The Top Recruiting Events Every Faceoff Specialist Should Target

The faceoff position gets less recruiting attention than attack or midfield — which means the events where FaceOff Men actually get seen matter more, not less. A faceoff specialist doesn't need to hit every showcase on the calendar. He needs to hit the ones where college coaches are watching X's specifically, where the format lets a specialist prove his value in a real matchup rather than a raw combine setting, and where the competition level forces a genuine evaluation instead of a participation trophy.

We built this ranking around four criteria that matter specifically for faceoff recruiting:

• Coach density at the position — are D1/D2/D3 coaches actually there to evaluate specialists, or is the faceoff guy an afterthought in a broader showcase?

• Format — does the event let a FaceOff Man show percentage, ground-ball rate, and transition impact in real reps, or is it limited to a combine-style tryout?

• Selectivity — merit-based, invite-only fields produce sharper film and better exposure than open registration.

• Track record — does the event have a history of specialists actually getting recruited out of it?

Here's how the field stacks up.

1. The FaceOff Academy — i95 Cup

The i95 Cup is the only event on this list built entirely around the faceoff position — and it shows. Run by The FaceOff Academy since 2016, it's a team-based national championship for the top 54 faceoff men in the rising junior class, split into 6-man squads representing nine regions (New England, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, PA, DMV, Carolina, SEC, and Pangea). Each region is coached by a former pro or college standout — names like Greg Gurenlian, Connor Farrell, and Jake Phaup lead sideline strategy for their squads.

The format is what separates it from a standard showcase: a wrestling-tournament-style round robin, with head-to-head matchups scored best-of-five and NCAA-level officials running every rep under NCAA rules. Every faceoff is filmed with broadcast-level cameras, and NCAA coaches receive full rosters, contact info, and raw footage from every matchup. The 2026 event (July 29–30 in Manalapan, NJ) already has commitments from programs including Penn State, Ohio State, Rutgers, Notre Dame, UNC, Princeton, Brown, Harvard, Dartmouth, and Army, among others.

Because it's invite-only via regional tryouts and limited to 54 spots nationally, making the roster is itself a signal to coaches before a single whistle blows.

Best for: Rising juniors who've already established themselves regionally and are ready for a true head-to-head, team-format proving ground in front of a packed coaching sideline.

Website: thefaceoffacademy.com/i95cup

2. Open Series Lacrosse — Juniors Open

Juniors Open (run by Open Series Lacrosse, formerly under the Epoch Events banner) is the most selective individual showcase on this list. Acceptance is merit-based — players apply and are evaluated before receiving an invite, not just registered. The boys event is held at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia; the girls event runs at Iron Peak Sports & Events in Hillsborough, NJ.

What makes it worth a faceoff specialist's summer: the format is built around team practices, individual training, and elite showcase prep rather than a single open run-through, so a FaceOff Man gets multiple live reps in front of coaches instead of one shot. The event also produces full player books and digital coverage sent directly to college programs — which matters for a position where raw stats (like faceoff percentage) don't always tell the full story on their own.

Best for: Faceoff specialists who already have some varsity or club track record and want a highly curated, invite-only stage rather than an open field.

Website: openserieslacrosse.com

3. First Class Lacrosse — Best in Class

Best in Class is a two-day event that blends individual training with a genuine evaluative and recruiting component — First Class Lacrosse reviews applications, coach recommendations, and its own evaluations before selecting the field for each session. Events are broken out by graduation class, which means a FaceOff Man isn't getting lost in a mixed-age scrum.

The training-first structure is the differentiator here. A faceoff guy gets real coaching reps on technique — not just game exposure — which is valuable at a position where small mechanical adjustments (hand placement, clamp timing, exit speed) can be the difference between a good percentage and a great one.

Best for: Underclass and mid-recruiting-cycle FaceOff Men who want development and evaluation in the same event, not just a showcase.

Website: 1stclasslax.com/best-in-class

4. Maverik Lacrosse — Showtime 

Presented by Maverik, Showtime is an invitation-only showcase for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors held at the Capelli Sport Complex in Tinton Falls, NJ. The event runs a one-field-per-grad-class model, meaning each class gets its own dedicated field and coaching attention rather than getting mixed in with older or younger players — a structural plus for a FaceOff Man who wants individual evaluation instead of getting buried in a crowded multi-class scrum.

Showtime's biggest selling point is coach turnout: the event has drawn every Division I coaching staff in prior years, which is a level of saturation few other showcases can claim. Participants are individually assessed during live game sessions rather than isolated combine reps, so a FaceOff Man gets to show percentage and transition impact in real possessions, in front of essentially the entire D1 recruiting landscape at once

Best for: FaceOff Men who want maximum coach density in a single weekend and prefer being evaluated within their own graduation class rather than a mixed field. 

Website: showtimelax.com 

How to Use This List

No FaceOff Man needs to attend all four. Pick based on where you are in the recruiting timeline: underclassmen benefit more from training-forward events like Best in Class, mid-cycle FaceOff Men with regional standing should be gunning for a roster spot at the i95 Cup or Juniors Open, and players looking for maximum coach turnout in one weekend should target Showtime. Whatever you choose, walk in with your faceoff percentage, ground-ball numbers, and transition stats ready — the events get you in front of coaches, but the numbers are what get the follow-up call. 

“ Officiating —  does the event consider quality officiating of The FaceOff position a priority?  Most events want The FaceOff done with quickly, and the officials don’t care to perform the mechanics correctly. If you are a quality face off man with a high skill level, these events could ruin your recruiting chances. If an official is letting your opponent cheat to beat you, this could make you look bad in front of the recruiters in attendance. If you are a high-quality face off man stick with events that have a track record of officiating The FaceOff the proper way so that you can show off your skills.