Theatrics, Highlights on Display in Close All-America Senior Game

BALTIMORE — Incoming Duke faceoff specialist Ben McCarthy needed less than 20 seconds to fire in the North’s first goal during Saturday night’s All-America Senior Game at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field. Right on cue, the Newtown Square, Penn., native broke out a signature celebration he’d planned just hours before.

McCarthy said he and his North teammates settled on several celebrations — like his first-minute worm rendition — in their final pregame session.

“So, we had a practice right before the game, but we didn’t do much practice,” McCarthy said. “It was more of just working on our [celebrations], coming up with ideas. I knew if I scored, I said, ‘That’s the first one I’m doing.’ I wasn’t sure if I could still do it. I used to be able to as a kid, and I was still able to pull it off.”

Within minutes, attacker Connor Gately (Yale) put the South team on the scoreboard. Soon, Gately and his teammates showcased their own All-America Games tradition in a midfield duck-duck-goose performance.

After making an early mark on the night, McCarthy had a few more tricks up his sleeve, as he tied for a game-high three goals — including the eventual game-winner. McCarthy and many others on the field had the green light to shoot from any spot, and the two teams peppered a combined 108 shots.

“We’re here for fun, so you might as well shoot your shot when you have hit,” said incoming Jacksonville defender Luke Fraser, who converted two long-range efforts for the South.

With abundant theatrics and highlight-reel goals, checks and saves, the North and South’s annual clash lived up to its billing in a down-to-the-wire finish. In a matchup featuring 46 of the nation’s premier incoming college freshmen, the North squad secured a 16-15 comeback victory.

While 10 different North goal scorers found the back of the net, attacker Liam Kershis (Duke) conducted the team’s offense to the tune of two goals and four helpers. Kershis — the game’s leading point scorer — said his team swiftly shifted into gear when it fell into an early hole.

“We were down 7-3 early in the game, and we knew we had to focus up,” Kershis said. “We started chipping away, went on a little run and the game got a little intense. We knew we could win, so we kept going.”

The North’s run — which brought the game back to a 12-12 tie entering the final period — presented a prime opportunity for either side to pull ahead in crunch-time. The sun had long since set over Baltimore, but plenty of firepower was still in store under the Homewood Field lights.

The South surrendered consecutive scores to open the fourth quarter, but incoming Maryland attacker Spencer Ford attempted to will his team back into contention.

The 6-foot-3 Boys’ Latin (Md.) product scored two late goals, each of which split respective two-goal North leads in half. His efforts helped the South garner a final possession with the chance to send the game to overtime.

“These are probably the best players in the country right now. It’s unbelievable,” Ford said. “I was biting my nails, getting nervous toward the end of the fourth quarter.”

Despite a late goal from defender Nikolas Menendez (Duke), the North managed to bunker down defensively in the closing seconds and secured the close-run win.

Moments after the next wave of NCAA superstars reconvened in the handshake line, a bevy of youth players trotted onto the turf, seeking autographs and pictures with the All-Americans. Though he’d just received his MVP trophy, Kershis said the most humbling experience of his night was seeing his potential as a role model.

“You always want to act your best, you always want to be your best and you really want to inspire these kids to the maximum level,” Kershis said. “That’s the goal. We all know lacrosse isn’t the biggest sport yet. So, it’s just great to be able to have an impact on someone’s life like that.”