Benner’s assists, Marano’s goals highlight Red Card for Cancer Senior All-Star Game

Phoenixville senior Lauren Benner had Team Cure’s lone goal in the inaugural Red Card for Cancer Senior All-Star Game Sunday evening at Washington Field in Phoenixville.

But it was a pair of assists that carried much more significance. Benner and fellow Phantom senior Lahela Worley were the co-organizers for the senior All-Star game, which raised more than $1,000 for the Pottstown and Phoenixville cancer centers.

In the game’s closing minutes, Benner had another major assist when she helped Team Cure honorary captain, 4-year-old cancer survivor Amelia Nankivell, score a goal. It capped a brilliant few days for Nankivell after her cancer scan — she recently completed a round of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with Stage 4 Wilms Tumor and had her left kidney removed earlier this year — came back clear on Friday.

Pope John Paul II senior Talia Marano was the other star of the game, scoring two goals and an assist to lead Team Cause over Team Cure, 4-1.

Cause’s other goal scorers were Owen J. Roberts’ Emily Keck and Methacton’s Jess McNally.

Goalkeeper Hannah Walsh of Methacton was named Team Cause Player of the Match while Benner earned Donald K. Blakeslee Memorial/Team Cure Player of the Match honors. The Blakeslee memorial is in honor of the grandfather of Phoenixville head coach Tim Raub.

Breast cancer survivor Carly Youngblood, a teacher in the Owen J. Roberts school district, served as captain for Team Cause.