IMLCA Players Summit '27s: Top Attackmen, Part I

Coming away from the holiday, we're back at it with recaps from last month's IMLCA Players Summit, taking a closer look at some of the top lefty attackmen. Part II will also feature a plethora of lefties, including standouts from Long Island and Maryland, among other areas.    At IMLCA, I appreciated how dynamic Brimhill was with the ball in his stick, having been impressed by what he showed as a goal-scorer during his 31-point freshman season. An excellent decision-maker, he's so dangerous in part because he can produce scoring plays from all over the offensive zone and fill any role that's asked of him. Down in Florida, the big lefty carried the ball a lot and made some great reads, putting passes to cutters on a rope despite having defenders in his face. While he thrived more as a feeder when I was watching the Hawks, Brimhall is also a powerful and accurate shooter, primarily from the right hash. His growth will be crucial for St. Mary's and first-year head coach Will Dalton.     After dazzling all fall (<a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/11/alliance-fall-invitational-scouting-bbls-2027s/">and earning a write-up at Alliance in November</a>), Gillette continued to make his presence felt as a left-handed finisher for a BBL team that made it to the '27 championship game. He was often the byproduct of superb ball movement and consistently found ways to rack up points in big games with his heady off-ball play and sensational handle close to the goal. An unwavering competitor, Gillette also made an impact on the ride, when the ball was on the ground and in unsettled situations, scoring right off the face-off on Sunday afternoon.     Formerly a member of 2Way's 2026 squad, Cichella is tough to miss at 6'4 and 210 pounds. The imposing lefty can let it fly with just a simple flick of the wrists, showcasing his snappy release and finding the net in every game I watched. He did a nice job popping inside from time to time but was most impactful as a shooter from range. Cichella wasn't particularly assertive as a dodger, but had success in space and unsettled situations, where he was arguably at his best and caught just about everything thrown his way.     Janowicz's productive campaign down at IMLCA was highlighted by his two-goal, one-assist outing against Team Ontario's U17 roster in Sunday's consolation bracket play. Right away, the 6'2 lefty caught my eye with his gritty playmaking ability, embracing contact and making plays with poise under duress. In one instance, he handled a high pass on a fast break, ducked underneath an over-the-head check, and then made the goalie go to his knees on the finish. As evidenced by his weekend highlights, he's more inclined to make one move and go, though he's got the footwork and craftiness to beat his man with multiple moves. At Upper Arlington, he'll step into a larger role as a sophomore now that his brother, Tommy — who broke his father's all-time points and goals record — is off at Ohio State.     Physically, Dusseau is on the other side of the spectrum compared to Janowicz, checking in at 5-foot-7. Like his Upper Arlington teammate, Dusseau made a habit out of being at the end of plays in a win over Team Ontario. Though it was nothing flashy, he posted a pair of goals, stepping in from mid-range on one occasion and burying an unselfish pass from Janowicz on a fast break on the other. As a dodger, he has a fantastic first step and is super shifty and intelligent, doing a nice job of working his way to high-percentage areas and increasing his angle. His high lacrosse IQ comes as no surprise, as he's the nephew of Steve Dusseau, a former Georgetown and MLL standout who sits fourth in all-time points at Upper Arlington, while Pete's other uncle, Chris, was an All-American at Notre Dame.

Coming away from the holiday, we're back at it with recaps from last month's IMLCA Players Summit, taking a closer look at some of the top lefty attackmen. Part II will also feature a plethora of lefties, including standouts from Long Island and Maryland, among other areas.