As we continue looking ahead to the 2027 women’s DeeThreeLax season, it’s time to move to arguably one of the most versatile positions on the field. The midfield. We’ve already highlighted some of the top returning attack across DeeThreeLax, but evaluating midfielders requires looking beyond goals and assists. The best midfielders are asked to impact nearly every part of the game. They initiate offense, defend, create transition, win ground balls and provide the versatility that can completely change a matchup. And there is plenty of talent returning at the position in 2027.

From Scranton’s Eileen Hewitt and her 93-point season to Chicago’s Wynne Boggan, Muhlenberg’s Emma Youngling and Washington and Lee’s Kelly Polacek, several major offensive weapons return. Then there are players such as La Roche’s Kiki Nemcek and Roanoke’s Jordan Wheeler whose impact can be seen much more clearly on the defensive side of the stat sheet. Here are some of the top returning midfielders to know heading into 2027.

Eileen Hewitt – Scranton

93 Points – 52 Goals – 41 Assists

The biggest offensive stat line among this group belongs to Eileen Hewitt. The Scranton midfielder finished last season with 93 points on 52 goals and 41 assists, establishing herself as both a dangerous scorer and playmaker. Hewitt didn’t simply rack up goals. Her 41 assists show she can create offense for the players around her as well, making her difficult to defend depending on where the slide comes from. After nearly reaching the 100-point mark last season, Hewitt enters 2027 as one of the most productive returning midfielders in DeeThreeLax.

Wynne Boggan – Chicago

80 Points – 46 Goals – 34 Assists

Chicago brings back another major offensive weapon in Wynne Boggan. Boggan recorded 80 points last season, scoring 46 goals while adding 34 assists. Like Hewitt, Boggan’s production shows a midfielder capable of doing a little bit of everything offensively. She can finish. She can facilitate. And she gives Chicago a proven offensive centerpiece returning to the midfield heading into 2027. After an 80-point campaign, Boggan should be firmly on the radar entering the new season.

Emma Youngling – Muhlenberg

73 Points – 54 Goals – 19 Assists

If you’re looking for goal scoring out of the midfield, Emma Youngling’s numbers immediately stand out. The Muhlenberg midfielder scored 54 goals, the highest total among the players on this list, while adding 19 assists for 73 points. Having that kind of finishing ability coming out of the midfield creates matchup problems. Youngling has already proven she can consistently find the back of the net, and another season of that production could make her one of the more dangerous scoring midfielders in DeeThreelax.

Kelly Polacek – Washington and Lee

66 Points – 32 Goals – 34 Assists

Washington and Lee returns an incredibly balanced offensive midfielder in Kelly Polacek. Polacek finished with 66 points last season, recording 32 goals and 34 assists. There isn’t much separation between those numbers, and that’s what makes her stat line so interesting. A midfielder who can beat you as a scorer or create for the players around her gives a defense fewer options when deciding how aggressively to slide. For a Washington and Lee program accustomed to competing at a high level nationally, bringing that versatility back to the midfield should be significant.

Miranda Hayes – Roger Williams

57 Points – 37 Goals – 20 Assists

Roger Williams brings back another proven offensive threat in Miranda Hayes. Hayes recorded 37 goals and 20 assists for 57 points last season. Her ability to contribute as both a scorer and distributor gives Roger Williams an experienced offensive weapon returning in the middle of the field. After approaching 40 goals last season, Hayes will be another name worth following as 2027 gets underway.

Regan McDonnell – Salisbury

41 Points – 36 Goals – 5 Assists

Raw point totals require context, especially when you’re talking about a program like Salisbury. Regan McDonnell returns after scoring 36 goals and adding five assists for 41 points. McDonnell provides the Sea Gulls with another proven finisher out of the midfield, and doing it within an offense loaded with talent makes the numbers even more interesting. Salisbury enters every season with championship expectations, and McDonnell gives the Gulls another experienced piece heading into 2027.

