LHS Boy Booters Have Three Players Snare All-State Honors

The Londonderry High School boys’ soccer squad didn’t have its 2015 campaign end precisely as it would have liked, although coach Todd Ellis’ booters did come close to collecting the Division I championship.

The third-ranked Lancer guys wound up being bested by the fourth-seeded Concord High Crimson Tide by a 1-0 score in the D-I title match at Southern New Hampshire University. But in the wake of that disappointing defeat, the LHS guys had some of the superb talent that enabled them to get acknowledged by the state’s Division I coaches with all-state recognition.

Lancer standouts Nate Gaw, Griffin Cowles, and Nick Vanini were all placed among the tough league’s top players by being named all-staters.

Senior midfielder Gaw – who potted 18 goals and dished out six assists in being named his contingent’s Offensive Player of the Year – was named his team’s lone first-teamer.

“Nate finished his LHS career with 39 goals and played all four years at the varsity level,” said Ellis. “He scored 30 percent of our goals this season, and it’s nice he is recognized by making first team.”

Gaw’s fellow senior midfielder Cowles was named a Second-Team All-Stater after tallying five goals and setting up eight others for the LHS crew.

“This was Griffin’s third year playing varsity, and his first making the all-state team. It’s great that he was recognized by making second team in his senior year,” said Ellis.

Junior defender Vanini, who was named the Lancer contingent’s Defensive Player of the Year, was also named a second-teamer. Vanini collected a goal and an assist and played some superb defense for the D-I runner-up team.

“Nick’s goal this year was to make the all-state team,” said coach Ellis. “It was great that his efforts were rewarded. We’re glad that he will be returning to lead our defense next year.”

The Londonderry Lancers’ bunch enjoyed an extremely strong  12-2-2 regular season and won its last seven matches heading into the state tournament. Stepping into the tourney as the number three seed, the Lancers got rid of number 14 Dover in the prelims, then number six Salem in the quarterfinals, and second-seeded Hanover in the semifinals before just being edged by Concord in the title game.