Top Class of 2026 Performers at the NLF National Championships

In what was the last hurrah of the summer for a plethora of top club teams, a wide swath of programs flocked to Long Island for the annual NLF National Championships, with Team 91 LI knocking off LI Express in the title game. I was on-site for all three days and came away particularly impressed with these seven standouts, among others. Check back soon for more from Jared Valluzzi on the top talent out of Long Island.    The more I watch him, the more Perfetti has grown on me. Part of that is how new he is to the position, as the SoCal native was formerly a midfielder and is just over a year into playing the position. With his 6'8, 215-pound size and prowess on the basketball court (for a team ranked nationally in the Top 25), his profile and upside most closely resemble Cole Kastner. Due to the overlap between the hoops and lacrosse seasons, Perfetti only played in seven games this spring, but it's clear how much confidence he's gaining with increased reps with a pole in his hands. As one might imagine, he has strong defensive principles and outstanding footwork. He isn't afraid to lay the body, and on more than one occasion, caught an opposing attackman slipping and got him on a nasty over-the-head check. I'll be intrigued to see where he winds up at the next level.     I was incredibly impressed with what I saw in my first few live evaluations of Cotton, a highly athletic middie who stacked up big play after big play at NLF. A smooth operator with an excellent first step and burst of speed, Cotton made a habit out of gaining separation against his matchups and uncorking shots on the run. He's heady with the ball in his stick and made the appropriate decision every time, doing a great job of both creating for himself and setting up teammates. In the Hawks' final game of the weekend, Cotton nailed a high bouncer at the buzzer to force overtime against Team 91 LI before falling in OT.     Coming off of an awesome sophomore season for the MIAA champions, Sweeney has proven to be one of, if not the best, face-off specialists in the class. Using his size and athleticism to his advantage, he dominated a formidable opponent early in the tournament, then went 8-of-11 in the semis. He's so quick off the whistle and wins the ball to himself almost effortlessly, but what's just as impressive is what he's able to do once the ball's in his stick. Sweeney will have no shortage of suitors once September rolls around.     Mollot had one of the most impressive performances I saw on Friday, racking up four goals in a commanding win over an incredibly talented Laxachusetts squad. He scored on a dip and dunk, a rebound, up the hash and a nasty backhander, and was a presence on the ride as well. He was mostly held in check in the semifinals but still managed to toss a skip assist to Cotton at the buzzer to force overtime. As one of the very best X attackmen in the '26 class, he'll be highly coveted come 9/1.     Peck's game speaks loudly despite his 5'8, 145-pound frame. Incredibly skilled, he possesses tremendous bounce and shiftiness, and is constantly able to get underneath bigger defensemen on his way to the rack. He had a hat trick in the first game I saw, and despite the muddy conditions, Peck showed off his COD and playmaking ability. On one occasion, he got absolutely popped after a goal and got right back up and kept chugging. He's dangerous dodging from X, the wings, and up top, and I could even see him as a middie in college since he's undoubtedly quick enough to beat a shortstick.     I feel comfortable saying that nobody raised their stock more than Ivancecic this weekend, so I'm doubling up the love by <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/07/nlf-2026-national-championship-breakdown-and-standouts/">adding to what Eric Bretz wrote about him in the championship recap</a>. He was simply outstanding on the wing, constantly gobbling up groundballs and starting fast breaks. On a few occasions, he even finished them, scoring in a semifinal OT win over the NH Tomahawks and again in the title game. Beyond his ability off the ground, his ability as a cover defender hindered LI Express' midfield weapons. His top-notch footwork allows him to match feet with opposing dodgers while staying on their hands, and even when he gets beat, he has the recovery speed to get back on them. I'll be very curious to see who lands him this fall.     The younger brother of UAlbany's Rookie of the Year Ryan Doherty, this lefty had a stellar four-goal performance against 3d Upstate in a "win and get in" scenario. Although he's on the small side, he's tough to keep up with due to his quicks and shifty change of direction, attributes he used to gain a step against his man. In the win that ended pool play, he demonstrated an excellent shot on the run and the ability to get topside with relative ease, burying a wraparound to finish out his scoring.

In what was the last hurrah of the summer for a plethora of top club teams, a wide swath of programs flocked to Long Island for the annual NLF National Championships, with Team 91 LI knocking off LI Express in the title game.

I was on-site for all three days and came away particularly impressed with these seven standouts, among others. Check back soon for more from Jared Valluzzi on the top talent out of Long Island.