Six Who Shined From Hill School (PA) at St. Paul’s (MD)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Friday, PAISAA state title contender Hill School traveled down I-95 to Towson, Maryland for a game against MIAA powerhouse St. Paul' School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This contest was the season opener for Hill as well as St. Paul's and that was apparent early on as both teams looked rusty. But once the offenses started clicking, the goals came pouring in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Paul's freshman [player_tooltip player_id='175143' first='Jackson' last='Verner'] broke the ice with a rip from distance to give SPS a 1-0 lead. The teams then traded several tallies back and forth and in the blink of an eye, it was a 4-4 game. Hill grabbed a 5-4 lead right before halftime on a beautiful off-ball cut, catch, and shoot goal from attackman [player_tooltip player_id='121753' first='Leo' last='Gillette'] (Boston Univ.).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 3^rd quarter Hill received early goals from Gillette, freshman sensation [player_tooltip player_id='171511' first='Lach' last='Dumais'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='35704' first='Jace' last='Banks'] (Notre Dame) as the Blues pushed out to an 8-5 lead. Unfortunately, in the second half SPS never got any closer than three goals, and Hill took home the 11-7 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a review of the prospects who shined during the Hill School at St. Paul's game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Paul's School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["124001"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69acc65c7fe73"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Over the first and second quarter of this game, Ballenger was simply dominant at the face off dot as he went 8-for-10in 1^st half (unofficially). Ballenger used his fast hands and refined technique to consistently win clean clamps. He then exploded out of the face off area to create transition opportunities for St. Paul's. When things got chaotic at the dot, Ballenger demonstrated that he owns the tenacity and GB skills to track down the ball and then secure possession in a crowd. During this contest, Ballenger flashed the ability to run at SSDM too. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["120812"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69acc65c7fed7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">During the Crusaders loss to Hill, this Dartmouth commit displayed elite shooting skills as well as a quick burst and creative offensive instincts. Cook notched two goals in this game and both were remarkable individual efforts. On his first goal, Cook dodged going right, rolled back to his left, made a quick burst into space, stopped, and then cranked one from 18 yards out. Cook's second tally came when he pushed down the right-hand alley, stopped on a dime five yards out from the cage, and then rolled back for a left-handed rocket that found the back of the net. Dartmouth landed a gem in this multi-skilled attack. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["175143"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":175169,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69acc65c7ff3b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Friday afternoon was one heck of debut for this highly touted freshman who started at attack, scored the first goal of the 2026 season for SPS and posted two goals overall. His first goal was a sidearm missile that came off smooth pick-n-pop action on the right wing. On his second goal, Verner pinged the low far corner with a right-handed sidearm rip from 14 yards out. In addition to his impressive shooting skills, Verner delivered several smart as well as timely passes in this game. The upside on this 2029 prospect is ridiculous. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hill School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["35704"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69acc65c7ff81"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Banks is committed to Notre Dame and on Friday it was easy to see why the Fighting Irish offered him. The trifecta of Banks' speed, ability to play with both hands and precise shooting made him impossible to stop. The hat trick he posted against St. Paul's was a perfect display of his versatility and skills. On the first goal, he initiated from top left, used a screen to gain separation and then ripped a lefty sidearm from 15 yards out into the top corner. On his second goal, Banks dodged up the hash from GLE, again used a screen to gain shooting space and then fired a right-handed jump shot into the net. His third goal came after Banks picked up a GB near midfield, raced down the left sideline, dipped underneath a defender, raced to the middle of the field, and then put the ball in the back of the net as he dove across the crease.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["17220"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69acc65c7ffc2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Crowe was a rock steady defensive presence for Hill School in this win. This athletic and high IQ pole with polished footwork provided menacing on-ball pressure for Hill's defense. Crowe frequently pressed out on ball carriers and then caused turnover with his heavy stick checks and pokes. The even more impressive part of Crowe's efforts on Friday was his ability to snare GBs in traffic and then clear the ball himself. On two separate occasions, Crowe used nifty toe drags to elude SPS defenders and then make his way up the field. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["121753"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69acc65c80001"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gillette got his 2026 season started with an attention grabbing 4-goal effort in this win. The most impressive goal of the day by Gillette (Boston Univ.) came when he cut through the middle of the SPS defense, caught a timely pass from [player_tooltip player_id='129780' first='Sullivan' last='Keith'] and then quickly ripped a lefty sidearm into the net. Gillette also impressed with his quick burst and shooting skills on a 4^th quarter goal where he initiated from X and then pumped a right-handed shot into the net just as he crossed GLE. Gillette's high lacrosse IQ was on display all afternoon too.    </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->