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.

Ellie Tyrell is a shutdown defender who can all but eliminate her matchup from a game. She did an excellent job locking down the “X” attacker on Sunday, causing a handful of key turnovers in the process. She plays with an active stick on the defensive end, always looking to jar the ball loose, and wins the 50/50 ground ball battles at a rate closer to 80/20. Her speed in transition is excellent as well — on one occasion, her caused turnover and subsequent push upfield led directly to a quick end-to-end goal for her team. Tyrell’s defense creates offense, and she does an excellent job pushing the ball in transition the moment she comes up with it.