Manheim Township smiles through tears after falling to Emmaus in PIAA Class 3A field hockey championship game

MECHANICSBURG — Manheim Township’s players ran onto the field after it was over. Not to celebrate. To console.

Teammates helped lift goalie Zoe Caloviras off the turf. They gave each other hugs and words of encouragement. A magical season, filled with so many firsts, ended one win short of their ultimate dream.

Emmaus broke through in the third quarter and defeated Township 1-0 in the PIAA Class 3A field hockey final at Cumberland Valley Saturday.

The perennial power, with 15 state titles including three in the past four seasons, denied the rising power. At least for now.

Township (25-2-1) won its first Lancaster-Lebanon League and District Three championships this fall. This was the school’s first appearance in the state final.

“This is a big moment and a big game against an opponent that has been here before,” Township coach Jess Shellenberger said. “They’re going to carry a little more confidence in those moments than maybe my kids are. I didn’t see any quit in the kids. I definitely felt like there was belief the entire time.”

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The hardest losses are the ones that could have been different. The ones where one bounce or one break completely changes the postgame scene.

Township had so many chances. In the fourth quarter, when the clock ominously ticked away, the Blue Streaks were constantly on the doorstep.

Sixteen corners. Six in a 10-minute span of the final period. They never got that bounce. Or that break.

“We were really calm and collected in the first half,” senior Brenna Campagna said. “As soon as they get that goal, you’ve got to turn it up an extra gear. I think we did a good job. We were all over the place. It’s just unfortunate nothing happened.”

The goal was another source of consternation. It wasn’t a goal that belonged on any highlight reel.

Emmaus had a breakaway chance that Caloviras initially turned aside. The ball slipped behind her. As Township’s defender tried to clear, it found the stick of Addison Povilaitis and rolled into the vacant cage. The Hornets were ahead six minutes into the second half.

Caloviras replayed the sequence in her mind. Then out loud.

“That’s kind of why I’m so upset,” the senior said. “If it was this amazing shot into the top corner, I wouldn’t be as upset. It hurts when it’s an ugly goal.”

District 11 champ Emmaus (26-1) seemed content to sit on its slim lead. Township dominated play at the start of the fourth quarter.

One corner followed another. Shots were turned aside by Emma Cari. Shots banged into traffic in front. The ball went everywhere except where Township needed.

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Shellenberger called timeout with 4:58 left and drew up the play she hoped would bring the equalizer. It nearly did.

“We were ready for it to happen,” Campagna said. “We were waiting on it for so many corners. It was close. It went out wide. It was disappointing but I think we executed well.”

That was Township’s last gasp. The final few minutes slipped away with Emmaus having possession in the Blue Streaks’ end.

Once the clock reached zero, the music played and Emmaus savored the moment. The Hornets stormed the field and piled on one another before running to the line to receive their medals. Township walked across to that same line.

“I thought they defended us really well,” Shellenberger said. “They’re really aggressive and gritty. They’re not afraid to be physical. That’s the way that their district and their league plays.”

Cami Schwartz tried to cheer up her goalie as the team packed up its belongings. Schwartz mentioned that the goal Emmaus scored was the only one Township allowed in the tournament. Caloviras, one of the few seniors, pointed out it was her last chance.

“But you got this,” Schwartz said as she held her silver medal.

Caloviras had tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. That summed up the emotions for the Blue Streaks. They came so far. They came so close. They achieved so much and still wanted a little bit more.

“I’m so incredibly proud of everyone on our team,” Caloviras said. “We’re such a big family. Everybody played their hearts out. Everybody gave it everything they had.”

Shellenberger has talked to her players about flipping zeroes. That’s what they did the past few weeks. Zero league and district titles were flipped to one.

The state championship? That will have to wait until next year.