Ava Fanos is heading to UMass. Fanos gave defenders plenty to handle this summer, and her ability to create separation should bring an exciting dimension to UMass’s offense. She attacks comfortably with either hand, combining sharp changes of direction with a quick first step. What stands out is her patience within a dodge. If her initial move gets stopped, she can reset, assess her defender, and attack again instead of forcing the play.

Her stick protection helps her maintain control through traffic, and she uses deceptive fakes to get goalies moving before finishing. Fanos plays with a presence beyond her 5’6″ frame, making her a tough matchup and an exciting addition for UMass.

Fanos is an explosive attacker that defenders struggled to stop all summer. She uses a stutter step into multiple quick changes of direction, and the second she switches hands, her first step allows her to explode past her defender and attack the cage. Her fakes around the goalie are just as effective, making her extremely difficult to handle 1v1. Fanos is also patient enough to stop, read the defense, and re-dodge when the first opportunity is not there. She weaves through defenders with great stick protection, plays comfortably with both hands, and continues to rack up well-deserved accolades. At 5’6″, she plays bigger than her size and has all the tools to become an impact attacker at the next level.