The Flames have added three defensive recruits this summer — Conor Guiltinan, a 6-foot, 1-inch, 200-pound long-stick midfielder (LSM) transferring from NCAA DI High Point, as well as LSMs Graham Lilley from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Va., and Peyton Park from Westminster (Md.) High School.
The starting defensive line on Liberty University's men's lacrosse team next spring could be made up of transfers from three NCAA programs — rising seniors Matt Walker (Division II Limestone (S.C.) University), Bryn Jungles (Division II Queens of Charlotte (N.C.)), and Conor Guiltinan, who started the past three seasons at NCAA Division I High Point (N.C.) University before opting to join the MCLA Division I Flames this fall.
Guiltinan
"Based on his pedigree and his experience and level of play, Conor is a guy that's going to come in and make an immediate impact," said Liberty Assistant Coach Mike Zumpano, who serves as defensive coordinator and faces the challenge of replacing six defenders who graduated in May.
The Flames have added three defensive recruits this summer — Guiltinan, a 6-foot, 1-inch, 200-pound long-stick midfielder (LSM) from Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., as well as LSMs Graham Lilley from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Va., and Peyton Park from Westminster (Md.) High School.
Guiltinan's decision to finish his collegiate career in Lynchburg, Va., speaks volumes about the spiritual emphasis at Liberty, which sets it apart from programs fully focused on athletic success.
"He has a unique story of how his faith has become paramount in his college career," Zumpano said. "For him to connect with us is a testament to what Liberty has been able to build — a culture and an environment where guys can compete at the highest level … while developing their faith.
All three of those guys have found a home at Liberty, where they don't have to choose between their faith and the sport that they're passionate about, but they can integrate the two and have the best of both worlds."
The Flames reached the MCLA Division I National Championships Final Four for the first time this past May in Round Rock, Texas. Liberty Head Coach Kyle McQuillan said that success at the national level has helped his recruiting efforts, but that the university sells itself when prospective student-athletes see firsthand all that it has to offer, from a world-class faith-based education to facilities unmatched at the Club Sports level.
"We've done recruiting showcases and camps, but social media continues to be the best thing that we do in recruiting," he said. "We've had success with (prospects) tracking us down and making visits. That's the biggest thing. We can go out and see kids play at tournaments, but if we can get them here on campus, it's a game-changer because this place speaks for itself."
Guiltinan, who played football growing up in Southern California, also played box lacrosse for the San Diego Royals over the past two summers, helping them win back-to-back National Collegiate Box Series (NCBS) championships with teammates from Brown, Chapman (Calif.), Johns Hopkins, Princeton, and Syracuse, among others. He fell in love with Liberty on his first visit earlier this month, and said he is looking forward to the Christian fellowship fostered by the Flames.
Guiltinan helped lead the San Diego Royals to back-to-back NCBS national championships.
"I felt the Lord was calling me out of the secular environment (at High Point) and to a more faith-based environment," he said. "I looked into Liberty, saw that it had a great lacrosse program, and I visited campus, which was beautiful. Everything was right, and with plenty of counsel and prayer, I felt Liberty was where God was calling me to go."
He hopes to make a smooth transition to the team in his final season of eligibility and to contribute in any way possible.
"I would love to help in any way that I can to bring the knowledge and skill I learned at High Point," Guiltinan said. "I want to mentor some of the younger guys, and be a sponge entering a new program, be a tool for the coaches to use in whatever way they need me on the field and be supportive on the sidelines."
He said he has the versatility to play closed defender or LSM, as he did at High Point, and will bring a high level of competitiveness to the program.
"One of my traits is that I am extremely passionate about lacrosse," Guiltinan said. "When I step onto the field, it's about more than just having fun. I take matchups personally, don't ever want to get beat, and am very competitive. It's hard for me to take a loss. I definitely will shoot for a (national) championship."
He said High Point's coaching staff places a premium on speed, hustle, and a quick transition from defense to offense, as well as on- and off-field workouts.
"High Point thrives on extra work after practice, doing drills to better yourselves, and motivate players," Guiltinan said. "On the field, you are never standing still. The ball moves so fast and offensive players are always trying to find ways to score, off-ball and on-ball, so have to have your head on a swivel."
He said communication is also critical, especially competing against the likes of Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia, as High Point does.
"At the Division I level, everybody's got to be communicating," Guiltinan said. "High Point emphasizes the relationships between the players. Having a good relationship between the older guys and younger guys translates onto the field as far as the chemistry goes."
Majoring in sport management, Guiltinan is interested in coaching and could follow his father's lead into a career in real estate or pursue a spiritual calling.
"I am choosing to finish my college career at Liberty University because it is a Christian school, so I could choose to do something with my faith, becoming a missionary or pastor," he said. "Whatever I do go into for work, I will have to put lots of prayer and thought into it first."
Graham Lilley clears the ball for his Cave Spring High School team in nearby Roanoke, Va.
Lilley and Park, while not at Guiltinan's level yet, could develop into starters for the Flames over the next four seasons. Zumpano said having athletic defenders with speed benefits the defense, especially on transition.
"Graham Lilley has a great athletic background as a point guard in basketball and having played other sports," he said. "He's not that big of a kid, but he's got really good field vision. He's a really dynamic player who's going to play more of an LSM type of role for us." Zumpano said Lilley was on the upper end of the talent pool at Cave Spring, which is not known as a lacrosse powerhouse.
"He's certainly a good defender who's got great feet," he said. "He's fast enough to make plays, but he's got the offensive ability to see the field like a point guard would, to see other areas of the field that are a little harder to get the ball to, like an LSM."
Park is from Finksburg, Md., the same town that produced former Flames midfielder CJ Nichols ('20) and goalie Matt Nichols.
"He's a big, physical, athletic kid, the type we try to recruit, and I think he could play either LSM or defense," Zumpano said. "He's kind of a grinder type of player who just wants to come in and work hard and get the job done."
By Ted Allen/Staff WriterWestminster's Peyton Park (left) applies long-stick pressure on a Towson attack.
