Doing the Dirty Work and they don’t always fill up the box score. They aren’t usually the players featured in the highlight reel. But when you get into the biggest games of the season, having a short-stick defensive midfielder you can trust becomes incredibly important.

As our look at the top returning players in DeeThreeLax continues, it’s time to turn our attention to one of the most underappreciated positions on the field: SSDM. Evaluating short-stick defensive midfielders statistically isn’t easy. Caused turnovers and ground balls give us a starting point, but they don’t tell the entire story. An elite SSDM might spend an afternoon matched up against one of the best offensive midfielders in the country and finish with zero caused turnovers. That doesn’t mean he didn’t have a great game.

Can he stay in front of his matchup? Can he defend without constantly needing a slide? Can he get the ball off the ground? Can he clear it? Can he push transition? Can he stay on the field and make something happen offensively? Those are the things that separate good SSDMs from great ones.

With that in mind, here are some of the top returning short-stick defensive midfielders to know heading into 2027.

Colin Giarrusso – Scranton

22 CTs – 44 GBs – 6 Points

Scranton’s Colin Giarrusso returns after putting together a productive season across the board. Giarrusso caused 22 turnovers, collected 44 ground balls and contributed six points.

He can create turnovers, help finish possessions on the ground and provide something offensively when opportunities develop in transition. For Scranton, bringing back that kind of experience in the defensive midfield should be valuable heading into the spring.

Erik Pearl – York

18 CTs – 38 GBs – 4 Points

York’s Erik Pearl is another player whose impact needs to be viewed beyond the raw numbers. Pearl finished with 18 caused turnovers, 38 ground balls and four points.

But playing SSDM for a program like York means regularly dealing with talented offensive midfield units and playing meaningful games against high-level competition. Having a short-stick you can trust in those matchups becomes increasingly important as the season progresses. Pearl gives York an experienced option returning to that role in 2027.

Jack Lucey – Union

17 CTs – 41 GBs – 4 Points

Union brings back Jack Lucey after a season that included 17 caused turnovers and 41 ground balls. Lucey also contributed four points. Union has consistently played against some of the better offensive teams in DeeThreeLax, which means its defensive midfielders rarely get easy assignments. Lucey’s experience in those situations should be valuable as Union looks toward another season of competing at a high level.

Gabe Malcolm – Swarthmore

15 CTs – 31 GBs – 2 Points

Gabe Malcolm gives Swarthmore another proven piece returning defensively. Malcolm caused 15 turnovers while collecting 31 ground balls and contributing two points. The Garnet compete in a Centennial Conference filled with talented offensive players, making reliable short-stick defense especially important. Malcolm enters 2027 with another year of experience handling those assignments.

John McKinnon – Hamilton

11 CTs – 20 GBs – 3 Points

When evaluating a defensive player from the NESCAC, context is always important. Hamilton’s John McKinnon finished with 11 caused turnovers, 20 ground balls and three points. Those numbers may not jump off the page compared with some of the statistical leaders on this list, but the week-to-week matchups in the NESCAC provide a different test.

Short-stick defensive midfielders are routinely asked to defend talented offensive midfielders without becoming the weak link opponents try to exploit. McKinnon brings that experience back to Hamilton in 2027.

Corey White – Ithaca

10 CTs – 46 GBs – 2 Points

Corey White’s ground-ball production stands out. The Ithaca midfielder collected 46 ground balls while causing 10 turnovers and adding two points. That’s an important part of the SSDM position. Sometimes the job isn’t about creating the turnover yourself. It’s about being in the right spot when the ball hits the turf and making sure your team comes away with possession. White showed an ability to do exactly that.

Josh McDermott – Grove City

10 CTs – 22 GBs – 6 Points

Grove City’s Josh McDermott returns after recording 10 caused turnovers, 22 ground balls and six points. The offensive production adds another element to his game. Any time an SSDM can contribute after crossing midfield, it forces opponents to make decisions in transition rather than simply waiting for substitutions. McDermott gives Grove City another experienced option heading into 2027.

Conor Cosgrove – SUNY Cortland

8 CTs – 52 GBs – 4 Points

One number stands out when looking at Conor Cosgrove’s stat line, 52 ground balls. Despite recording only eight caused turnovers, Cosgrove finished among the leaders on this list in GBs. That’s a good example of why caused turnovers alone shouldn’t determine how we evaluate defensive midfielders. Getting the ball off the ground and helping finish defensive possessions is enormously valuable. Cosgrove does that for a Cortland program accustomed to playing meaningful games deep into the season.

Caleb Fox – Baldwin Wallace

5 CTs – 34 GBs – 7 Points

Baldwin Wallace’s Caleb Fox rounds out this group after recording five caused turnovers, 34 ground balls and seven points. Again, the stat sheet only gives us part of the picture. His seven points show some ability to contribute offensively, while 34 ground balls demonstrate involvement in the possession game. Fox gives Baldwin Wallace another experienced piece returning to its midfield in 2027.

DTL Returning SSDMs to Watch

• Sam Stillwell, Southwestern – 30 CTs, 48 GBs, 1 point
• Ethan Francey, Plattsburgh State – 28 CTs, 45 GBs, 21 points
• Chuck Urda, Wentworth – 27 CTs, 61 GBs, 6 points
• Isaac Pike, William Peace – 27 CTs, 60 GBs, 5 points
• Eli Everts, Franciscan – 25 CTs, 67 GBs, 32 points
• Colin Giarrusso, Scranton – 22 CTs, 44 GBs, 6 points
• Erik Pearl, York – 18 CTs, 38 GBs, 4 points
• Jack Lucey, Union – 17 CTs, 41 GBs, 4 points
• Gabe Malcolm, Swarthmore – 15 CTs, 31 GBs, 2 points
• John McKinnon, Hamilton – 11 CTs, 20 GBs, 3 points
• Corey White, Ithaca – 10 CTs, 46 GBs, 2 points
• Josh McDermott, Grove City – 10 CTs, 22 GBs, 6 points
• Conor Cosgrove, SUNY Cortland – 8 CTs, 52 GBs, 4 points
• Caleb Fox, Baldwin Wallace – 5 CTs, 34 GBs, 7 points