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KINGSTON – Throughout his high school career, Zach Holthaus wanted to be known as the best boys soccer player in the area.

Even though the Dallas Mountaineer suffered an injury this season and missed five games, he still managed to be lauded as All-State by the Wyoming Valley Conference coaches.

On Thursday evening at Wyoming Seminary’s Nesbitt Stadium, the Mountaineer once again showed he is one of the top players in the area. Holthaus netted the game-tying goal late for the Black Team in the WVC Boys Soccer Senior All-Star Classic in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie. Holthaus also almost ended the game less than a minute later, but the game ended in a stalemate.

“It meant a lot to me. First off, I came out here wanting at least one goal before I go off to college with this being my last game in high school,” said Holthaus, who hopes to play soccer in college, but hasn’t narrowed down a choice yet. “It was a great experience.”

With his team trailing 2-1 and the clock winding down, Holthaus found the back of the net with 2:03 to go to tie the game. Once the kickoff was taken away, Holthaus found a seam and headed to the goal once again. Possibly giving up a goal, he instead passed it to his buddy, Reggie Grayek from Wyoming Seminary, who was also selected All-State this season. Grayek’s shot was saved by keeper David Sikora from Wilkes-Barre Area and the game ended tied.

“I wanted to shoot it, but my buddy who I played soccer with all year was calling for it. I wanted to try get him a goal too,” Holtaus said about his pass to Grayek. “It was his last game too. Tried to get him one, but we couldn’t get it and it didn’t happen.”

Crestwood’s Payton Glynn started the scoring for the White Team giving the team a 1-0 advantage with 26:51 on the clock in the first half. Adam Eckhart from Nanticoke tied up the match for the Black Team at 1-1 netting a goal with 17:05 left in the first.

Glynn, who was one of the top players in the conference this season, netted his second goal of the match with 22:30 left in the second half to put his team ahead 2-1. Glynn almost had a hat trick later, but a point-blank shot was saved by Dallas keeper Derek Gordon.

It seemed fitting that Dallas and Crestwood players played a big part in the game as the two teams have had a rivalry, meeting in the District 2 Class 3A tournament each of the last four years. Dallas’ only district title in that span was in 2016.

“I love the coaching staff. I’ve been with them since I was little,” Holthaus said. “Coach (Chris) Scharff is my travel coach too. So that’s what I’m gonna miss the most.”

WVC Boys Senior Classic

White 2, Black 2

White`1`1`– `1

Black`1`1` – `1

First half: 1. White, Payton Glynn, Crestwood 26:51; 2. Black, Adam Eckhart, Nanticoke 17:05

Second half: 3. White, Glynn 22:30; 4. Black, Zach Holthaus, Dallas 2:03

Shots: White 16, Black 10; Saves: White 6 (Joel Vazquez, Wilkes-Barre Area; David Sikora, Wilkes-Barre Area), Black 7 (Derek Gordon, Dallas) Corners: White 7, Black 6

Black’s Isaiah Johnson of Nanticoke Area, center right, heads the ball against White’s James Dunleavy of Holy Redeemer in the WVC Senior Boys All-Star Classic Thursday at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL111519BoysSoccer_1.jpg.optimal.jpgBlack’s Isaiah Johnson of Nanticoke Area, center right, heads the ball against White’s James Dunleavy of Holy Redeemer in the WVC Senior Boys All-Star Classic Thursday at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Black’s Zach Holthaus (5), of Dallas, heads the ball in the WVC Boys Senior All-Star Classic at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL111519BoysSoccer_2.jpg.optimal.jpgBlack’s Zach Holthaus (5), of Dallas, heads the ball in the WVC Boys Senior All-Star Classic at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

White’s Payton Glynn of Crestwood, center, gets congratulated by teammates after scoring his first of two goals in the WVC Boys Senior All-Star classic Thursday night at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL111519BoysSoccer_3.jpg.optimal.jpgWhite’s Payton Glynn of Crestwood, center, gets congratulated by teammates after scoring his first of two goals in the WVC Boys Senior All-Star classic Thursday night at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Black’s Tyler Rushton of Nanticoke Area (14) kicks the ball away from members of the White team during the WVC Boys Senior All-Star Classic at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL111519BoysSoccer_5.jpg.optimal.jpgBlack’s Tyler Rushton of Nanticoke Area (14) kicks the ball away from members of the White team during the WVC Boys Senior All-Star Classic at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Dave Rosengrant

For Times Leader