Sam Hoffman saved 73 percent of shots on goal during his junior season in Tennessee, improving from 56 percent his freshman year.
Defensive trio among the most promising recruits in men’s lacrosse program history
7/12/2024 9:16:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
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Close defenders and LSMs Caleb Galecke and Jacob McKnight and goalie Sam Hoffman are expected to challenge for starting positions as freshmen in the 2024-25 season.
Assistant Coach Mike Zumpano expects incoming defenders/long-stick midfielders (LSMs) Caleb Galecke and Jacob McKnight and goalie Sam Hoffman to be anchors of Liberty University's men's lacrosse team for the next four seasons.
"They are probably three of the top-level recruits we have ever gotten as true freshmen defenders," Zumpano said. "These guys were really invested in the recruiting process and were all considering pretty high-level opportunities and decided to play for us, which was a huge win for our program."
Caleb Galecke has trained at events around the country such as Maverik Showtime.
He considers Galecke, a 6-foot, 3-inch, 210-pound native of West Bend, Wisc., the "linchpin" of the recruiting class that also includes a faceoff specialist, two midfielders, and two attackmen.
"Caleb has a chance to be one of the top defenders we have ever had at Liberty," Zumpano said of Galecke, who committed to Liberty in February 2023 over NCAA Division I programs Air Force Academy and Ohio State. "From a skill standpoint, his size and stature, speed and physicality and aggressiveness, as well as his understanding of the game, are all at a level we haven't had at Liberty. I expect him to compete for a starting spot as a freshman."
Already a licensed pilot with more than 100 flight hours logged, Galecke's interest in pursuing a B.S. in Aeronautics: Commercial/Corporate and becoming certified to fly with major airlines or cargo transport planes was a major selling point for him to land at Liberty.
"There are not too many schools that have aviation programs and as soon as I stepped foot on campus and met the coaches, I knew Liberty was where I wanted to be," Galecke said. "The coaches were great, the facilities were amazing, the program was wonderful, and the faith aspect drew me in. To have the opportunity to grow in my faith and share my love of God with other players and coaches while playing at a high level, it was incomparable to any place I have ever been."
After starting out on attack and shifting back to midfield and eventually defensive midfield as a sophomore, his development as a defender has accelerated under the coaching of First Class Lacrosse founder Matt Dunn, a Team USA World Championships defender based in Texas, and by participating in Maverik Showtime events in New Jersey and playing with his Team 18 national team at tournaments in Baltimore.
"After hitting a big growth spurt my sophomore year, I switched to close defense and I've been playing at that position for the past two years," said Galecke, who has also thrived as an LSM.
He is looking forward to working with Assistant Coaches Jessi Glauser and Justin Kilian to become an even more physical force on the field.
A licensed pilot, Galecke will pursue his B.S. in Aeronautics: Commercial/Corporate.
"I pride myself as a cover guy, a really physical defenseman, and working with our strength and conditioning coaches will be about getting bigger, stronger, and faster," he said. "That has definitely helped me to grow in my size and my speed and athleticism to be able to cover some of the top players in the league."
Galecke facilitated Zumpano's and Head Coach Kyle McQuillan's recruitment of Hoffman, a Team 18 teammate from Tennessee who could challenge returning sophomore Ian Carvajal and junior Cam Harriman for playing time between the pipes starting this fall.
"Ian Carvajal definitely has the leg up, but Sam is probably just as capable and even more experienced," Zumpano said. "He is a little more traveled and has played against top-level competition and alongside great defenders."
Hoffman
Hoffman, an avid hunter and fisherman who plans to pursue a B.S. in Zoology (Pre-Vet), started playing goalie in fourth grade and saved 73 percent of shots faced his junior season in high school.
"(Goalkeeping) gives me something to focus on every day," he said. "I know I can get better at it, and I am going to work as hard as I can to possibly achieve that spot. I want to get into the mindset to just work and know that the best one starts."
He said playing on the Team 18 national squad with Galecke and with Fine Tune Lacrosse, an elite team based out of Nashville, Tenn., helped elevate his game tremendously.
"Caleb and I have built a really good relationship, and he helped me advance my communication skills in the cage, talking to my defense," Hoffman said, noting that his strengths as a goalie are his quick hands and decisiveness on outlet passes. "Especially on clears, I can read the field and break it down to figure what's the best option to go to."
He is eager to join the Flames in their pursuit of a first MCLA national title while being sharpened by his new teammates spiritually.
"I've always been on a mediocre team where we win some big games but not a lot, so I am excited to be on an elite team," he said. "I definitely have faith and am looking to build it even more. I am looking forward to the brotherhood there and attending Convocation."
Jacob McKnight has a high lacrosse IQ and adapts well to new defensive systems.
McKnight, a 6-0, 185-pound close defender from Glen Rock, Pa., is both athletically and intellectually gifted and will pursue a B.S. in Accounting and Data Analysis through Liberty's School of Business.
"He is very academically motivated, a high achiever academically, and he is really a hard worker," Zumpano said. "He is a great character guy who has a high lacrosse IQ and his strength is being able to implement new things and develop himself physically."
Defensively, McKnight expects to be able to carry out his assignments on the field as well as he handles his workload in the classroom.
"I am a really fundamental defender, and I try not to get beat and try to make the player I'm covering make mistakes," he said. "I want to come in along with the other guys, try my hardest, and get better each day, and hopefully help the team win the (ALC) conference championship again and go a little bit farther at the (MCLA) National Championships."
