Defense Deserves the Spotlight: Six Mid-Atlantic 2028s to Know

We released our <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/national/player-rankings/2028-mid-atlantic-region-rankings/" data-type="link" data-id="https://preplacrosse.com/national/player-rankings/2028-mid-atlantic-region-rankings/">2028 Mid-Atlantic Top 100 rankings</a> in mid-September. Now it's time to give the defensive side of the ball some attention. From close defenders and short-stick defensive midfielders to a goalie, here are six players from the rankings who deserve a closer look.    Georgetown stayed close to home and landed a versatile defender in Cowan, <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/09/beyond-the-top-100-my-favorite-september-commits-on-d-part-i/">who Ty Xanders also named one of his favorite September pickups outside the National Top 100</a>. He's a chameleon on the ball, knowing when to sit back and stay sound and when to jump a dodger. I watched him take on all kinds of ball carriers over the summer, and he held up against them all. I was especially impressed by how well he handled bigger, stronger, more physical dodgers. Cowan played mostly down low for Paul VI in the spring, but he has the qualities to play LSM, too. Opponents need to be aware of his takeaway ability: if a ball carrier slows down or leaves his stick exposed, Cowan will make him pay. Once the ball hits the turf, he's elusive under pressure and has the stick skills to handle and score with either hand in transition.     Getson could easily project as an offensive or two-way midfielder at the next level, but after watching him play SSDM at NHSLS, I'm putting him in the defensive category. One look at his stance and lateral movement tells you he has the tools to be a great short-stick defender. His feet stay active and independent of his hard cross-checks, so he can be physical without lunging at dodgers. That combination gives him lockdown potential. Wherever Lawrenceville uses him in the spring, Getson will be an excellent option on the face-off wing. He has the speed and physicality to win groundball battles consistently. His dodging and finishing ability would make him a top goal scorer at 99% of high schools, but L'ville is a different animal.     Drexel returned to the MIAA for a goalie and landed Gordon, who earned MSLCA Second Team All-State honors amid strong 2028 competition across the IAC and MIAA. I thought he finished the summer as well as anyone, helping lead Team Maryland to the championship game at the Nike All-Star Games. Gordon is a lefty with a wide stance. He'll flop at times, but when he's locked in on shooters, he's mostly calm and collected. You can count on him to keep his team in games because he consistently steals saves. He's explosive when matching sticks on shots inside, with the hand speed to get there, and he isn't afraid to close the five-hole with his feet. He doesn't always catch shots cleanly on the first touch, but he controls them well enough to secure the ball himself. From there, he gets it out quickly, plays well outside the cage, and throws a pretty outlet pass.     Devanney was one of the more highly touted players on the Sweetlax Carolina team. A North Carolina native, he transferred to Blue Ridge (Va.) and reclassified midyear, becoming one of its top cover defenders against a schedule that included several nationally known programs. His teams were comfortable leaving him on an island in both the spring and summer, and for good reason: he has the size, strength, and aggressive style to match up with all types of attackmen.   Devanney is comfortable using a V-hold against righties and heavy slaps against lefties. Either way, he makes his presence felt—literally. He's more of a bruiser on the ball, but once or twice a game, he'll show a level of elusiveness and athleticism that will make you say, "Oh, I didn't know you had that in you." Whether he's scooping up a groundball and toe-dragging past pressure or splitting a double-team, he can surprise you.     A rare New Hampshire native playing in the MIAA, Bolduc is heading back north after committing to Fairfield last month. A big, bruising pole, he's one of the more interesting defenders to evaluate in the class. He rotated through reps at LSM in the spring and is deceptively athletic. Rangier than he looks, he consistently makes his presence felt in the middle of the field. He isn't afraid to creep upfield in St. Mary's or 3d New England's nine-man ride and turn lazy outlets into turnovers. Bolduc also helped 3d New England at the face-off X this summer with Andrew Grosso sidelined by injury, and he held his own. He wasn't winning clamps, but he countered immediately, was a dog in the groundball battle, and left opposing face-off specialists battered. On offense, he handles his pole confidently with both hands and looks for shots from deep or inside. He'll stay involved until his coach calls him off, finding cuts and easy dunks off the ball. I wouldn't say Bolduc has the quickest feet in the class, but he's a bruiser. If his matchup thinks he can body up against him, he's barking up the wrong tree. Bolduc is aggressive on the hands and will bench-press his matchup to gain ground in a hurry. He's opportunistic off the ball, too, preying on dodgers who turn their backs and arriving with a hard slap or a physical slide to put the ball on the carpet.     A two-sport athlete and quarterback for the MKA football team, Wade showed off his athleticism throughout the summer. BBL used him as an SSDM, where his footwork stood out in on-ball matchups. He showed instincts off the ball, too, jumping passing lanes, though I'd like to see him improve his overall team defense. Wade was part of a BBL defense that pushed in transition as well as just about any club in the class. He's a legitimate scoring threat. Wade tallied 34 goals and six assists for MKA in the spring, and he can score off the dodge, off the catch, and inside, where he's willing to pay the price.

We released our 2028 Mid-Atlantic Top 100 rankings in mid-September. Now it's time to give the defensive side of the ball some attention. From close defenders and short-stick defensive midfielders to a goalie, here are six players from the rankings who deserve a closer look.