; 1-9; 1-8
Pen Argyl; 1-7; 0-7
Jim Thorpe; 0-11; 0-7
Rankings
1. NW Lehigh
2. Emmaus
3. Parkland
4. Nazareth
5. Easton
6. ACCHS
7. Northampton
8. Saucon Valley
9. Moravian Academy
10. Freedom
Point leaders
Goals; assists; points
As of 9/20/25
Elliot Policare; Saucon Valley; 20; 13; 53
Sophia Schaffer; NW Lehigh; 19; 13; 51
Tesia Mikuta; Saucon Valley; 16; 9; 41
Lizzy Bender; Emmaus; 10; 21; 41
Raegan Toomey; Bangor; 16; 1; 33
Isabella Hallal; Parkland; 15; 2; 32
Dakota Wizeman; Palisades; 13; 4; 30
Collene Sommers; Whitehall; 12; 4; 28
Juliet Snyder; NW Lehigh; 11; 6; 28
Bianca Yetta; Easton; 13; 1; 27
Bella Danise; Nazareth; 10; 6; 26
Piper Policare; Saucon Valley; 7; 12; 26
Charlotte Patterson: ACCHS: 9; 7; 25
Kherington Yezik; NW Lehigh; 8; 7; 23
Aubrey Frable; Palmerton; 10; 2; 22
Giuliana Meyer; Emmaus; 9; 4; 22
Lana Rush; Easton; 8; 3; 19
Felicity Houghton; Palisades; 7; 5; 19
Aveline Bubnis; ACCHS; 7; 5; 19
Kiersten Klein; NW Lehigh; 6; 7; 19
Marta Perry; Pleasant Valley; 8; 2; 18
Amelia Glassberg; NW Lehigh; 4; 10; 18
