Ellie Bottiglier was one of the most difficult defenders to get past all weekend. With her tall, long strides and outstanding reach, she always seemed to come away with the ball, whether it was through a perfectly timed check, an interception, a back check, or another ground ball. Her physical style of defense, combined with excellent stick work, forced attackers to move the ball almost immediately.

As a left-handed defender, Bottiglier presents a unique challenge that many attackers aren’t used to seeing. Her slides were consistently on time, her head was always on a swivel, and she covered an incredible amount of ground with her length and athleticism. She also made an impact in the midfield by helping on the draw and creating transition opportunities. A true ground ball machine and defensive force, Bottiglier made her presence felt every time she stepped onto the field.