LaPierre is MVP in all-star victory
TOWSON, Md. - Chris LaPierre's final high school game was a microcosm of his career at Shawnee, where he starred in football and lacrosse.
The Inquirer's South Jersey senior athlete of the year, LaPierre earned game MVP honors last night after scoring two goals and adding a game-record four assists as his South team beat the North, 19-16, in the fourth annual Under Armour All-American Classic at Towson University's Johnny Unitas Stadium.
LaPierre's six points tied a single-game record that was matched last night by the North's Matt White, his future University of Virginia teammate.
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225
"It's awesome, not so much winning the award, but being able to play with these guys," LaPierre said.
Goalie Dan Wigrizer, a Duke recruit from the Haverford School who played in the second half, also was on the South squad.
Three players from La Salle, goalie Niko Amato and defenders Tucker Durkin and Tyler Knarr, were on the North team with Malvern Prep defender Billy Conners.
Amato played the entire first half, when the score was tied, 7-7, and he made seven saves.
Strath Haven's Emily Garrity scored 404 goals during a stellar lacrosse career, but the University of North Carolina recruit found herself in an unfamiliar place in last night's girls' All-American game - on defense.
Garrity played well, even though her South team lost, 12-9, to the North team.
"We had an attack-dominant team, and I'm a team player," said Garrity, who also played briefly in midfield.
She said she will play offense at North Carolina, but was more than satisfied with her all-star role.
"This was so much fun and I had a blast," said Garrity, who had an assist.
Garrity was the only Pennsylvania player on the South. Four area girls were picked for the North squad, although Moorestown's Alyssa Ogle, The Inquirer's South Jersey player of the year, didn't play because of a back injury that hampered her for most of the season.
The other local players for the North were Clearview midfielder Michelle Tumolo, who is headed to Syracuse; Episcopal Academy defender Samantha Arbitman (Johns Hopkins); and Radnor attack Sam Ellis (Princeton). Tumolo had a goal and an assist, and Ellis had an assist. Arbitman was strong on defense.
"Winning the game just put it over the top for what had been a great weekend," Arbitman said.
Rutgers recruit Stephanie Anderson of Shoreham-Wading River (N.Y.) High, was named the MVP with three goals and one assist.
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225
