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NLF Main Event 2020 Preview
Click here for the 2019 preview. It's time to ball out. The NLF Main Event is finally here. Set for Saturday and Sunday at the Sachem Sports Complex in Long Island, the Main Event brings together the country's top teams for a weekend of incredible competition at the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 levels. It's a loaded crop of talent unrivaled anywhere in the country. With that in mind, here's a look at each 2020 team's top commits and uncommitted players to keep an eye on this weekend. Click here for the tournament schedule. Follow the NLF on Twitter and Instagram for live updates during the tournament, and follow us on Facebook to see the post-tournament photo gallery. Big 4 HHH Ricky Amorim, defense, Academy of the New Church (Pa.) - Providence Uncommitted players to watch Connor McDonough, attack, Moorestown (N.J.) - McDonogh is short in stature, but he doesn’t play small. A quick, highly-skilled lefty, he rides angry and has no fear of taking contact to increase his scoring chances. He consistently puts up points and makes a ton of hustle plays. Matt Brock, FO/M, Perkiomen Valley (Pa.) - Brock broke his school’s record for faceoff wins as a sophomore with 309 victories. He won them at a 78 percent clip and also added 13 goals. Crabs Dane Swanson, midfield, McDonogh (Md.) - Navy Uncommitted players to watch Billy Spillman, midfield, Gilman (Md.) - Spillman cuts an imposing shadown at 6-2, 190 pounds, and he’s also got the shooting ability to stretch defenses out. He can shoot with either hand and play attack or middie. Cole Erickson, midfield, Boys’ Latin (Md.) - A strong, athletic two-way midfielder, Erickson has an excellent size and speed combo. He started the season as a D-middie for the Lakers before emerging into an offensive midfielder by the end of the year. George Alvarez, goalie, St. John’s (D.C.) - The starter at St. John’s, Alvarez brings a combination of good size, great hands and explosiveness to the ball, and he’s got a ton of untapped potential. Ben Morgan, defenseman, Severna Park (Md.) - Morgan helped the Falcons win a state title as a sophomore. He’s a stout defender who’s hard to get around. He’s not flashy, but he does a great job as a cover guy. Express North Logan Glick, defense, Bronxville - A physical presence on the back end, Glick also has a mean mentality and pesters his opponents. Sam Milardo, defense, Taft (Conn.) - Milardo’s athleticism allows him to stay stride-for-stride with almost anyone. Dash Sachs, FO/M, Taft (Conn.) - Sachs’ play continues to improve, and he’s making a run to be recognized as one of the 2020 class’ top faceoff guys. Jake Bazyk, midfield, Fox Lane (N.Y.) - Bazyk has speed to burn, but he also sees the field well. Laxachusetts Blake Brookes, LSM/D, Belmont Hill (Mass.) - Johns Hopkins Uncommitted players to watch Collin Bergstrom, LSM/D, Roxbury Latin (Mass.) - A varsity starter since eighth grade, Bergstrom is a big, athletic, rangy defenseman who’s outstanding off the ground and a leader on the back end. John Marshall, LSM/D, Andover (Mass.) - Marshall, whose brother is a tight end at Florida State, can be entrusted to lock down a guy on an island. At 6-3, he’s tough to get around. Quinn Richards, goalie, Belmont Hill (Mass.) - A tremendous leader and competitor, Richards sees the ball very well and is quite strong in the outlet game. John Dixon, FO/M, Noble and Greenough (Mass.) - Dixon has started on varsity since eighth grade, and he was a driving force behind Nobles’ ISL title this year. He’s got plenty of moves and counters, but he also can also play midfield. Michael Chabra, midfield, Austin Prep (Mass.) - An extremely athletic middie who can also play attack, Chabra is very dynamic and can shoot well with either hand.
