East Coast 2029s Who Had a Breakout Summer

With September nearing, the class of 2029 will soon have the recruiting spotlight shifted their way. Here is a look at six standouts from the East Coast who impressed this summer.   <a href="https://events.prepgirlslacrosse.com/e/2439/register/elite-camp-southeast" data-type="link" data-id="https://events.prepgirlslacrosse.com/e/2439/register/elite-camp-southeast">Players who are interested in the PGL Elite Camp in December can register</a> <a href="https://events.prepgirlslacrosse.com/e/2439/register/elite-camp-southeast">here: https://events.prepgirlslacrosse.com/e/2439/register/elite-camp-southeast</a>   <a href="https://events.prepgirlslacrosse.com/e/2439/register/elite-camp-southeast" data-type="link" data-id="https://events.prepgirlslacrosse.com/e/2439/register/elite-camp-southeast">The PGL Elite Camp gives maximum exposure and visibility to players. </a>    An absolute workhorse of a two-way midfielder, [player_tooltip player_id='73210' first='Bella' last='Cappelli'] is going to be a highly sought-after recruit a year from now. She was one of the standout 2029s from the Top Threat Championship in New Jersey this summer. Regardless of whether she has to match step with a shifty dodger or body up against a bigger player, Cappelli is going to outclass her assignment in strength and physicality. Her power can be deceptive, not the first thing you notice, but it becomes apparent quickly when you watch her play. She forces a lot of turnovers with her tenacious style of play and has the athleticism to recover and maintain body positioning when she goes for the ball. Regularly provides those defense-to-offense coast-to-coast spark plays.     When you look at the class of 2029's best draw takers, the name Poppy Hamilton is sure to be near the top. A towering presence in the circle, Hamilton's self-draw has become nearly automatic. She has the quick wrists to initiate it, but her height and reach allow her to snatch the ball out of the air at spots her opponents cannot get to. She has complete control and owns the circle. Her versatility on the offensive end is one of her greatest attributes. She got a lot of run at attack this summer in addition to her midfield and draw responsibilities. She excels as a quarterback at "X" with elite athleticism and is proven both as a scorer and a feeder. She has all the tools to be a force at the next level.     This is confidently one of the fastest players in the Class of 2029. Sophia Varlotta, an M&D product from Cooksville, Maryland, has devastating speed and plays at such a quick pace that defenses have had no answer for her all summer. Named the New Balance All-American MVP for the 2029 division, Varlotta is bouncy in her dodging style, and paired with her explosive burst, she is a true burner who can turn on the jets and get to the cage. Her innate ability to draw contact makes up for any doubts about her current size. She dictates the pace of play with her speed and should be a highly recruited prospect when the 2029 window opens.     [player_tooltip player_id='71278' first='Lilyana' last='Dilts'] has all the tools to excel at the next level, but it is her lacrosse IQ that repeatedly stood out this summer as one of her strongest attributes. An exceptional playmaker away from the ball, she generates scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates with her off-ball play. She sets hard, clean picks in the two-man game and does a nice job of exposing flat-footed defenders with hard backdoor cuts for easy looks at the cage. Dilts is a standout draw taker as well, physically strong in the circle and capable of dictating the direction and placement of the ball at will. One of the more underrated prospects in the class, Dilts is primed for a breakout year at The Hill School.     From Washington DC, Charlotte Bracewell is a defensive eraser. She plays big despite a smaller frame, using well-timed checks to poke the ball free and timely slides to eliminate angles and take pressure off her goalkeeper. Her defensive work inside the eight-meter arc was among the best seen this summer. She matched up against players half a foot taller and eliminated them from the offensive set. Exceptional in the clearing game as well, Bracewell turns defensive stops into offensive opportunities in a hurry, handling pressure situations with confidence and composure. She is among the top defenders in her class and should be high on the board of any coach in search of a true lockdown.     The lefty from Darien, Connecticut, has cemented herself as one of the class's top netminders. Spellman plays with an unshakable confidence, calm and collected between the pipes. She sees the ball well out of the stick and has the quick hands to alter any shot. She plays with a wide stance that does not sacrifice vertical ability but allows her to get her hands low in a hurry to stop bouncers and wormburners. She stays squared to shooters at all times and does a nice job of using her taller frame to step up and meet driving attackers. She gets a lot of deflections off her stick and body, and even when she does not get a clean save on the first attempt, she stays with the play through extended offensive sets.

With September nearing, the class of 2029 will soon have the recruiting spotlight shifted their way. Here is a look at six standouts from the East Coast who impressed this summer.