Despite not having its season go quite as far as it would have liked, the 2014 Londonderry High boys’ soccer squad put quite a bit of talent out on the field.
And coach Todd Ellis’ Lancers had some of that talent recognized recently with all-state and all-star honors during the post-season period.
The LHS crew’s all-state picks – selected by the state’s soccer coaches – were Nate Gaw, Andrew Mitchell, and Jeff Baroody.
Junior midfielder Gaw was named a Second Team All-State selection, and Ellis has no trouble speaking in glowing terms of the hard-working middie.
“This was Nate’s third year on varsity, and his third year making all-state,” said the coach. “When he is on the field, he is a player that other teams are aware of.”
Gaw’s fellow midfielder Andrew Mitchell – a senior – was given Honorable Mention recognition, and senior goalie Jeff Baroody was also made an Honorable Mention selection.
“Andrew was a captain, and he really helped the offense to get going when he was in as a central midfielder.” said Ellis. “Jeff was also a captain and in his third year on varsity. I thought he was the best goalkeeper in the state.”
Additionally, LHS senior booters Baroody and Marcus Wright (a midfielder) were both selected to play in the second annual Division I Senior All-Star Game at Exeter High School this past Sunday, Nov. 16. But the two talented Lancers had to play on opposite sides.
Baroody played for Pinkerton Academy coach Kerry Boles’ White Team, and Wright was a member of the Red Team, coached by Chris LaBerge of Manchester Central and Rob Grabill of Hanover High.
The 2014 Londonderry High contingents posted a 10-6 record and headed into the Division I tournament as the ninth-ranked team.
The Lancers ended the championship hopes of the eighth-seeded Keene High Blackbirds in Keene in round one of the tourney before having their own 2014 campaign ended in quarterfinal-round action by the top-seeded Manchester Central contingent.
But ex-Lancer soccer stalwart Boles’ seventh-seeded boys later bested Central – in a major upset indeed – in the divisional title match.