Maryland’s Best: 2028 Defenders

Maryland continues to produce some of the best defensive talent in the country, and the Class of 2028 is no exception. These five defenders stood out throughout the summer with their physicality, athleticism, and ability to make an impact beyond the defensive end.    Wright is one of the most complete players in this group and has the versatility to impact nearly every area of the field. Defensively, she brings tremendous strength and aggression to 1v1 matchups, battles relentlessly for ground balls, and frequently gets her stick on feeds intended for cutters. Once she gains possession, Wright immediately becomes an offensive threat. She can power through pressure during clears, take the ball coast to coast, and finish when a fast break opportunity presents itself. She also contributes on the draw and has the skill to dodge, shoot, and even pull out a jump shot offensively. Wright has all the tools to develop into an outstanding two-way or defensive midfielder at the college level.     Macon's speed and physicality immediately separate her from other defenders. She applies relentless pressure in 1v1 situations and has the athleticism to recover and run down ball carriers when they appear to have a step. Where she becomes especially dangerous is in transition. Macon can turn a defensive stop into a fast break almost instantly, using her speed, stick protection, and ability to carry through pressure to push the ball upfield. Her ability to create offense from the defensive end makes her an intriguing defensive midfield option at the next level.     Kelly is a gritty, athletic playmaker whose impact extends far beyond defense. She combines speed, physicality, and a high lacrosse IQ, making her extremely effective at tracking down ball carriers, winning ground balls, and creating turnovers. Once Kelly gets possession, she is off to the races and can quickly turn a defensive play into transition offense. She is also dangerous on the draw and has the dodging and finishing ability to contribute consistently around the cage. Kelly sees the field well and can find open teammates both in transition and settled offense. With her ability to defend at a high level while also creating offense, she has the tools to become an impactful two-way midfielder at the college level.     Glenn is a disruptive shutdown defender who consistently makes things difficult for opposing attackers. The lefty has excellent footwork and does a great job keeping her stick up to take away passing lanes and challenge feeds. Her 1v1 defense is a major strength, but she is equally effective within a team defense, recognizing when to slide, double, or anticipate a pass. Glenn also makes herself available during clears and is quick and composed once the ball moves into transition. She is a smart, dependable defender with very few weaknesses in her game.     McDermott brings relentless defensive pressure and rarely gives an attacker an easy matchup. Her positioning and footwork allow her to stay in front of opponents, while her strength makes her extremely difficult to beat around the crease. She is constantly looking for opportunities to regain possession, whether that means getting into a passing lane, challenging a stick, knocking down a feed, or attacking a ground ball. McDermott also reads slides and doubles well and is quick to move the ball upfield once her team earns possession. Her combination of fundamentals, physicality, and effort makes her a consistent presence on the defensive end.

Maryland continues to produce some of the best defensive talent in the country, and the Class of 2028 is no exception. These five defenders stood out throughout the summer with their physicality, athleticism, and ability to make an impact beyond the defensive end.