Five Underrated Defensive Standouts to Keep Tabs on in Philly

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Pennsylvania, the defensive side of the field is stacked with talented prospects. Fleet-footed long sticks, lockdown defenders, gritty defensive middies, and goalies who are brick walls will dominate games all over the state this spring.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we prepare for the start of the 2024 season, below is a review of five unranked (and in a few cases, uncommitted) defensive standouts to watch in the coming months. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["15655"],"_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":"At 6'3 and 220 pounds of solid frame, Abraham is an intimidating presence on the back end. It should come as no surprise that he plays a physical brand of close defense and throws devastating checks. Still, Abraham has the discipline and IQ to know when he needs to play a finesse game and dislodge the ball with a well-timed poke check or can opener. Abraham is solid on ground balls and maintains control of the ball in a crowd. He will surprise opponents with his ability to carry the ball into the offensive end and create scoring opportunities. Abraham committed to Sacred Heart in September 2023.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["18926"],"_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":"Bloshuk's tenacity, great feet, and elite quickness have earned him the reputation as one of the top cover longsticks in Pennsylvania. His nonstop motor and willingness to do the dirty work separates him from other LSMs. Bloshuk's ability to aggressively defend in open space and cause turnovers is next level. When he gets out on the break, Bloshuk has excellent separation speed and is a creative distributor who can score via his powerful step-downs. Bloshuk's accolades include being a two-time All-League selection as well as a One Percent Showcase All-Star. A standout for Duke's LC, he's a Penn State commit and 3-star recruit with the potential to add another star in the near future.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["18936"],"_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":"Also a standout football player, this multi-sport athlete owns an excellent blend of size, speed, and lacrosse skills. In man-to-man scenarios, Delaney has fantastic coverage skills. Plus, when the opportunity presents itself, he can physically overpower his man. Delaney's range and constant communication enable him to excel in zone defensive schemes, too. A major asset for Delaney, a Lehigh commit, is his active stick which he has a knack for placing in the shooting and passing lanes. After a deflected pass or blocked shot, he's quick to scoop up the loose ball and head downfield. During his ventures into the offensive end, he is composed and makes good decisions.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["18933"],"_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":"Demarco is a bulldog who plays a high-energy, menacing style of defensive midfield. His speed and instincts enable him to relentlessly pursue the offensive player with the ball. Once he has forced a turnover, Demarco will pounce on the ground ball and secure possession. His quick feet, toughness, and change of direction skills will then carry Demarco into the open field. He thrives in transition where he can score on the run or draw the defense and then fire a pass to an open teammate. Still uncommitted, Demarco also brings versatility to the field, as he is a solid backup face-off specialist.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["18931"],"_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":"Listed at 5'11 and 185 pounds, Rubin has good size for a goalie, so he fills the cage to the corners. He tracks shooters well and gets square on them, so he snares a high percentage of shots cleanly. When shooters go low, Rubin can drop quickly and with precision to stop bounce shots. Rubin does a tremendous job of finding loose balls around the crease and aggressively covering those potential second-chance opportunities. Rubin is a tremendous communicator on the back end of the defense. Once the ball is in his stick, Rubin is poised and typically makes excellent decisions with his clearing passes. The 2024 season will be Rubin's third year as the starter for LM.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cbc091d7bed"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->