From the West to the NESCAC: Potential ‘27 Class Needle-Movers

For as long as I can remember, programs in the NESCAC — the New England Small College Athletic Conference — have ventured west each summer to stockpile talent, and this cycle was no different.   Whether it was three-time defending national champion Tufts, perennial powerhouse Bowdoin, or longtime contender Amherst, the conference's top programs once again dipped into the fertile recruiting grounds of the West Coast to land some of the top prospects in their respective classes. In this piece, we take a look at seven standouts from out West who committed to NESCAC schools, with more inevitably coming in the days and weeks ahead.    It's easy to see why Tufts was drawn to Armstrong, given his combination of size, skill, and shooting ability. It's a bear of a task to keep him from getting his, as he soaks checks on his way to the cage and can make noteworthy plays even with multiple defenders draped all over him. Armstrong is someone who must be accounted for at all times: he's plenty dangerous without the ball in his stick and is constantly back-dooring the opposition when they lose track of him. He may not be a burner per se, but he's consistent in getting to his sweet spots as a dodger, then finishing appropriately. As a shooter, Armstrong has a pretty over-the-top release and has a knack for stretching defenses with his exceptional range. In addition, he rides with purpose, too.     Among my favorite Division III recruits in this cycle, Gest has the kind of skill set that should allow him to compete for meaningful minutes from Day 1, even on a roster as talent-laden as Bowdoin's. A Scottsdale resident who was on Georgetown Prep's roster as a freshman, Gest was named First Team All-State in Arizona this spring, posting 63 goals and 68 assists as a junior. In addition, he racked up 28 caused turnovers, a number that a lot of longpoles would be content with and one that speaks to the well-roundedness of his game. A multi-tool offensive weapon who is undoubtedly one of the more two-handed '27s out West, he's so hard to defend in part because of how dangerous he is with either hand, along with his athleticism. Gest is confident creating offense from anywhere on the field, beating his man off the dodge with regularity and doing so in a multitude of ways. His shot is a thing of beauty, and he's highly productive off the catch, receiving passes while in the loaded position and putting shots where goalies aren't.     Another physically imposing NESCAC-bound recruit from Cali, Johnson is coming off a junior season in which he posted 46 goals and 20 assists, finishing second on the team with 66 points. At his best on the righty wing, his hammer of a shot is one of the marquee pieces of his game, as he often utilizes a pretty three-quarters release. Johnson is also excellent in terms of knowing how to use his size to his advantage and has displayed a willingness to put his shoulder down, both as a dodger and in the riding game. While he isn't going to frequently beat his man with a speed dodge, he has above-average footwork to work his way through opposing defenses before getting off quality shots. Johnson's off-ball ability allows defenses to lose track of him at a high frequency, and when surrounded by talented initiators at Amherst, I could see him continuing to find himself involved at the end of scoring plays.     Tufts has had several outstanding SSDMs help fuel its championship pedigree over the years, and this NorCal native looks poised to strengthen the Jumbos' rope unit in the future. Watch Landry defend on-ball, and you'll quickly notice a player who clearly loves the position and consistently plays bigger and more physical than his frame suggests. He routinely prevents opposing dodgers from getting to their spots, mixing in well-timed crowbars and often rag-dolling midfielders to the turf. When offenses try to drag him behind the cage and attack around GLE, he holds up exceptionally well, forcing ball-carriers to move the ball elsewhere. His relentless compete level and nasty disposition are evident on every possession, while his elite footwork provides the foundation for his lockdown short-stick defense. He's every bit as disruptive as a longpole, with a knack for stripping his matchup and immediately turning defense into transition opportunities.     A key cog who put up 38 goals and 14 assists for a wildly talented Marin Catholic squad this spring, Murdick was very much a top priority for the Jumbos, from what I gather. A constant threat to put his man on skates, Murdick never fails to win his matchups, possessing a superb first step along with the ability to then kick things into another gear. He has nifty stick work and is highly dangerous with either hand, which makes him that much more difficult a player to cover. Quite frankly, he plays with a different level of energy and athleticism from the lion's share of the players that he shares a field with, changing directions on a dime at an elite level. Oh, and his spring highlight reel even includes face-off wins to himself against regionally ranked squads, along with many Instagram-worthy offensive highlights. That's all to say that he checks a ton of boxes and looks destined to be a player bound to be a problem for NESCAC defenses for years to come.     A physical specimen who stands 6-foot-3 and 200-plus pounds, O'Donovan is always on the gloves of opponents and plays a downright nasty brand of defense that will be welcomed in a Division III conference full of elite attackmen. He lays the boom when necessary but doesn't get himself in trouble, closes out in timely and impactful fashion, and consistently pushes his man off their line when they're attempting to go at him. With his big and sturdy frame, O'Donovan doesn't budge around GLE and imposes his will on attackmen of all sizes and skill sets, though he's at his best when going against bigger goal-scorers. In addition, the San Diego product moves deceptively nimbly for his size in the clearing game and has above-average stick skills that make him an asset in that area of the game.     Smooth as butter, Sullivan is a left-handed X attackman who can fill up a stat sheet in a hurry, but does so with style. Posting 46 goals and 16 assists in 10 regular season games, he's elusive with the ball in his stick and has exceptional body control, artfully dodging through defenses before getting his hands free. When he does, he only needs a sliver of net, and Sullivan's clearly frustrating to cover given how consistently productive he is even when he's covered well. Doing the majority of his damage when initiating from behind the cage, he can put pressure on the opposition when initiating with either hand, and he's got a beautiful release that's tough for goalies to pick up. Blessed with remarkable hands, he's plenty dangerous off the catch and doesn't necessarily need the ball in his stick a ton in order to put up points. Sullivan was a Maverik Showtime All-Star this summer, and from what I heard coming away from the event, his campaign in Tinton Falls helped the talented Oregon native become one of the more coveted NESCAC recruits of the cycle.

For as long as I can remember, programs in the NESCAC — the New England Small College Athletic Conference — have ventured west each summer to stockpile talent, and this cycle was no different.