The sophomore offensive weapon was the star of the game, more specifically, the second quarter. The sophomore went on a ten-minute tear with five goals, then came back late in the third and finished a behind-the-back look to finish with a sock trick. Once Good Counsel shifted into zone, Kelly turned into the pressure point they couldn’t solve. He operated from that high-crease pocket—sitting just behind the top line of defenders, but high enough that the low guys didn’t want to stretch up to get their sticks on him. That spacing mattered, but the bigger issue was his release. When Calvert Hall kicked it inside, Kelly barely cradled; it was on and off his stick in a blink. One of the best examples was his third goal: an underhand finish that climbed high before the goalie could react. After that, he varied the levels—two more that went low-to-low —and you could see the goalie was left frozen with confusion.

Kelly was already trending this way after a strong freshman year, and he was a player I, along with many college coaches, kept circling with FCA Maryland in the fall. If this scrimmage is a preview, he’s going to be a major reason Calvert Hall’s offense stays efficient against both man-to-man and zone looks this spring.

With returning starter and current Richmond freshman Mark Botek sidelined by injury early in the season, Kelly was thrust into the starting lineup in March. He finished with 17 goals and 21 assists, seamlessly meshing with his linemates and letting the game come to him. An excellent shooter from range who also displayed soft hands inside, Kelly consistently knew when to press his matchup and when to move the ball, getting it out of his stick quickly and decisively. He’s especially effective at drawing defensive attention and finding the open man, and he’s a constant factor on the EMO and in the riding game. The type of player who doesn’t need the ball to be successful, Kelly is nonetheless likely to be asked to shoulder a much larger load in 2026 after the Cardinals graduated much of their offensive contributors. Among the 2028 class, his lacrosse IQ is as good as it gets.