Boys: All-America Game Best XI

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PANAMA BEACH, Fla. — It's seldom that a goalkeeper and defender win MVP honors in an all-star game where six goals are scored but that was the case Saturday at the 12th Annual High School All-America Boys Soccer Game in Panama City, Fla.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The entire match changed on one play by West goalkeeper Saed Anabtawi that led to a 4-2 victory by the West at Tommy Oliver Stadium.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the West trailing 2-1 in the second half, Anabtawi, the Indiana University signee from Canterbury School (Ind.), made a diving save on an East penalty kick attempt and quickly distributed the ball that resulted in a goal on the counter just seconds later to even the score. The West seized momentum at that point and tacked on two more goals to win the annual East-West clash for the third time in four years. The West holds a 7-3-2 lead in the series.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anabtawi was named West MVP while defender Joe McDaid of Shipley School (Pa.) was named East MVP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brady Geho opened the scoring for the East. After Tanner Anderson tied the match at 1 for the West, Jake Ross' goal, set up by an impressive Nick Laffey run, put the East ahead 2-1 at half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second half, Harrison Bertos was taken down in the box and the Washington-bound defender stepped to the penalty spot but his low shot to the left corner was stopped by Anabtawi. The quick distribution led to a counter and Baha Ibrahim finished the play to tie the match at 2. Zsombor Onodi then took over, scoring what proved to be the game-winner with just under 13 minutes remaining. Cameron Gerber tacked on an insurance goal for the West to make the final 4-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are the Best XI, as nominated by the coaches:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["11366"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022s1u0022u003eAnabtawi was in and out of the match as he and fellow West keeper Patrick McLaughlin often traded places throughout the 90-minute contest. Anabtawi showed his quality while diving to his right to stop a low penalty kick. The ensuring distribution led to a counter goal that changed the match. For his efforts, Anabtawi was named the West MVP by the coaches.u003c/spanu003eu003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6399f2ef3e88e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["36749"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022s1u0022u003eAnderson delivered one of the best all-around performances of the day. He started the match as an attacking player and scored the first goal for the West. He then moved to defender in the second half and helped lock down the defense as they held the East scoreless over the last 45 minutes.u003c/spanu003eu003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["12016"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Coaches felt his defending was solid all match. He's a physical presence and kept the West in check during the first half.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["56011"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"McDaid was selected as the East MVP. He was fantastic defensively. He won a lot of balls, played balls to his teammates' feet and almost never gave the ball away after gaining possession.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["11542"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Smith was among the best athletes in the match. He was smooth with the ball and moving around the field. He is a versatile player, and that allowed him to play important roles in several positions. He played outside back, moved into the midfield and even found himself in the attack at times.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["9395"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"For a while early in the match, Chandler was the most dominant player on the field. He's composed on the ball and was always was looking to attack. He also was willing to make the tough tackles.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["14657"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"A three-time all-state player who might have been a little under the recruiting radar, Evans used the All-America Game to show his quality. He played a key role in building the attack for the West squad and was all over the place making plays.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["70676"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"One coach called him the u0022Hammer in the middle of the park.u0022 He's a very unselfish player and that role fit the West lineup, which pulled together in the second half for the victory.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["14666"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Spicer simply controls the midfield whenever he's on the pitch. He was Ohio's Player of the Year and the Notre Dame commit was among the best performers at the All-America Game.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["14738"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Onodi, a high school teammate of fellow Best XI performer Nolan Spicer, simply took over in the second half. He's a pure finisher and he proved the go-ahead (and ultimately game-winning) goal. He also blasted a shot from distance that required a big-time save from an East keeper. He really made his presence known over the final 25 minutes.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["70677"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Ibrahim scored the goal that tied the match and led to a dramatic shift in momentum for the West. He was dangerous at times in both halves and showed up to the task despite being one of the few uncommitted seniors on the field full of NCAA Division I signees.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6399f2ef3ea20"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OTHER TOP PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(Position, Name, High School (State), College Commitment)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F: Lucas Almeida, Hall (Conn.), Connecticut&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>M: Cody Angelini, Calvert Hall (Md.), Loyola (Md.)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>M: Alex Barger, Naperville North (Ill.), Indiana</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>GK: Mateo Buyu, Milton Academy (Mass.), Providence&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>D: Gage Daniels, Olathe West (Kan.), Nebraska-Omaha</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>M: Ben Feinstein, Kiski School (Pa.), Michigan&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F: Cameron Gerber, Boulder (Colo.), Maryland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>D: Landon Lackner, Loyola (Md.), St. John's&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>M: Nick Laffey, St. John's (D.C.), Virginia Tech&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>M: T.J. Liqouri, Worcester Academy (Mass.), Vermont&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>M: Ben Madore, Calvert Hall (Md.), Penn State&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>M: Jack McDaid, Shipley School (Pa.), Maryland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>GK: Patrick McLaughlin, St. Ignatius (Ohio), Ohio State&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F: Mohammed Nuhu, Hotchkiss School (Conn.)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>M: Aiden Ptacek, University School (Ohio), Bowling Green</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F: Jake Ross, Salesianum (Del.), West Virginia&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->