2028 Defenders: Standouts on the Rise

The Class of 2028 is loaded with defensive talent, and this group continued to stand out time and time again. These are five 2028 defenders who made their presence known and should continue to be names college coaches keep an eye on.   <a href="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">The PGL Elite Camp gives maximum exposure and visibility to players.</a>    The first thing that stood out about Dykes was just how impressive her stick protection and ball-handling skills are for a defender. When teams pressure her on the ride, she can weave through traffic and protect her stick like it is a walk in the park. That makes her extremely valuable in the clear because she is a defender you can trust to gain possession and safely transition the ball upfield. Defensively, Dykes is physical, strong, and relentless. She excels 1v1, has great positioning, and is a ground ball machine who never gives up on a play. She keeps her head on a swivel, recognizes when to slide, and plays with an impressive understanding of what is happening around her. Dykes is not afraid to use her strength either and can absolutely body an opponent within legal parameters. Her combination of physicality, defensive IQ, hustle, and stick skills made her one of the best defensive standouts I saw this summer.     Mielke is a natural defender, and her passion and work ethic show in the way she competes on every possession. Her footwork and body positioning are phenomenal, especially when she is matched up against talented dodgers. An attacker can throw multiple moves at her and seemingly do everything right, yet Mielke still finds a way to stay in front and shut the possession down. She is the type of defender attackers hate going against because beating her once is difficult, and she will make you work for absolutely everything. Mielke plays aggressive, physical defense while remaining fundamentally sound, and her strength is noticeable when opponents try to initiate contact against her. She is also a ground ball machine who immediately brings speed and momentum into transition after gaining possession. Her hustle never disappears, and she plays like someone willing to do whatever it takes to help her team win. She is exactly the type of strong, competitive defender you want on your side.     Coming off a season with just under 40 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers in her high school career, Sherry brings size, physicality, and aggression to the defensive end. Her long reach immediately causes problems for offenses because she gets her stick into passing lanes, picks off passes, and makes it difficult for attackers to find clean opportunities. She is patient enough to let an offensive player come to her, but the second they attack, she breaks down her feet and uses her strength to shut them down. Sherry understands when to slide and double while still remaining disciplined and tight on cutters. Once she creates a turnover or scoops up a ground ball, she turns on the speed and becomes a major asset in transition. She has the stick protection and handling ability to help successfully clear the ball rather than simply handing the responsibility off to someone else. Sherry is a strong, physical, aggressive defender who consistently finds ways to regain possession and is absolutely someone to keep an eye on.     LaMonica brings versatility and intelligence to the defensive end with the ability to play both man and zone defense comfortably. She understands spacing, slides, and positioning within a zone, but she is equally effective when asked to lock down an opponent individually. At 5'7", LaMonica plays even bigger because of how well she uses her stick and positioning to take away space. She consistently keeps her stick up, matches opponents' sticks well, and uses her reach to add another layer of pressure. LaMonica also has great hustle when chasing down possessions and is not afraid to get involved in the clear. Rather than hiding once her team gains possession, she makes herself available and can be trusted with the ball in her stick to help turn defense into offense through a fast, controlled clear. Her defensive IQ, versatility, stick skills, and ability in transition make her a very complete defender.     Tyrell's speed and quick footwork immediately stand out on the defensive end. Her athletic background translates well to her 1v1 defense, where she is able to move her feet quickly, stay with attackers, and consistently apply pressure. She is the kind of defender who is constantly getting her stick involved, poking at the ball and making an attacker uncomfortable until she eventually gets her way and creates the turnover. Tyrell uses her stick extremely well to extend her coverage and take away additional space while still playing strong, physical defense. She understands slides and spacing, communicates well as a vocal leader, and brings plenty of hustle to the unit around her. When possession changes, her speed becomes another weapon. She gets upfield quickly and can help push the clear through the midfield, making her an impactful defender both before and after the turnover.

The Class of 2028 is loaded with defensive talent, and this group continued to stand out time and time again. These are five 2028 defenders who made their presence known and should continue to be names college coaches keep an eye on.