2027 Recruiting Preview: Laxachusetts Defenders

For years, the Laxachusetts program has produced blue-chip defensive talent, and the top-ranked Class of 2027 group is no different, full of LSMs and close defenders worthy of high Division I looks. Let's take a look at five of LXC's defensive difference-makers sure to be busy come September:    To put it in simple terms, Czepiel checks so many boxes, which is why he's considered to be among the crown jewels of the entire defensive class. Whether playing down low or at LSM, he can impact a game in numerous ways. A whirling dervish of a pole who perpetually plays with a high level of energy, he's got fancy takeaway checks but is precise about when he throws them. Czepiel is great as a defensive organizer and interior defender, playing angles impeccably well. His feet are excellent, as is his stick work, and he's never not making life difficult for the opposition as he did all year in the ISL. Count on the top ACC's and Ivies making Czepiel a priority.     A gritty left-hander who also excels as a linebacker during the fall, Kitsos is a physical specimen who never hesitates to make his presence felt. He's beyond proven as a cover defender in one of the nation's top leagues, having earned HM recognition each of the last two seasons. Laying punishing checks and playing excellent position defense, Kitsos tends to bully his matchups to the point that they don't want to dodge him. He's capable with the ball in his stick and impacts the middle of the field and 10-man ride, though he projects down low at the next level.     Quite frankly, I did not see a close defender pick up more groundballs in a game all summer than LiVigni in a Friday contest at the NLF Championships. He also routinely snags balls out of the air, a testament to his instincts and stick skills as well as his lacrosse IQ, which is off-the-charts. LiVigni is fundamentally sound in every sense: each approach is on-point and his stick is always in the right position. Primarily playing longstick middie in the spring, he's all over the gloves and stays right on the hip looking to play sound position defense or cause disruption with a precise check. LiVigni is incredibly steady across the board and will be a hot commodity for the Ivies and other high academics.     Another All-ISL honorable mention selection, McMullen is one of the more athletic long poles in the entire class and racked up 12 points, 72 groundballs, and 31 caused turnovers as a sophomore. He possesses speed for days and pairs that with a nonstop motor to compensate for a lack of prototypical size. His stick is one of his best qualities, as he's smooth off the turf and has a great handle when evading opponents. McMullen is elusive in the open field and has a knack for sniffing out the ball and stacking up highly impactful plays.     Even on a roster that had five poles committed to Patriot League, ACC, and Ivy League schools, Weston found a way to make an impact consistently, which speaks volumes about what he's capable of. He's money off the wings and with the ball in his stick, and although he's far from the biggest, he can absolutely hammer the ball in transition. In addition, Weston seldom fails to initiate contact and is just as likely to lay a big hit as he is to catch a dodger slipping with a precise check to jar the ball loose. Bound to receive plenty of calls come September, he plays an excitable style and is a tenacious competitor.

For years, the Laxachusetts program has produced blue-chip defensive talent, and the top-ranked Class of 2027 group is no different, full of LSMs and close defenders worthy of high Division I looks. Let's take a look at five of LXC's defensive difference-makers sure to be busy come September: