Men’s lacrosse gets early gauge of potential in scrimmage against Roanoke
2/7/2022 5:43:58 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Intensity on the Liberty Lacrosse Field and the sidelines for Saturday’s exhibition game against Roanoke College reached playoff levels as Liberty University’s men’s lacrosse team, ranked No. 4 in the MCLA preseason coaches’ poll, got an excellent test from an ODAC power.
“It was an example of two teams that are excited to be playing lacrosse against outside competition again,” Flames Head Coach Kyle McQuillan said. “The focus was on giving us both an opportunity to better prepare for the starts of our seasons and to showcase the hard work that both teams have put in so far.”
He said the experience gave the Flames’ coaching staff a glimpse of the tremendous potential the team has this season as well as an opportunity to identify areas of weakness that they need to address before the 2022 season officially opens Feb. 19 against reigning 2019 MCLA Division I national champion South Carolina.
“It was a super valuable opportunity to try some new things with our lineups, to experiment with different rides and clears, to test out our pressure defense in situations where we may be down in a game, and to ensure we are in the best position to start our season against South Carolina,” McQuillan said.
He noted that the real benefit of playing teams such as Roanoke in scrimmages before the start of the past two spring seasons as well as Hampden-Sydney last fall and Southern Virginia University last spring is the chance to see how NCAA Division III programs operate.
“Teams like that have a discipline and structure in place and put a high emphasis on consistency and dedication to their sport, so it’s great to be able to play these types of programs, models of what we’re trying to do here,” McQuillan said. “They are programs that do not make many mistakes, capitalize on opponents’ mistakes, and are very disciplined and consistent lacrosse teams. Their coaching staffs do a great job of getting them to play as one team, as one unit. We are grateful for the ability to be able to play them in games that don’t have any negative consequences.”
Liberty rallied from a 4-2 deficit to draw within one goal of the Maroons by halftime before missing opportunities to tie and take the lead in the second half.
“We had moments and stretches where I thought we played very well,” McQuillan said, noting that the Flames were effective in capitalizing on man-up situations. “I was impressed with how we responded early. Being able to keep things close and cut into that lead going into halftime showed some good resilience and ability to ride out the storm.”
McQuillan expects South Carolina to provide a similar challenge when it visits the Liberty Lacrosse Fields on Feb. 19 for the 5 p.m. season-opening faceoff.
“South Carolina has definitely been restricted in their ability to be a team and compete at the MCLA level the past two seasons, but we are definitely treating them like the defending national champs they are,” he said. “They have a great program and a strong culture, and we are going to be as prepared as we possibly can be for them, and are looking forward to opening against such as strong opponent.”
Individually, the Flames feel fortunate to return a few players for extra seasons of eligibility after COVID-19 cut the 2020 and 2021 seasons short, including four graduates — goalie Ryan Reynolds, defender Reagan Pritchett, midfielder Cameron Carter, and Carter Elliott, one of the Flames’ most dangerous attackmen.
Reynolds, who helped keep the Flames in the scrimmage against Roanoke, was the inaugural Atlantic Lacrosse Conference (ALC) Defensive Player of the Year and tournament MVP last season.
“It is early, but obvious how important it was to get a guy like Ryan Reynolds to come back because of how much of an impact he makes on defensive side of the ball,” McQuillan said. “Reagan Pritchett didn’t play against Roanoke College due to an injury, but he brings a ton of experience and seniority to the defense. Bringing back guys like Carter Elliott and (sophomore attack) Keaton Mohs (who missed the fall semester) is huge. We lean pretty heavily on Carter and he is always going to be a difference-maker in games.”
Elliott will be complemented by senior attackmen Mark Rolewicz, who scored the Flames’ first goal against Roanoke, and Cooper Branham.
Aside from Reynolds, four of the Flames’ five team captains this season are midfielders — Carter, senior Ryan O’Connor, junior Remy Newton, and junior long-stick middie Luke Rafferty.
Bolstering the midfield are senior Thomas Poucher-Pinel, who shifted from attack last season, freshman Willem Geary, and senior Cole Jankowsky, a faceoff specialist.
Sophomore defender Matt Walker, a transfer from Limestone University, is a smart, physical player who will strengthen Liberty’s defensive corps.
Besides the veteran leadership in all four phases of the game, one factor that should work in the Flames’ favor this season is home-field advantage, with nine of their 13 regular-season games to be played at the Liberty Lacrosse Fields. That includes the April 8 “Midnight Mayhem” matchup against MCLA preseason No. 1 BYU, a rematch of the May 12 MCLA National Invitational opener in Texas.
McQuillan expects Clemson, the team it defeated in the inaugural ALC Tournament championship game, and Virginia Tech, which will host their regular-season-ending showdown on April 15, to be the Flames’ top challengers in the conference this season.
“It is exciting for our fans and parents and our players to represent Liberty Lacrosse in such a big way with a lot of home opportunities,” McQuillan said, noting that holding the ALC tournament April 30-May 1 at Lynchburg’s City Stadium is a neutral site, but the Flames will still have a home advantage.
The additions of Pittsburgh, Temple, and JMU to the ALC will add an unknown element.
“They bring some new blood that we have to be aware of, and we are excited to create some new rivalries,” McQuillan said.
Overall, the Flames are thrilled to get their first full season since 2019 under way, with potential for a return to the MCLA National Championships, May 9-14 in Round Rock, Texas.
“We’ve got a very talented group, and definitely a team and a program that has all the opportunity in the world to repeat as ALC champions and make a run at nationals,” McQuillan said. “They key will be to come together and play as a team and not play to individual skillsets and abilities, but the overall team’s skillsets and abilities.”
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video by Caitlyn Brown/Club Sports Video & Media Assistant