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Ethan Bramoff knew right away that his Maryland team had a good chance to win the NLF at IMG 2026 bracket.
Bramoff eyed up the rosters and saw a ton of familiarity with a handful of his Long Island Express Channy teammates on the roster. The Express is a team that has won countless championships over the years, so the St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) standout LSM had no reason to expect anything different.
It wasn’t easy, but the Maryland squad was able to take home the title by – wait for it – using big performances from a ton of those Express players. They broke a fourth-quarter tie in the championship with goals from Dylan Harrigan (St. Anthony’s, N.Y.) and James Gillis (Chaminade, N.Y.), among others, to come out on top with an 8-4 win over a feisty Dartmouth team.
“I thought we had a good shot at winning it,” Bramoff said. “I knew a lot of the guys on the team already and the kids I didn’t, we all came together. I think that at events like this, whatever team that plays the least selfish, wins. We were moving the ball really well. In that last quarter, it was 4-4 and we had four Express guy goals in the last two minutes because we really wanted to win this one.”
Pure Dominance from the LSM Spot
Bramoff, though, was at the heart of it all. He continued to state his case for why he should be tabbed as the No. 1 player in the class in the first NLF class of 2026 rankings with a dominant performance all weekend long. The 6-foot, 190-pounder relentlessly hounded opponents and showed off all the tricks in his bag. In drills on Saturday, he scored the goal of the weekend, going up for a ridiculous Air Gait.
In the games, Bramoff showed that he can do it all. At one point, he blanketed one of the best attackmen in the country on a dodge from X, got a hold of him and launched him into the net to cause a crease violation. In the championship game, he flashed his takeaway skills with a ludicrously-good can opener and then an over-the-head slice against one of the top midfielders in the class.
Ball’s on the ground near Bramoff? Forget it. It’s his. You’re not going to slide to the pole in transition? Turn and rake. Bramoff showed once again that he’s the premier defensive player, and he made another great case why you might be able to leave out the word, “defensive,” in that previous statement.
“Ethan was all over the field at IMG,” Express director and Maryland coach Mike Chanenchuk said. “He is a game changer and can take over a game between the lines and demonstrated that over the weekend. He is a ground ball machine who is lethal in transition. Ethan also covered the best player on the other team and took them out of the game. He has a very bright future and any college will be lucky to have him.”
It didn’t hurt Maryland’s cause that they had a stellar goaltending duo comprised of Blake O’Callaghan (John Jay, N.Y. / Prime Time) and Kieran Walsh (Chaminade, N.Y. / Long Island Express). O’Callaghan was solid on Sunday, but he took his game to another level in the playoffs. The lefty stopper was particularly good in the championship game, making what must have been a half-dozen stops, including an electric multi-save sequence that prevented Dartmouth from getting any momentum.
O’Callaghan’s not big, but he is explosive and smooth in his movements. An extremely athletic ‘keeper who loves to venture out of the cage, he started as a freshman for Section I power John Jay under former pro and Team 91 Tristate director Mike Bocklet. He’s seen a ton of action already, and he’ll be as battle-tested as any ’26 goalie once Sept. 1 rolls around.
“This event was great and I always love playing against the best guys because I feel like you elevate your game just a little bit more,” O’Callaghan said. “You’ve got to challenge yourself. You come out and see these guys, it really helps me elevate my game and get better. I’m a little bit unconventional. I like to play free and loose, and play as an athlete.”
Best Offensive Player
James Gillis, attack/midfield, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Gillis often makes things look so easy. The tall, lanky lefty is so smooth and effortless in his movements that it often doesn’t look like he’s even trying, but the results indicate otherwise. He was the most consistent offensive player at the event and earned co-MVP honors – alongside Express teammate Ethan Bramoff – for the Maryland team that won the event. His hat trick in the final showed what he’s all about with his ability to finish inside, step out and hammer one home and also keep his head up to involve open teammates.
On one play, Gillis posted up a smaller defender and overpowered him to get his hands free and hammer one home. On another, he blasted a low-to-low shot that found the low corner. Gillis has made remarkable strides forward with his consistency in the past year or so, and he has cut down on some of the high-risk, high-reward plays that he used to try. There’s virtually no chance that he doesn’t make an impact for Chaminade this spring as a sophomore. While it’s rare, there’s a good chance that he could start for the Flyers somewhere in that offensive top six.
