An outstanding all-around athlete, Patrick Hackler's versatility will aid the U.S. team.
A true midfielder that can play both ways, Hackler will be a dual offensive-defensive threat for the U.S. U21 team. Hackler scored 10 goals for Yale's NCAA quarterfinal team in 2022 and the record-setting high school quarterback will use his athleticism at both ends of the field.
Injuries and the pandemic have altered Brendan Grimes' progression, but he's one of the most talented players in the country.
Grimes burst into the national spotlight after leading Boys' Latin to the MIAA "A" Conference championship game as a sophomore. His junior year was cut short due to injury and then he missed his final year of high school lacrosse due to the global pandemic.
Evaluating young goalies is one of hardest things for college coaches to do.
The evaluations on Liam Entenmann were on the mark. The nation's top-rated high school goalie has lived up to the expectations and more at Notre Dame.
Lacrosse is in Jake Caputo's blood.
His father, Ron, is a longtime coach at Duke. His brother, Owen, also plays at Duke and his sister, Sam, plays at East Carolina. All of that knowledge has helped make him a key member of this U.S. U21 team.
With three years of experience playing defensive midfield at the NCAA Division I level, Caputo brings key experience to the U.S. team on the international stage. He also has the skills to put the ball in the net and that versatility will be important as the U.S. chases gold.
A late addition to the U.S. team, Kenny Brower brings a physical presence and key experience.
After participating in the initial round of tryouts in the summer of 2019, Brower got a second chance in the fall of 2021 and an impressive showing at a training camp that included games against North Carolina and Ohio State earned him a spot on the roster for Ireland.
Perhaps no one epitomizes the red, white and blue better than Navy defenseman Jackson Bonitz.
U.S. team head coach Nick Myers is quick to point out the commitment shown to his country by Bonitz, but beyond that, he's also an outstanding player.
Bonitz is coming off of a college season in which he earned honorable mention All-America honors by the USILA and third-team honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine. As Navy's only returning starter on defense, he started all 14 games and led the team with 18 caused turnovers.
Michael Alexander brings an edge to the U.S. team defense and is poised for bigger things.
After what should have been his first two years of college lacrosse were derailed by COVID-19 cancellations, Alexander emerged as a key defender for Yale in 2022. He started all 17 games for the Bulldogs, earning second team All-Ivy League honors. Alexander finished the year with 14 ground balls and seven caused turnovers, playing in front of his U.S. 21 teammate, goalie Jared Paquette, and alongside All-American Chris Fake.