Scranton Prep graduate Will McPartland passes the ball during the second annual Senior All-Star Game.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Abington Heights graduate Gavin Anders takes a shot on the net during the second annual Senior All-Star Game.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Scranton Prep graduate Jaxsen Silfee defends against Chris Devaney of Delaware Valley during the second annual Senior All-Star Game.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
Comets’ Gavin Anders takes an off-balance shot during the second half of the Senior All-Star Game at Abington Heights.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Abington Journal
CLARKS SUMMIT — Gavin Anders plans for football to be his sport of the future, playing defensive back at Lackawanna College beginning in the fall.
In his final game as a lacrosse player, the all-star from Abington Heights was his team’s leading scorer and Most Valuable Player when the White Team lost to the Blue Team 11-5 on June 25 in the second annual NEPA Lacrosse Senior All-Star boys game.
“I didn’t really want to think about not playing lacrosse anymore,” said Anders, who scored twice and also had an assist. “I just wanted to have fun.”
The second game of a doubleheader at Abington Heights was played in driving rain.
“It’s hard to play in the rain, but you have to enjoy what you have,” said Anders, who took six shots and controlled two groundballs. “I had a good time.”
Drexel commit Aaron Goldstein from Penncrest led Team Blue in scoring with five goals and two assists, while North Pocono’s Erick Maldonado was named team MVP after making 11 saves in goal.
Penncrest, the only non-Wyoming Valley Conference team with players in the event, and Abington Heights connected when the teams met in the PIAA State Class 2A quarterfinals. Goldstein became his school’s all-time leading career scorer during that game when he had five goals and six assists in an 18-10 victory.
“He’s a fantastic player,” Anders said. “He’s so fast, shifty. It looks like he’s teleporting when he’s dodging. It’s crazy. He has a fast shot, too.”
Dallas and Wilkes-Barre Area had players on both sides in the all-star game, which was organized by NEPALacrosse.com.
Wyoming Seminary, North Pocono, Scranton Prep and Penncrest players were also part of the winning team, which was also known as Team Toolan for its leadership by Scranton Prep coach Keith Toolan and his staff. Crestwood, Tunkhannock, Abington Heights and Delaware Valley players were part of Team White, or Team Zabroski, under Crestwood coach Brian Zabroski and assistant Aaron Caporuscio.
Maldonado helped Blue to a 3-2 lead after one quarter, despite being outshot 12-6, by making four tough saves.
Blue had just a 26-25 shot advantage for the game.
Sam Kelley from Dallas and Luke Young from Penncrest each scored twice for the winners.
Delaware Valley’s Mike Iuzzolino had two goals for White.
Gavin Lindsay, Logan Bohn and Rocco Sarafinko also represented Abington Heights on the White.
