One of the top poles in the region is off the board, as this past Saturday, Panagopoulos committed to Yale. That announcement by Panagopoulos means that the Bulldogs coaching staff has landed a disruptive defensive force for their 2028 class. Panagopoulos is an athletic, fast, and rangy LSM / close defender with an extremely aggressive style. Panagopoulos has mastered the art of arriving early to ball carriers and then dictating play with powerful stick checks or his physicality. He can also pursue ball carriers on the perimeter for extended stretches and then create turnovers via slaps, lifts, overheads, pokes, and can openers. Once the ball hits the turf, Panagopoulos will vacuum up the GB and then jump start a fast break chance with his speed. His polished stick skills enable Panagopoulos to push the ball deep into the offensive end for a goal or an assist. Panagopoulos is a high IQ pole with an extraordinary feel for when to come off his man and deliver a trail check that causes the ball carrier to cough up the rock.   

Steve Panagopoulos Steve Panagopoulos 5'11" | 180 lbs | D/LSM | Right Hand The Lawrenceville School | 2028 #51 Nation NJ is a defenseman who constantly outworks his opponents through his physicality and high motor. Panagopoulos’ stick skills and athleticism set him apart from other defenders, highlighting his strong playmaking and elite clear. A Long Island native, his tenacity and effort every second of the game make him very effective as an off-ball defender, staying constantly aware of his surroundings, ready to rotate, and take his matchup out of the play. This attacking mindset and physicality make him a great defender, as he constantly applies pressure and tires out his opponent. Furthermore, his competitiveness consistently puts him in a position to win groundballs.

A highly intelligent, physical defender, Panagopoulos wears multiple hats on the LI Express backline. Always in the right position, he’s a vocal and effective communicator, keeping teammates organized while staying man-conscious and directing traffic down low. Hard-hitting and hard-nosed, the Long Island native plays with controlled aggression, making his presence felt with punishing slap checks or disruptive body blows. While he may not be a freak athlete like some others covered in this article, he checks nearly every box on and off the ball—and his move to a program known for developing college-ready talent should help him take his game to the next level.

Simply put, this elite defenseman is a disruptive force on the lacrosse field. Panagopoulos is an athletic and rangy pole who can create turnovers via stick checks, lifts, overheads, pokes, can openers and of course by taking the body. He also has a habit of snagging ill-advised passes out of the air. Thanks to his crafty stick and tenacity, Panagopoulos is a ground ball machine too. Once the ball is in his possession, Panagopoulos will race into the offensive to create a scoring opportunity. His nifty stick maneuvers are an underrated part of Panagopoulos’s game. Panagopoulos owns a high IQ and excellent communication skills, so he is able navigate screens and stay connected to his defensive unit. College coaches will also love that Panagopoulos is a plus player in the clearing game.