The third annual, “Bull City All-Star Games ~ Cullen Classic for Cancer†was held on Saturday, June 1, 2019 in beautiful Koskinen Stadium at Duke University. The two highly spirited games featured 112 of the top seniors in North Carolina from 65 different high school lacrosse programs. This year’s event attracted over 675 players, parents, fans and organizers; and raised $6,500 for the Duke Cancer Institute and the NCHSAA Tony Cullen Memorial Scholarship Fund. To date, the “CullenClassic†has donated over $18,600 for these two great causes.
Organized by local high school coaches and Duke Lacrosse Alumni, the Bull City All-Star Games showcase the talents of the top male and female senior lacrosse players from across the state. The event not only provides recognition for these top players, but also serves as a dynamic way to honor the contributions Tony Cullen made to the sport of lacrosse: first as a player and a coach at Duke; then as an NCAA official. Tony impacted the trajectory of lacrosse in North Carolina for 25 years, before he lost his battle with cancer in 2002.
In the women’s game, the White team, coached by Kaitlyn Hartmann (Marvin Ridge), Billy Hook (Ardrey Kell) and Jen Yoder (Broughton), came out shooting hard, as they opened up a 11-4 halftime lead despite excellent goaltending by Blue Goalie Maria Schelfe (Leesville). Sydney Beckwith (Hoggard) scored the opening goal for White, but Ella Reeves Vaughn (Cardinal Gibbons) immediately responded for Blue.
In the second half, the Blue Team, coached by Craig Reist (Panther Creek), Mike San Giacomo (Athens Drive) and Alyssa Temple-Siar (Sanderson), cut the margin to 11-6 on back-to-back goals by Maggie Pontiakios (Cardinal Gibbons). The teams traded the next two goals, before White went on a four goal run, punctuated by Alleigh Kempf’s (Chapel Hill) third goal of the game. Then Pontiakos scored again, completing a hat trick for Blue, and cutting the lead to 16-8. White’s offense dominated the remainder of the game, with the final score 25-11. 15 different White all-stars registered points.
The leading point scorers for White’s high-powered offense were Alleigh Kempf (Chapel Hill, 5 goals / 0 assists) and Caroline Kimel (Cardinal Gibbons, 1 goal / 4 assists), while Anna West (Durham Academy, 4 goals / 0 assists) was named Offensive MVP. West will play at Davidson College next year. Despite the final score, Maria Schelfe (Leesville) had an exceptional game between the pipes for Blue, and earned the game’s Defensive MVP. Schelfe will attend UNC-Charlotte in the fall.
High-powered offense was also the theme of the men’s game, as Scout Philipp (Hoggard) scored the opening goal for the Blue Team, coached by Anthony Meley (Northern Guilford) and Antonio Aguilar (Eastern Alamance). Goalie Robert Eigenrauch (Jordan) had some big saves early for the White Team, coached by Tom Wetherby (Athens Drive). Landon Clary (Northwest Guilford) played stalwart defense for Blue, as the teams traded the next six goals and the first quarter ended 4-3 Blue.
In the second quarter, Blue went on a five-goal run to go up 8-3, before Preston Lalicker (Apex) finally responded for White. But Blue’s offense, led by Elliot Holden (Page) went on another 5-1 run to take a commanding 13-5 halftime lead. Holden completed a first-half hat trick for Blue.
In the second half, White came out firing on all cylinders with four straight goals by Ben Reno (New Bern), Michael Manaro (Heritage), Henry Murtagh (Cape Fear Academy) and another by Lalicker (Apex). White cut the lead to 13-9; then another 3-1 White run tightened the game to 14-12. Blue ended the quarter with 2 straight goals to extended their lead to 16-12.
Blue’s offense continued to pour it on in the 4th quarter, extending their lead to 20-14 before White made a valiant three goal run to end the game 20-17. The last goal of the game was a highlight-worthy, one-handed shot by Caison Dillon (Greensboro Day School). Both teams had 12 different all-stars register points in the game.
The leading point scorer for the Blue Team was Elliot Holden (Page, 4 goals / 0 assists), while Caison Dillon (Greensboro Day School, 4 goals / 1 assist) led the White offense. Holden, who will play at Robert Morris University next year, was named the game’s Offensive MVP. Robert Eigenrauch (Jordan) had 12 saves for White and was named Defensive MVP. Eigenrauch will get between the pipes for Washington College next year.
The Bull City All-Star Staff would like to thank all the coaches, players, parents, officials, sponsors, volunteers, the Duke Lacrosse Gray Devil Alumni and the Duke Athletic Staff, who made this years’ event our biggest yet.
The 2020 Bull City All Star Games are tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 30 back in Koskinen Stadium. Anyone interested in helping “grow the game†across NC bybecoming a sponsor should email the Co-Directors at bullcityallstarlax@gmail.com.
Box Scores:
Women’s All-Star Game: White 25 - Blue 11
White Team
GOALS: Kempf 5, West 4, Field 2, Harton 2, Montalban-Petaten 2, Popella 2, Ruddell 2, Beckwith, Fletcher, Foyles, Kimel, Kram, New
ASSISTS: KImel 4, Dugdale, Fletcher, Hinshaw, New, Ruddell
Blue Team
GOALS: Pontakios 3,Barnes 2, Gonzales 2, Bracey, Dorsett, Russo, Vaughan
ASSISTS: Dorsett, Gonzales, Vaughan, Warner
Offensive MVP:
Anna West (Durham Academy)
Defensive MVP:
Maria Schelfe (Leesville)
Men’s All-Star Game: Blue 20 - White 17
Blue Team
GOALS: Holden 4, Philipp 3, Cornell 2, Cosgrove 2, Meehl 2, Woody 2, Beyer, Guest, Gray, Ritter, Sylvia
ASSISTS: Clary 2, Beyer, Gray, Meehl, Woody
White Team
GOALS: Dillon 4, Murtagh 2, R. Koonce 2, Lalicker 2, Reno 2, DeLucia, Hoeg, J. Koonce, Manaro, Stroud
ASSISTS: DeLucia, Dillon, Hoeg, J. Koonce, Lalicker, Manaro, Reno, Schneider, Shea
Offensive MVP:
Elliot Holden (Page)
Defensive MVP:
Robert Eigenrauch (Jordan)
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