EMMAUS, Pa. — This year’s championship doubleheader for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s District XI qualifiers featured the two highest scoring scholastic field hockey teams in the United States. And both wound up winning their championship games.

In the Class AAA game, Emmaus (Pa.), the No. 10 team in this week’s TopOfTheCircle.com Top 10 bested Stroudsburg (Pa.) 4-1, while in the Class AA game, Center Valley Southern Lehigh (Pa.), the No. 6 team in this week’s TopOfTheCircle.com Top 10, defeated Lehighton (Pa.) 2-0.

It was Emmaus’ 20th consecutive District 11 championship, but it was the first for this particular cohort of talented players looking to make their own mark in Hornet hockey history. Sophomore Sammi Wootsick had a pair of first-half goals, which, as it turned out, was all her team needed, since the team’s defense stifled Stroudsburg’s star player Brooke Simonovich.

But for Solehi, it was a first championship for head coach Adrienne Searfoss. When she came back to her alma mater after a succesful playing career at Old Dominion, it was projected that she would be able to bring the same kind of passion for the game as her coaches — Pat Dierking at Solehi, and Beth Anders at ODU. And she proved right.

“Beth Anders taught me a lot about field hockey,” Searfoss said. “But I think I’m a product of a lot of coaches that I’ve had. Each coach I had taught me a little something: how to reach kids, about the game, making sure they were not only physically prepared, but mentally. The girls do a great job because they respond; it makes my job very easy.”

Solehi, now with a record of 24-0, might have stamped itself as the best team not known as Wyoming Seminary in the upcoming Class AA tournament. That’s because it played a bend-but-don’t-break defense in front of goalkeeper Kristin Arnold while Lehighton, though dominating midfield possession, could not find a way through the resolute Spartans.

“They were very excited from the start, and everybody stepped up,” Searfoss said. “There’s nothing better than getting your first District championship. They wanted to make a statement that we’re pretty good, and they want to continue that in their next game.”

Lehighton had the ball for much of the first 20 minutes of the match, but whenever the Indians fumbled the ball, Southern Lehigh attacked with ferocity and outstanding speed.

“The kids stepped up and went back to receiving and passing, and making sure we were stepping to the ball and not holding on to it too long,” Searfoss said. “I felt it was important making sure we were available for our teammates .”

“It’s not like we weren’t gettting chances,” said Lehighton coach and former U.S. international Shawn Hindy. “We were getting chances and we were getting corners, but the ball went in for them; it could have for us, but it’s a fine line between getting it in and not. We played a good game.”

The Spartans scored on their second short corner, awarded in the 21st minute. On the play, a long diagonal shank came off Lehighton goalkeeper Kristi Troch’s pads right onto the stick of forward Kelly Whitaker, who made no mistake from in close.

“That first goal was the key,” Searfoss said. “The girls hung on at the end, played through some adversity near the end, came together and did some nice things as a team.”

Solehi doubled its advantage just after the interval, as Brooke Borneman found teammate Alex Boorse at the doorstep, and Boorse made no mistake.

Lehighton threw considerable talent and resources forward, but had no luck against Arnold, who made five saves, but whose defense sticked away numerous other goalbound opportunities.

“We just wanted to be a little more aggressive,” Hindy said. “But we’re not done; we are looking to put this behind us and play more games.”

The Indians will take on District 4 champions Selinsgrove (Pa.) in the Class AA first round, while Southern Lehigh is scheduled to meet District 3’s Palmyra (Pa.).

Stroudsburg (18-5) 0 1 — 1
Emmaus (22-1) 2 2 — 4
E: Samantha Wootsick, 14th
E: Wootsick, 26th
S: Sarah Williams, 32nd
E: Kerrie Edmonds, 35th
E: Madison Blyler, 57th
Shots- S: 6; E: 24. Saves- S: Kayleigh Stewart 20; E:Kate Mitchell 6.

Lehighton (18-3-1) 0-0 — 0
Southern Lehigh (24-0) 0-0 — 0
SL: Kelly Whitaker, pc, 21st
SL: Alex Boorse (Brooke Borneman), fg, 32nd
Shots- L: 5; SL 10; Saves- L: Kristi Troch 8; SL: Kristin Arnold 5.