NLF at IMG 2026 Standouts
Dara Corr, LSM/defense, Delbarton (N.J.) / Leading Edge
Another year, another high-end defensive prospect from the Leading Edge / Delbarton connection. The pipeline that brought you the likes of ’25 five-star Will Pedicano (Virginia) and ’23 four-star Jake Melchionni (Villanova), among many others, is back for more with Corr. Coming off of an excellent fall, Corr was rock-solid yet again at IMG. He’s not quite as flashy as the aforementioned duo, but he’s more than capable of throwing some great takeaway checks. Corr played at close defense during the event but was tabbed to the All-Star Game at LSM, and it’s a testament to his versatility. The 6-3 Corr covers better than your average LSM and also has a good stick.
Reilly Crowe, defense, Episcopal Academy (Pa.) / Big 4 HHH
Crowe didn’t do anything flashy, but he was very dependable for the Duke squad. Standing at about 6-1 and 170 pounds, he’s got a good frame to continue to pack on size. Crowe was a reliable 1v1 defender and also found a way to get his stick on the ball pretty often. For a sophomore, Crowe showed an advanced understanding on when and how to slide. The Inter-Ac is always a trial by fire for young defensemen, but Crowe has the talent and upside to become a quality defender for the Churchmen this spring.
John Devir, midfield, Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) / Leading Edge
Alongside four-star Yale commit Asher Ziv, Devir was arguably the top offensive player on the Leading Edge ‘25s before dropping down to play with the ‘26s this year. Offensively, he excels at getting to the middle of the field and is as good a passer as he is a finisher. Devir always has his head up and sees slides coming before they happen. Devir is on the shorter side, but it almost plays to his advantage as he’s able to squeeze into tight spaces to make plays. He has an advanced skill set and is one of the more battle-tested offensive players in the class, coming off of a 28-14-42 stat line last year as a freshman for Don Bosco.
Lucas Garcia, attack/midfield, Brunswick (Conn.) / Prime Time
Garcia was predominantly a midfielder for the Prime Time 2025s, but when he started playing with the ‘26s, he moved to attack. At IMG, he was an attackman, but there’s definitely a lot to like about his versatility. He has elite explosiveness and is comfortable dodging from all over the field. You need to assume that your first defender isn’t going to be able to stay in front of him. Garcia is a two-handed threat who looks like he’s shot out of a cannon when he puts his foot in the ground. When he’s dialed in, there’s an argument to be made that he’s the best right-handed offensive player in the class.
Rick Giordano, midfield, Brunswick (Conn.) / Prime Time
Every elite player has a trait that separates them from everyone else. There might not be a better pure midfield shooter in the class than the Prime Time standout. Goodness, that shot. Giordano’s undersized but brings unbelievable power on his shot, both on time-and-room blasts and on-the-run rips. Giordano understands matchups and knows where to attack defenses. Offensively, he played well off of picks and drew early slides with his quickness and that reputation as a lights-out shooter. He was also a willing defender and made it tough for attackmen to keep pace with him in the clearing game.
Jacob Johnston, midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Johnston usually runs as the short-stick on the Express faceoff unit alongside Bramoff and faceoff man Robbie Johnson. Safe to say, they win a lot of faceoffs. Johnston is as complete a midfielder as there is in the class. Tough as nails with a high compete level, he seemingly gets every ground ball and almost always makes the right play. Johnston doesn’t need a million shots to get his offensive share. Rather, he moves the ball and usually cans the couple of shots that he does take. St. Anthony’s lost a ton of offensive firepower to graduation, which means that there will be an opportunity for the multi-faceted Johnston to find time for the Friars this spring.
George Kelly, defense, St. Sebastian’s (Mass.) / Laxachusetts
While that might be hyperbolic, Kelly was definitely the fastest kid at the event. Arguably the best ’26 running back in New England who reports a 4.47 40-yard dash time, Kelly’s ability to get out and run in transition is better than any other defender in the class. He showed off those jets with a beauty of a goal in the All-Star Game, one in which he also flashed a good handle in traffic. Defensively, Kelly knows that nobody is going to run by him, so he’s able to use his powerful frame – he reports a 300-pound bench and a 375-pound squat – to stay low and drive attackmen back. Laxachusetts always has elite defensemen, and it looks like Kelly is the latest from the assembly line.
Rowan Levine, LSM, Darien (Conn.) / Eclipse
Levine doesn’t have prototypical size, but he makes up for it by being omnipresent around the ball. He’s a pest in coverage, often initating contact with a quick poke on the gloves, and he seems comfortable guarding guys just about anywhere on the field. Levine also did a nice job in the clearing game and isn’t afraid to handle the rock.