Taylor Glanville – Pomona-Pitzer

39 Points – 31 Goals – 8 Assists

Pomona-Pitzer’s Taylor Glanville returns after producing 39 points last season. Glanville scored 31 goals while adding eight assists, with the majority of her offensive production coming as a finisher. Thirty-plus goals out of the midfield gives Pomona-Pitzer another proven scoring option and puts Glanville among the returning midfielders to keep an eye on out West.

Courtney Laden – Babson

35 Points – 34 Goals – 1 Assist

Few stat lines make a player’s offensive role clearer than Courtney Laden’s. The Babson midfielder finished last season with 34 goals and one assist. Laden is a scorer and when she gets opportunities, she’s looking to finish, and putting up 34 goals from the midfield makes her another dangerous returning weapon heading into 2027.

Grace Harvey – Bowdoin

30 Points – 24 Goals – 6 Assists

Bowdoin’s Grace Harvey returns after recording 24 goals and six assists for 30 points. The raw point total may not jump off the page compared to some of the offensive leaders on this list, but context matters. Playing within a deep roster and against NESCAC competition on a regular basis makes production difficult to compare directly across programs. Harvey gives Bowdoin another experienced piece in the midfield as the Polar Bears look toward 2027.

Grace Battle – Gettysburg

29 Points – 22 Goals – 7 Assists

Gettysburg will also return an experienced midfielder in Grace Battle. Battle scored 22 goals and added seven assists last season. Like Salisbury and Bowdoin, Gettysburg routinely plays a demanding schedule and has a roster filled with players capable of contributing offensively. The box score doesn’t always capture a midfielder’s complete impact, particularly on teams with championship aspirations. Battle gives the Bullets another experienced player to build around heading into the new season.

Kiki Nemcek – La Roche

16 Points – 15 Goals – 1 Assist – 171 Ground Balls – 138 Caused Turnovers

And then there is Kiki Nemcek. This might be the most eye-catching stat line of anyone on the list. Nemcek recorded just 16 offensive points, but that’s not what makes her season stand out. She finished with an incredible 171 ground balls and 138 caused turnovers. Nemcek’s numbers show exactly why midfielders can’t be evaluated strictly through points. If she produces anywhere near that level again in 2027, she’ll be one of the most disruptive returning players in DeeThreeLax.

Jordan Wheeler – Roanoke

3 Points – 2 Goals – 1 Assist – 43 Ground Balls – 36 Caused Turnovers

Roanoke’s Jordan Wheeler is another example of why offensive statistics don’t tell the entire story at midfield. Wheeler finished with only three points offensively, but recorded 43 ground balls and 36 caused turnovers. Winning possessions and creating turnovers can completely change games, particularly against quality competition. Wheeler gives Roanoke a proven defensive presence in the midfield and provides a different type of value than many of the offensive players on this list.

Mia Raven – Amherst

22 Points – 9 Goals – 13 Assists

Amherst’s Mia Raven rounds out another strong group of NESCAC midfield talent. Raven finished last season with nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points. Playing through a demanding NESCAC schedule means facing quality opponents throughout the season, and midfielders can be asked to contribute in several different ways beyond scoring. Raven gives Amherst another experienced player returning to the midfield heading into 2027.

DTL Returning Midfielders to Watch

• Eileen Hewitt, Scranton – 93 points (52G, 41A)
• Wynne Boggan, Chicago – 80 points (46G, 34A)
• Emma Youngling, Muhlenberg – 73 points (54G, 19A)
• Kelly Polacek, Washington and Lee – 66 points (32G, 34A)
• Miranda Hayes, Roger Williams – 57 points (37G, 20A)
• Regan McDonnell, Salisbury – 41 points (36G, 5A)
• Taylor Glanville, Pomona-Pitzer – 39 points (31G, 8A)
• Courtney Laden, Babson – 35 points (34G, 1A)
• Grace Harvey, Bowdoin – 30 points (24G, 6A)
• Grace Battle, Gettysburg – 29 points (22G, 7A)
• Mia Raven, Amherst – 22 points (9G, 13A)
• Kiki Nemcek, La Roche – 16 points (15G, 1A), 171 GBs, 138 CTs
• Jordan Wheeler, Roanoke – 3 points (2G, 1A), 43 GBs, 36 CTs