Possessions matter And sometimes the quickest way to take control of a lacrosse game is by taking control of the faceoff X. As our look ahead to the 2027 DeeThreeLax season continues, it’s time to highlight some of the specialists who can completely change the complexion of a game before an offense even touches the ball.

The FOGOs are relatively straightforward on the surface. Faceoff percentage and total wins tell us plenty. But just like every other position, context matters, Volume matters, Competition matters, Wing play matters, Ground balls matter. And there is a major difference between winning a faceoff and turning that win into immediate offense.

Still, the numbers give us a great place to start. From Gavin Ferrington winning an incredible 82.7% of his draws to Evan Vetter recording 292 faceoff wins, there is plenty of talent returning to the X in 2027.

Here are some of the top returning FOGOs to know.

Gavin Ferrington – Centenary

235 Faceoff Wins – 82.7% – 12 Points

There isn’t much mystery about which number jumps off the page here. 82.7%. Gavin Ferrington won more than eight out of every 10 faceoffs while accumulating 235 victories at the X. Ferrington also contributed 12 points, showing he could provide some offense after securing possession. Faceoff percentages can fluctuate from season to season, and the level of competition matters when comparing specialists across the country, but an 82.7% season demands attention. Ferrington enters 2027 with the highest returning faceoff percentage among this group.

Evan Sardina – Oberlin

251 Faceoff Wins – 75.4% – 2 Points

Oberlin’s Evan Sardina put together another massive season at the X. Sardina won 251 faceoffs while finishing at 75.4%. Winning three out of every four faceoofs while taking enough faceoffs to accumulate more than 250 victories is serious production. A dominant FOGO can tilt possession dramatically over the course of a game, and Sardina has already shown he can provide Oberlin with that advantage.

Jonah Vormwald – St. John Fisher

249 Faceoff Wins – 73.0% – 6 Points

Jonah Vormwald gives St. John Fisher another proven weapon heading into 2027. Vormwald finished with 249 faceoff wins while taking 73% of his draws. Nearly 250 wins at a 73% clip is an impressive combination of volume and efficiency. He also contributed six points, giving St. John Fisher another way to create opportunities directly from the faceoff game.

Nicky Miltenberger – SUNY Cortland

210 Faceoff Wins – 70.5% – 8 Points

SUNY Cortland brings back a proven presence at the X in Nicky Miltenberger. Miltenberger won 210 faceoffs last season while finishing at 70.5%. He also contributed eight points. For a Cortland program accustomed to playing meaningful games and competing against quality opponents, having a specialist who can consistently create possessions provides a major advantage. Miltenberger enters 2027 as another returning FOGO to watch closely.

Evan Vetter – Baldwin Wallace

292 Faceoff Wins – 68.4% – 14 Points

Nobody on this list won more faceoffs last season than Evan Vetter. The Baldwin Wallace specialist recorded a group-high 292 victories while finishing at 68.4%. Then there’s the offensive production. Vetter contributed 14 points, the highest total among the returning specialists on this list. Nearly 300 faceoff wins, close to a 70% success rate and double-digit offensive production is a serious combination. Vetter enters 2027 as one of the most experienced and productive returning players at the position.

Israel Mikkelson – Washington and Lee

153 Faceoff Wins – 67.7% – 5 Points

Washington and Lee returns Israel Mikkelson after another strong season at the X. Mikkelson won 153 faceoffs while finishing at 67.7% and contributing five points. Playing for a program regularly competing against high-level opponents provides important context when looking at those numbers. Washington and Lee will enter 2027 with an experienced option capable of helping control possession against some of the best teams on its schedule.

Liam Alberti – Ithaca

235 Faceoff Wins – 67.5% – 3 Points

Ithaca’s Liam Alberti handled significant volume last season. Alberti won 235 faceoffs while finishing at 67.5%. That combination gives Ithaca a proven presence returning at the X and another player capable of significantly influencing possession throughout a game.

Bastian Chorazykiewicz – Stevens

233 Faceoff Wins – 67.5% – 2 Points

Matching Alberti at 67.5% is Stevens’ Bastian Chorazykiewicz. Chorazykiewicz won 233 faceoffs while adding two points. More than 230 victories at better than a two-thirds success rate is impressive consistency. For a Stevens team with plenty of talent returning elsewhere on the field, bringing back a proven specialist at the X could be another important piece heading into 2027.

Jack McHenry – Swarthmore

265 Faceoff Wins – 65.0% – 2 Points

Jack McHenry handled one of the largest workloads among this returning group. The Swarthmore specialist won 265 faceoffs, putting him among the leaders on our list in total victories. He did it while finishing at 65%. Winning nearly two-thirds of your draws over that kind of volume gives Swarthmore a proven presence heading into the new season.

Cam Wietfeldt – Bowdoin

189 Faceoff Wins – 64.1% – 1 Point

Bowdoin’s Cam Wietfeldt returns after winning 189 faceoffs at a 64.1% clip. The percentage may sit below some of the statistical leaders on this list, but context matters when comparing faceoff specialists across conferences and schedules. Wietfeldt has experience battling through a NESCAC schedule where high-level specialists and wing units are waiting nearly every week. He gives Bowdoin an established option back at the X for 2027.

Miles Schmidt – Bates

211 Faceoff Wins – 60.1% – 4 Points

Another NESCAC specialist returning is Bates’ Miles Schmidt. Schmidt won 211 faceoffs last season while finishing at 60.1% and adding four points. Crossing 200 wins is significant volume, particularly while navigating a demanding conference schedule. He gives Bates another experienced piece to build around heading into 2027.

Top Returning FOGOs in DeeThreeLax for 2027 

• Gavin Ferrington, Centenary – 235 wins, 82.7%, 12 points
• Evan Sardina, Oberlin – 251 wins, 75.4%, 2 points
• Winston Horshaw, Marymount – 218 wins, 74.7%
• Jonah Vormwald, St. John Fisher – 249 wins, 73.0%, 6 points
• Connor Baia, Catholic – 188 wins, 72.0%, 2 points
• Bryce Crowell, Maine Maritime – 282 wins, 71.6%, 13 points
• Nicky Miltenberger, SUNY Cortland – 210 wins, 70.5%, 8 points
• Graden Jansen, MSOE – 248 wins, 70.3%, 11 points
• Colin Brockman, Arcadia – 223 wins, 69.0%, 6 points
• Luke Ament, Marywood – 208 wins, 68.6%, 1 point
• Jack Suchanek, Catholic – 148 wins, 68.5%, 3 points
• Evan Vetter, Baldwin Wallace – 292 wins, 68.4%, 14 points
• Braden Antle, Transylvania – 162 wins, 68.4%, 3 points
• Israel Mikkelson, Washington and Lee – 153 wins, 67.7%, 5 points
• Liam Alberti, Ithaca – 235 wins, 67.5%, 3 points
• Bastian Chorazykiewicz, Stevens – 233 wins, 67.5%, 2 points
• Miles Fuehler, Batten – 216 wins, 66.7%, 10 points
• Ryan Hudson, York -155 wins, 66.5%, 10 points
• Jack McHenry, Swarthmore – 265 wins, 65.0%, 2 points
• Cam Wietfeldt, Bowdoin – 189 wins, 64.1%, 1 point
• Miles Schmidt, Bates – 211 wins, 60.1%, 4 points