Depth, Defense, and DuFour: St. John’s Outclasses IMG, 10-5

Friday's matchup between IMG Academy (Fla.) and St. John's College (D.C.) at Quinn Field felt more like a May showdown than an early-season tune-up. There was college-level talent all over the field, and the student section was rowdy enough that officials had to remind them to keep it clean. St. John's came in with plenty of hype and backed it up from the opening whistle, while IMG's loaded roster never quite found answers at the faceoff X or on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='129982' first='Coby' last='Cantor'] went 12-for-17 at the X to tilt possession, and goalie Ryan Inzer chipped in at least seven saves to slam the door on a dangerous IMG offense. The Cadets' defense looked stout, their transition game stressed IMG early with a first-quarter strike from short-stick defensive midfielder Ryan Archer, and their settled offense spread the wealth — seven different scorers, seven assisted goals. Here's a closer look at who stood out on Friday.    If it were up to me, Brendan DuFour would've earned Player of the Game honors for his performance against IMG Academy on Friday. The Bucknell commit put together a complete effort, finishing with a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVli3Oqjpp0/" id="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVli3Oqjpp0/">hat trick</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVmOXJSRKtA/" id="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVmOXJSRKtA/">an assist</a> while consistently generating offense for St. John's. DuFour makes life difficult for defenses in several ways. He's exceptional at initiating from up top — accelerating downhill with a full head of steam and using his agility to slip past checks. Even when slides arrive on time, his quickness makes it tough for defenders to take clean angles.   If I were a defensive coordinator game-planning for SJC, I'd seriously consider putting a pole on him and committing to a hard double when he gets hot. The risk, however, is that he processes the game quickly — capable of skipping passes through the defense or moving the ball fast enough to force rotations and open looks elsewhere. Friday's performance should make opposing defenses rethink how they approach him. DuFour's game has him trending toward All-WCAC consideration — and if he keeps this pace, a first or second team selection wouldn't be a surprise after earning honorable mention last year.     [player_tooltip player_id='175183' first='Mac' last='Cronin'] deserves serious attention for his play on Friday. While IMG's offense made some impressive plays with him involved, the Navy commit delivered far more positives than negatives. The first thing that jumps out about Cronin's game is his ability to ignite transition. St. John's defense as a whole — poles and short sticks alike — plays a style reminiscent of Brown's 2016 high-tempo, push-transition group. They're confident with the ball, get it upfield quickly, and put pressure on opposing defenses to defend early offense. Along with Jayden James, Cronin is right at the heart of that identity. Just two minutes into the game, he goosed a loose ball forward, pushed the tempo, and crashed the crease to draw attention — creating space for defensive midfielder Ryan Archer to cut and finish the opening goal.   Defensively, Cronin was equally impressive. His pressure coverage and stick timing forced multiple turnovers — I counted at least three. Whether defending [player_tooltip player_id='141919' first='Cole' last='Sovie'] from up top or behind the cage, Cronin consistently played on hands, worked through picks, and dictated matchups. In man-down situations, he played “big,” helping stall rotations and buy time for the rest of the defense. Cronin's two-way impact — combining pace, poise, and physicality — has quickly become a key part of what makes this SJC unit dangerous.     [player_tooltip player_id='129982' first='Coby' last='Cantor'] deserves recognition for the way he controlled possession for St. John's against IMG on Friday. The junior went 12-for-17 at the faceoff X against tough competition in High Point commit [player_tooltip player_id='21777' first='Zander' last='Brasher'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='166675' first='Holden' last='Carlson'], setting the tone for the Cadets throughout the day.   Cantor's performance was an example of what college programs look for in a gritty face-off specialist. At the next level, it's rare to dominate every matchup — success often comes down to technique, stick skills, and efficiency in 50/50 situations. Cantor showed all of that Friday: he battled through tie-ups, handled the ball cleanly, and came away with critical ground balls when possessions hung in the balance. What stood out most was his ability to exit effectively after prolonged tie-ups, especially when he only had around 51% control of the ball. That poise and persistence reflect real growth since his summer evaluation. His steady development and confidence at the X make him a cornerstone piece for St. John's this spring — and with the schedule the Cadets face, he'll have plenty of chances to prove how good he is.     Eddie Chi made his presence felt with and without the ball against IMG on Friday. Just two minutes into the game, the lefty attackman assisted Ryan Archer on a slow break, setting the tone for St. John's ball movement and tempo. If defenses don't pressure Chi behind the cage, he'll carve them up with his vision and pinpoint passing. With the ball in his stick, Chi is elusive and shifty enough to leave defenders behind. His first goal came late in the third quarter, early in the shot clock, on a sequence that perfectly captured his lacrosse IQ. Seeing his defender hung near GLE, Chi baited help by dodging toward the adjacent defender, then rolled back, attacked a tough approach, dropped his hands to freeze the goalie low, and finished high with almost no angle. It was an example of how he manipulates defenders with subtle changes in his posture and executes plays with his quickness and deception.   His second goal highlighted his off-ball awareness. When his defender shaded to support a high dodge, Chi drifted into a blind spot between the two slides, caught a skip pass, and released instantly — staying on the same plane and firing far-high before the defense could recover. Chi's game is full of those quiet, high-level details that show up more clearly on a slow replay.     I've seen [player_tooltip player_id='123639' first='Moe' last='Sobel'] live plenty of times since last summer, and he continues to live up to his reputation as the best goalie in the 2027 class. The Syracuse commit has everything you look for in a high-impact netminder: size, anticipation, and consistency under pressure. To be considered an elite goalie, you have to bring more than just shot-stopping ability, and Sobel absolutely does. Despite allowing 10 goals against a relentless St. John's offense, I had him credited with 13 saves, many of them high-difficulty stops. The goals that did get by him came off quality chances — free step-downs, screens, pipe-to-pipe movement, or deceptive finishes. Against goalies like Sobel, those are the only types of shots that go in; everything else he swallows up cleanly.   What separates Sobel from most goalies his age is his complete command of the position. He anticipates feeds before they happen, routinely picking off passes near the crease, and he plays an assertive, high arc that maximizes his frame. Some might label him a “flopper” at first glance, but that doesn't fit — even when he drops to his knees, his length allows him to stay tall, shoot his hands high, and take away the upper corners. Sobel is a must-see prospect. Regardless of how well his defense plays in front of him, he finds ways to impress. His intangible qualities that you can't teach make him a cornerstone of Syracuse's future and the premier goalie in the 2027 class.

Friday's matchup between IMG Academy (Fla.) and St. John's College (D.C.) at Quinn Field felt more like a May showdown than an early-season tune-up. There was college-level talent all over the field, and the student section was rowdy enough that officials had to remind them to keep it clean. St. John's came in with plenty of hype and backed it up from the opening whistle, while IMG's loaded roster never quite found answers at the faceoff X or on the defensive end. Coby Cantor Coby Cantor 5'8" | FO St. John's College | 2027 went 12-for-17 at the X to tilt possession, and goalie Ryan Inzer chipped in at least seven saves to slam the door on a dangerous IMG offense. The Cadets' defense looked stout, their transition game stressed IMG early with a first-quarter strike from short-stick defensive midfielder Ryan Archer, and their settled offense spread the wealth — seven different scorers, seven assisted goals. Here's a closer look at who stood out on Friday.