Sharpshooters: ’27 and ’28 Offensive Weapons to Watch

The next generation of lacrosse athletes is redefining what it means to be a sharpshooter. This group of players from the 2027 and 2028 classes is the next group of offensive powerhouses you'll see on an ESPN Top 10 plays of the week feature in the near future.    Ranked No. 4 in the class of 2027, this attacker comes from a rising hotbed for lacrosse: Colorado. Bigelow is often found up top or on the wing, making her a multidimensional character. Not only is Bigelow a dynamic dodger, but she can get a shot off from any spot on the field. This will make her a lethal addition to the UNC squad in the coming years. She has the ability to read a defense and react, a skill often lacking even at the collegiate level. Another valuable asset to Bigelow's game is her creativity. She keeps the defense on their toes with her seemingly endless arsenal of dodges, shots, and placements.       Pisano is the definition of small but mighty. The pure goal scorer sits at only 5'3, but attacks the middle with speed and shoots with serious power. On top of this, Pisano is a rare commodity as she is a pure lefty. What stands out about Pisano is her consistent ability to make space for herself and shoot from range if needed. She is quick, shifty, and will be gone before her defender even realizes she was there in the first place. Let's just say, Pisano is ranked in the top 5 for a reason.      This lefty attacker is a little different. Shouldberg is elite in the assists category. She can pass any of her teammates wide open in tight spaces that are seemingly impossible to the standard eye. This aspect of her game shows up in the scouting report, but what gets left out is her ability to score. Defenders play with the knowledge of her feeding ability, opening up lanes for Shouldberg to take it to the net, and she'll make them pay for it. Shouldberg is a versatile player who can do it all from the lefty X position for her team at the next level.     A rising star, no doubt, Carcaterra can be considered a household name, and she hasn't even reached the college level yet. She sits atop her class's rankings at No. 1 and for good reason. Carcaterra is clearly a natural scorer with an instinct for the back of the net. She plays confidently around the crease with high-level shot selections and composure in tight games and spaces. Carcaterra is bound to be a name that we will hear more and more of each year.     While labeled a midfielder, Sparano has a nose for the goal. She is strong and fast and wants to push the pace of any game she is a part of. She is a downhill dodger with the skills to separate from defenders to get a high-quality shot off. Sparano is on the National Watch list for her class, but it would be no shock if she jumps up in the rankings as her strength and speed increase in the next few years.

The next generation of lacrosse athletes is redefining what it means to be a sharpshooter. This group of players from the 2027 and 2028 classes is the next group of offensive powerhouses you'll see on an ESPN Top 10 plays of the week feature in the near future.