Cooke is the type of midfielder you can trust to consistently make the right play. Starting as both a freshman and sophomore at McDonogh speaks to her ability. Immediately, her field awareness and lacrosse IQ stand out. She is explosive in transition, excels as a cutter and dodger, and has the composure to finish through traffic and tight stick lanes. Cooke is equally impactful defensively, where she can lock down opponents and consistently wins races to 50/50 ground balls. She hustles on the draw, communicates well, and plays with a natural leadership presence. Her athleticism, consistency, and ability to contribute in virtually every situation make her a midfielder college coaches should know.

Paula Cooke made her presence felt on the defensive side of the ball through her ability to create disruption. She consistently looked for opportunities to challenge opponents and showed a knack for delivering sneaky checks that helped generate turnovers and break up offensive possessions. Cooke stayed active throughout the game and demonstrated strong defensive instincts, making her a player who could impact momentum with timely plays. Her ability to pressure ball carriers and create uncertainty for opposing offenses helped her stand out among the midfield group.