Rochester 2028s: Up-and-Coming Midfielders on Our Radar

As always, there's an abundance of talent coming out of Section 5 in Rochester. While we've already covered names like Hilton's [player_tooltip player_id='166666' first='Drew' last='Brien'] and [player_tooltip player_id='201310' first='Lucas' last='Grizzanti'] and [player_tooltip player_id='201593' first='Lucas' last='Estelle'] of Webster Thomas, these five are also worth of being highlighted after picking up accolades as sophomores.    An honorable mention All-League selection, Condon took another step forward as a sophomore, racking up 20 goals and 16 assists along with 26 groundballs and continuing to polish his all-around game. He sets up his dodges with an excellent first step and has the versatility to score in a number of different ways, even making things happen when inverting behind the cage. Condon's feet are always moving without the ball, and he does a really nice job as a savvy cutter to create opportunities for himself, so he doesn't necessarily need the ball much in order to be successful. In addition, he's far from a liability when caught on defense and can even cause disruption and frustration. Watching him this summer, it was clear that he developed tremendously in that area, as well as the confidence he gained when dodging with his left hand.     Among the top SSDM prospects in New York, Nicolay was also wildly productive on the offensive end as a sophomore, earning Second Team All-League honors after posting 23 goals and 30 assists. Defensively, he possesses the athleticism and footwork to run with just about anyone. Nicolay plays with physicality and punch, constantly knocking opposing dodgers off their line, and I've been particularly impressed by his ability to defend long dodges out of the box, preventing guys from getting anywhere close to where they want to go. A tough two-way midfielder and a menace on some downright nasty contested groundballs this summer, he's also able to get from one restraining line to the other in a hurry once he makes a stop on the defensive end. I really liked what I saw from him throughout June and July, including an All-Star campaign at Main Stage.     A two-time HM selection who now has 36 goals in his two years on varsity, Pavone scored some big goals against several of the tougher teams on Penfield's schedule this year. He's a fundamentally sound shooter, capable of getting his hands free with both a three-quarters and straight over-the-top release, and does a terrific job of hiding his stick head behind his ear. His size and ability as a long-range bomber make him a difficult matchup for short-stick defenders, while he's also rock-solid off the ball and productive off the catch. Moving forward, I'd like to see him continue developing as a feeder after drawing the eyes of the defense, but otherwise, there's a lot to like about his game.     Though unassuming at 5'7" and around 150 pounds, Provenzano is a hard-nosed kid who can take a beating and keep chugging. Beyond that, he does a nice job of actually using his lack of height to his advantage, dipping underneath defenders' checks and making them miss. Opportunistic and constantly putting himself in position to finish plays, Provenzano showed flashes as a dodger, attacking the alleys hard and getting downhill to score on the run. He ultimately finished with 29 goals and nine assists as a sophomore, routinely slipping underneath defenses and scoring with defenders draped all over him. It's clear that he's become increasingly comfortable with his off-hand, and I'll be curious to see how much further he can take his game moving forward.     Yet another HM selection, Snyder earned a spot on the Blue Devils' first midfield line and began playing some of his best lacrosse toward the end of the year, which is all you could ask from a sophomore. Helping bolster one of upstate New York's most consistent programs over the last decade, he racked up 17 goals and 16 assists for the state finalists. Snyder is a very good athlete whose best lacrosse is still ahead of him, possessing good shake, strong deception, and excellent skills. He's more than capable as a passer and has a knack for getting to his spots, often finding his way back to the middle. Snyder shoots well on the run, with his feet set, and off the catch via a jumper, while also beginning to show flashes with his off-hand as a sophomore. He'll help form a strong returning offensive core for Victor and looks poised for an even bigger junior season.

As always, there's an abundance of talent coming out of Section 5 in Rochester. While we've already covered names like Hilton's Drew Brien Drew Brien 5'10" | 145 lbs | M/A | Right Hand Hilton | 2028 NY and Lucas Grizzanti Lucas Grizzanti 5'7" | A Hilton | 2028 NY and Lucas Estelle Lucas Estelle 5'10" | M/A | Right Hand Webster-Thomas | 2028 NY of Webster Thomas, these five are also worth of being highlighted after picking up accolades as sophomores.