Leading Edge Colin Freer, defense, Westfield (N.J.) - Princeton Uncommitted players to watch CJ Kirst, midfield, Delbarton (N.J.) - The latest in a long line of talented Kirsts, the skilled lefty has an off-the-charts lacrosse IQ. His toughness sets him apart, especially coupled with his ability to corral ground balls, and he also has a nice finishing touch. Luke Blanc, attack, Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) - The ball simply explodes out of Blanc’s stick. He’s a Canadian-type finisher and can score from just about anywhere on the field. Connell Kumar, midfield, Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) - Much like Blanc, Kumar can absolutely rocket the ball. He’s a tall athlete who can let it rip with either hand. Michael Ricciardi, midfield, Mendham (N.J.) - Ricciardi’s ability to run for days is his calling card. He boasts a high lacrosse IQ and does well at both ends of the field. Cole Krauss, defense, Delbarton (N.J.) - A big, mean lefty defenseman, he plays with an aggressive edge and is a pain to play against. He’s also very aggressive with his stick and is great off the ground. Long Island Empire Liam Daly, attack, Shoreham-Wading River Long Island Express James Ball, FO/M, Chaminade (N.Y.) - Navy Uncommitted players to watch Jack Walsh, midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) - Walsh brings together toughness, good size and a strong shot. He’s got high potential, as evidenced by him cracking the Friars’ lineup as a sophomore. William Kephart, defense, Garden City (N.Y.) - Kephart is a strong lockdown defenseman who specializes as a cover guy. Conner Garzone, goalie, Chaminade (N.Y.) - An excellent stopper, first and foremost, but Garzone also controls the field with his communication skills and makes great outlet passes. Brendan McCabe, defense, Chaminade (N.Y.) - You’d be wise to avoid going at McCabe. He has a ton of sandpaper in his game and he’s tough and plays with a serious edge. Prime Time Brody Firestein, midfield, Brunswick (N.Y.) - Penn State Uncommitted players to watch Alexander Stepney, attack, Loomis Chaffee (Conn.) - A quarterback type, Stepney is very smooth and excels as a righty finisher. He dodges and feeds well, too. Nick Pecora, goalie, Deerfield (Mass.) - Pecora started for Deerfield this year and stopped more than 60 percent of the shots sent his way. He is an asset in the clearing game, and he also does a great job of communicating and leading the defense. Luke Mercer, midfield, John Jay (N.Y.) - An excellent two-way midfielder with good stick skills, Mercer can dodge and shoot well with either hand. He’s coming off a very strong year for John Jay. Team 91 Crush Brennan O’Neill, attack, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) - Penn State Uncommitted players to watch Aidan Danenza, midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) - Danenza is smaller in stature, but he makes up for it with an extremely hard shot and great lacrosse IQ. He had an excellent sophomore campaign as one of St. Anthony’s top middies. Jayson Tingue, goalie, Bay Shore (N.Y.) - A very quick, nimble ‘keeper, Tingue is an excellent communicator and defensive leaders with fast hands. He’s already a two-year starter and three-year varsity contribiutor at Bay Shore. Nick Caccamo, defense, Harborfields (N.Y.) - A physical presence on the back end, Caccamo uses his size well and is an asset in the clearing game. SweetLax Florida Carter Parlette, midfield, Ponte Vedra (Fla.) - Syracuse Uncommitted players to watch Eric Dobson, midfield, Fleming Island (Fla.) - Couple Dobson’s 6-3 frame with a lefty cannon of a shot, and you’ve got the makings of a high-level prospect. A great downfield dodger, he can also let it rip with his right hand. Ben Calvert, LSM, Bishop Moore (Fla.) - Blessed with a great stick and a high IQ, Calvert thrives off the ground and in transition. He dominates ground balls, particularly on the wings. Conor O’Neil, goalie, Riverview (Fla.) - A strong communicator, O’Neil stays big to take away shots and comes up with several in-tight saves. He also makes excellent outlet passes. Thunder LB3 Eric Maiever, attack, Woodward Academy (Ga.) - Maryland Uncommitted players to watch Logan Tucker, LSM, Mill Creek (Ga.) - A highly-skilled LSM who gets the ball off the ground with ease, Tucker throws hard checks, is dangerous in transition and locks up the opponent’s No. 1 scoring option. His game reminds some of Thunder LB3 coach and MLL All-Star Scott Ratliff. William Stax, midfield, Milton (Ga.) - A two-way middie with both size and speed, he brings a lot of power to his shot with either hand and excels between the lines. He can face off in a pinch and brings a ton of versatility to the table. William Deskey, goalie, Lawrenceville (N.J.) - Deskey started for the Big Red as a sophomore this year. The lefty remains even-keeled and is very positionally-sound. He’s also a strong communicator on the field and clears the ball well. |
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