Sam Long, attack, Severn (Md.) / Crabs
Long might have scored more goals than any other righty attackman at the event. Simply put, the kid gets buckets. Blessed with terrific hands and a nose for the cage, Long scored early and often throughout the event. He was outstanding in traffic in front, catching and finishing just about everything from inside of eight yards, but also popped out for a couple long-range bombs. Long highlighted his weekend with an All-Star Game hat trick.
Drew Maloney, midfield, Buford (Ga.) / Team 91 Long Island
It’s great to see Maloney fully back after a hellacious ATV accident cost him significant time last year. In his first game back at IMLCA in December, he stuck the OT winner for Team 91, and he hasn’t looked back since. Athletically, he’s a cut above the rest with head-turning speed. Maloney reportedly recently ran a 4.66 40-yard dash, and when he’s in the open field, you’re not catching him. His athleticism puts a strain on defenses and he also showed an accurate shot on the run. Maloney’s upside is immense as he continues to play more after recovering from the injury.
Anthony Mancaruso, midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Team 91 Long Island
Mancaruso’s game has blossomed in recent months, and he put together one of his most complete performances at IMG. The 6-1, 190-pounder looks the part physically, and he has good speed to boot. Mancaruso was a big reason why Dartmouth was able to reach the championship game. He did well in the clearing game, but it was his offensive game that looked like it took another jump forward. He was routinely able to get to good spots on the field to finish.
Timmy Plunkett, attack, Iona Prep (N.Y.) / Express North
One of the top players in the class, the explosive lefty shined yet again. In the first game of the weekend, he racked up two goals and an assist in the first half, including a gorgeous far-side top-corner righty rocket. Plunkett has an elite burst and explosiveness that helps set up his shot. He’s certainly not shy about shooting, but he also made a handful of nice passes, including a righty dime from X to set up a stepdown goal. As a scorer, he’s definitely most comfortable out in space above the cage, where he can use his athleticism to strain defenses.
Dylan Rappaport, goalie, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
There were a ton of outstanding goalies at IMG, but Rappaport has a great case to say that he was the top one. The 6-3 stopper has been streaky at times of late, but his performance at IMG showed how good he is when he’s at the top of his game. He was consistently excellent and made a bevy of difficult saves look routine. For a taller goalie, Rappaport has good flexibility and can get down to take away low shots. His best stop of the weekend came on a 1v1 in the championship. Rappaport perfectly mirrored the shooter’s fakes and came away with an absurd low stop. Had Dartmouth won the championship, he would likely have been named MVP.
Honorable Mention
Jackson Allen, LSM, IMG (Fla.)
Ben Bilodeau, midfield, Darien (Conn.) / Express North
Angus Brown, defense, Taft (Conn.) / Team 91 Long Island
Bing Burch, defense, Loyola Blakefield (Md.) / Crabs
Brian Burke, defense, St. Sebastian’s (Mass.) / Laxachusetts
Charlie Cacciabaudo, attack, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Luciano Chiabra, goalie, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) / Florida Crabs
Gavin Duran, defense, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Cole Garrett, faceoff midfield, Fairfield Prep (Conn.) / Express North
Sidney Faulkner, midfield, Centennial (Ga.) / Thunder
Tedy Frisoli, attack, St. Sebastian’s (Mass.) / Laxachusetts
Dylan Harrigan, midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Declan Heilig, attack, La Salle (Pa.) / Team 91 Maryland
Heath Holland, attack, Paul VI (Va.) / VLC
Luke Hofrichter, defense, Starrs Mill (Ga.) / Thunder
Max McBride, attack, Darien (Conn.) / Express North
Ethan Moore, midfield, Phillips Exeter (N.H.) / Laxachusetts
Gabe Moore, midfield, Phillips Exeter (N.H.) / Laxachusetts
Hunter Mezzatesta, goalie, Yorktown (N.Y.) / Express North
Devin Paccione, attack, Wantagh (N.Y.) / Team 91 Long Island
Vincent Raphalian, midfield, Taft (Conn.) / Leading Edge
Finn Roeder, midfield, New Canaan (Conn.) / Eclipse
Reed Verner, defense, Loyola Blakefield (Md.) / Crabs
Kieran Walsh, goalie, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Grant Weiss, defense, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Long Island Express
Joseph Whitehouse, midfield, Rumson-Fair Haven (N.J.) / Leading Edge
