Late September Check In: Pennsylvania Prospect News and Notes

Below are a few news and notes regarding prospects from Pennsylvania that occurred over the last two weeks of September.    Much is a two-way midfielder who has been a key piece for a Radnor program that advanced to the PIAA 3A state championship game in 2025 and 2026. Late last week, Much announced that after graduation, he will take his skills and winning pedigree to Mercer University. Much is a gritty SSDM who owns smooth lateral footwork and an active stick. Those assets, combined with his non-stop motor, enable Much to serve as a tenacious on-ball defender. His ability to cause turnovers with stick checks, lifts, and crowbars is remarkable. Much's incredible scoop and go skills consistently produce transition scoring chances for his team. During his standout junior season, Much proved he could operate as an O-mid in settled action too. Much is especially effective when he initiates from the wing, executes a cutback, and then dips underneath his defender for a charge to the net. Much has also demonstrated that he can sweep across an opposing defense and then fire from long range while on the move. The Bears' coaching staff will love that Much is an extremely effective face-off wing, too.     Over the summer, this immensely talented Canadian prospect transferred from Christchurch School in Virginia to Westtown School. During his junior season at CCS, O'Halloran posted 30 goals and 12 assists. O'Halloran owns significant box lacrosse experience. Those indoor games helped O'Halloran develop elite finishing skills, the ability to operate in tight spaces, and an incredible off-ball skill set. O'Halloran excels at initiating from the wing or corner, then slipping under his defender for a dash to the net. This senior also has a knack for taking turnovers as well as ground balls and swiftly converting them into unsettled goals. O'Halloran's swift release and precise aim make him a lethal shooter from GLE.   Additionally, O'Halloran is a master off-ball operator. His ability to cut or drift into space around the crease, catch a pass in traffic, and then deposit the ball into the net is remarkable. The combination of O'Halloran's field vision and feathery touch makes him a creative distributor too. O'Halloran is committed to Division II powerhouse Lenoir-Rhyne.     One of the top offensive weapons in the Philadelphia Catholic League recently committed to Air Force. Last spring, Strid posted 41 goals to go along with 25 assists and was named a 2nd Team All-Catholic League selection. With his speed, long wingspan, physicality, and polished stick skills, Strid is impossible to stop 1v1. This lefty can initiate from anywhere in the offensive end and then cook his defender to generate scoring opportunities for himself or teammates. Strid's cutback capabilities and spin moves allow him to elude slide defenders and create scoring chances in close. The Air Force coaching staff will be impressed with Strid's ability to operate at X. From behind the net, Strid can shake his man and then dash around the corner for a goal or patiently survey the opposing defense and then feed cutting teammates. Strid's power and precise aim make him a feared step-down shooter, too.     Back in June, this Notre Dame signee and All-State midfielder helped push La Salle to the PIAA 3A state title. Here in September, Van Bastelaar added another piece of hardware to the trophy case after he scored the winning goal for Team USA's U19 squad during their Brogden Cup championship game victory over Canada. On that game-winner, Van Bastelaar streaked in from the faceoff wing, vacuumed up a ground ball, dashed through traffic on his way to the cage, and then snapped an overhand shot into the net. The stellar individual effort by Van Bastelaar gave Team USA an 8-7 lead with just seconds remaining in the contest. In addition to being a serious scoring threat in unsettled action, Van Bastelaar presents match-up issues in 6v6 scenarios too. Van Bastelaar's ability to explode down the alley, separate from his defender, and then score or distribute on the run is impressive. His deep bag of shifty moves combined with his elusive stick maneuvers allows Van Bastelaar to carry the ball deep into the offensive end for finishes in close.    Other News & Notes:   Cornell struck gold with Pennsylvania's Class of 2028   During Week 1 of the contact period, the Big Red coaching staff received a commitment from 6-foot-4 midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='135013' first='Trent' last='Tremblay'] of the Perkiomen School. This was a sneaky fantastic get by Cornell as Tremblay's speed, ability to run through contact and elite shooting skills make him a serious scoring threat while on the run. Additionally, Tremblay is a powerful and highly accurate step-down shooter.   Then this past week, Cornell added [player_tooltip player_id='213031' first='Nate' last='Fletcher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='142308' first='Chase' last='Fletcher'] from Manheim Township. Nate is an athletic and speedy short stick who supplies suffocating on-ball pressure. His scoop-and-go abilities are impressive too. Meanwhile, Chase is an electric offensive prospect who posted 61 goals to go along with 25 assists and 50 ground balls last spring. Chase's explosive first step and serious shake make him impossible to defend 1v1. These two Fletcher brothers (two in a set of triplets) were key pieces on Manheim Township's 2026 District 3 3A title team.

Below are a few news and notes regarding prospects from Pennsylvania that occurred over the last two weeks of September.