Manheim Township lacrosse coach Mark Pinkerton had to pick six players to represent his club team in the Johns Hopkins Queen of the Turf tournament in the fall.

His choices were a no-brainer in his mind.

Pinkerton took six players — Township's Devon Schneider, Shannon Nee, Molly Hendrick and Megan Pinkerton and Cocalico's Avery Longstaff and Kari Longstaff — to Baltimore to participate in the 4 vs. 4 tournament that is ranked among the best in the country.

The team went 13-0 to win the tournament title, knocking off a team of Johns Hopkins recruits in the semifinals and a team of Virginia recruits in the title game.

All six players had All-League seasons in the L-L League and all six earned their sport's highest honor: U.S. Lacrosse All-Americans.

"It could have been a nightmare if you had four players on the field of that caliber that were selfish," Pinkerton said of the Hopkins tournament. "I had the opposite. They played together and complemented each other well.

"What they did says a ton about how talented they are."

Cocalico coach Mary Beth Cardin shared Pinkerton's thoughts about the six players.

"This group of girls all have unique talents as individuals," Cardin said. "We haven't seen a group like this in our area in the past and it may be some time until we see it again."

The honor for Schneider is her second First-Team All-America nod. The University of Florida recruit also earned honorable mention as a sophomore.

Schneider finished the regular season with 82 goals and six assists on offense, won 91 draw controls, scooped 38 ground balls and caused 32 turnovers.

Schneider, who was an also an academic All-American last year, finished her scholastic career as the most decorated player in league history. She was a First-Team All-L-L selection all four years, was named the league's Player of the Year three times and was selected to the Under Armour All-American game.

"We've had some good players in the area (District Three)," Pinkerton said. "But when you factor in Devon's all-around — offense, defense and draw controls — she's the most complete player we've ever had."

Nee, too, is arguably the best player at her position in L-L League history. An honorable mention All-America selection a year ago, and ESPNHS' No. 3 ranked goalie in the country, Nee was a four-time All-LL First-Team selection.

The University of Connecticut recruit stopped .645 percent of the shots she faced this season.

"She's got it all for a goalie," Pinkerton said. "Reaction, fearless and quick to the ball. She's athletic in and out of the goal and can handle the ball on outlet passes.

"She's a top-level high school goalie. Only a handful of girls can match her in the country."

Hendrick is a rising senior at Township and has established herself as one of country's top players in her class. She's already committed to the University of North Carolina and led the Blue Streaks with 91 goals through the regular season. Hendrick is two-time All-L-L selection and was also an academic All-American this season.

"She has great desire and is an extreme competitor," Pinkerton said. "She's very aggressive and powers her shot by the goalie."

Megan Pinkerton, an honorable mention All-American last season, was one of the best feeders in the league the past three seasons. The two-time All-L-L selection finished the regular season with 34 goals and 58 assists.

Pinkerton, an academic All-American last year, will play at Temple next year.

"She has great field vision and is a phenomenal feeder," Mark Pinkerton said. "She can play with both hands and had more left-handed assists this year than right-handed. She plays solid defense and is great on ground balls."

Pinkerton will be joined at Temple by both Kari and Avery Longstaff — who both earned academic All-America honors this year as well.

Kari Longstaff went from one of the best defenders in the league as a freshman to one of the most complete players in the L-L this season. Her 62 goals and 68 assists through the regular season proved how dangerous she is as a feeder and a shooter.

"She was a good defender as freshman and marked the other team's best player," Cardin said of the three-time All-L-L selection. "Over the last three years she really worked hard to have a more complete game. She became more balanced."

Avery Longstaff has been among the L-L's top scorers in the past two seasons. She was a three-time All-L-L selection and finished the regular season with 82 goals and 42 assists.

"Avery is more instinctively an offensive player and has developed a good defensive game," Cardin said. "She became much quicker offensively in the 12-meter area and can change the level of her shots and move the goalie well."

mblymier@lnpnews.com