Graduate faceoff specialist Caleb Hammett won 13 of 16 draws, scoring a goal on this one, and picked up nine ground balls, all in the first half of a 21-7 triumph over West Virginia, Sunday in Morgantown, W.Va. (Photos by Thomas Carden)
Men’s lacrosse ends regular season by conquering ALC North Region rival Mountaineers
4/13/2025 6:28:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
The No. 2-ranked Flames (13-1) clinched a No. 1 seed for the ALC Championships and will play the winner of a quarterfinal game between Clemson and Virginia Tech in the semifinals on April 26 at Lynchburg's City Stadium.
Graduate attackmen Keaton Mohs (2 goals, 6 assists) and Braden Landry (6G, 2A) solidified their first- and second-place standing among the MCLA's Division I scoring leaders to boost Liberty University's No. 2-ranked men's lacrosse team to a 21-7 regular season-ending victory over West Virginia, Sunday afternoon at the WVU Rec Center in Morgantown, W.Va.
The Flames (13-1) ended a five-game winning streak by the Mountaineers (6-5) and extended their winning streak to 13 games since a season-opening setback to Virginia Tech to clinch the top seed out of the North Region for the Atlantic Lacrosse Conference (ALC) Championships.
"It was a great way for us to finish off the regular season," Head Coach Kyle McQuillan said. "We are exactly where we wanted to be, and I am proud of these guys. They have done a great job. The season did not start the way we wanted it to, but from then on, the guys decided to respond in a positive way, and (that loss) has motivated and fueled us throughout this season. Now, our spirits and confidence are on the rise. We have a chance to repeat as ALC champions and make a real run at the MCLA national championship."
Mohs, who now is within 18 points of Assistant Coach Ryan Miller's all-time Liberty and MCLA DI scoring record (337 points), increased his league-leading season totals to 38 goals and 49 assists with Landry (48G, 30A) right behind him.
"To have two guys at the top of the list on the same team is pretty impressive," McQuillan said. "From an offensive standpoint, they will pose a problem (for opposing teams in the postseason) moving forward."
Liberty could overtake reigning MCLA National Champion BYU at the No. 1 spot in this week's Coaches' Poll after the Cougars (12-1) had their 29-game winning streak snapped by No. 14 Colorado 12-11 on Thursday.
"That would not be a program first, as we've held the No. 1 ranking before," McQuillan said of the 2022 season when the Flames moved up to the top spot in early March before promptly falling to Clemson and slipping to No. 3. "It would be great affirmation for all of the hard work these guys have put in. Obviously, we would want to retain it a little longer than last time. Nobody cares that we were No. 1 at some point in the regular season. All that matters is who is No. 1 at the end of the season. If we want a No. 1 seed for the national tournament, (defending the ALC Championship would put) us in the driver's seat."
Liberty will face the winner of Friday's quarterfinal between ALC South No. 2 seed Virginia Tech and No. 3 seed Clemson in the April 26 ALC semifinal at Lynchburg's City Stadium. Tennessee (10-3) defeated the Hokies on Friday, 8-4, to clinch the top seed in the ALC South Region and first-round bye in the tournament.
Last season, also played at City Stadium, the Flames dethroned Virginia Tech in the semifinals before topping Tennessee in the championship game to claim their second ALC Tournament crown in the four seasons of the conference's existence.
On Sunday, the Flames overcame a 1-0 deficit to WVU following the opening faceoff to outscore their host 9-2 over the remainder of the first quarter and netted four goals in each of the final three quarters to continue to pad their lead.
"Right off the first faceoff, West Virginia scored to go up 1-0 for about 30 seconds," McQuillan said, noting Liberty graduate faceoff specialist Caleb Hammett won 13 of his final 15 draws in the first half, taking one all the way in for a goal of his own. "They won a faceoff early, pushed the ball in transition, and caught us napping a little bit. From that moment on, we were able to regain the lead throughout, separating ourselves pretty quickly with our most offensively explosive quarter in the first."
"It was a sloppy start to the game, but a good response," he added. "One thing that has been an identity of this group is how they have responded. We lost our first game of the season and how they have responded since is what has made this group special."
Junior attack Luke Branham scored four goals and distributed three assists to complement Landry and Mohs, his attack linemates. Freshman midfielder Josiah Hoopman also netted three goals while junior middie Gabe Dymmel tallied two and freshman middie Will Morris, sophomore middie Luke Campbell, junior middie Shane Supek and Hammett each added one.
In net, sophomore goalie Ian Carvajal made nine saves and allowed six goals through three quarters.
The Flames will have next weekend off to celebrate Easter before ramping up practices for the ALC Tournament the following weekend and the May 5-10 MCLA National Championships in Round Rock, Texas.
"It will be a great opportunity for the guys to spend time with family and get a break from lacrosse," McQuillan said. "We know we still have a lot of work to do."
On Saturday, Liberty's players spent a couple hours in Martinsburg, W.Va., visiting with Spring Mills High School's lacrosse team — formerly coached by Club Sports Hall of Fame member Jeremy Kortwright — which is still mourning the loss of one of its top players, Nico Loeber, who died last year.
Liberty has designated a scholarship in Loeber's memory to pay for one Spring Mills player each year from here forward to attend its Flames Futures U-19 Summer Lacrosse Camp, set for July 17-20 this year.
"Jeremy Kortwright has done so much to spread the sport of lacrosse in that region, and he is a great ambassador not just for the sport, but for Liberty," McQuillan said, noting he has sent as many as 15 players from Spring Mills to Liberty's camps in previous summers. "We wanted to offer a scholarship for Spring Mills to be able to select one player who embodies the spirit of Nico and how he played, which is 'fast, physical, and relentless.'"
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
The Flames (13-1) ended a five-game winning streak by the Mountaineers (6-5) and extended their winning streak to 13 games since a season-opening setback to Virginia Tech to clinch the top seed out of the North Region for the Atlantic Lacrosse Conference (ALC) Championships.
"It was a great way for us to finish off the regular season," Head Coach Kyle McQuillan said. "We are exactly where we wanted to be, and I am proud of these guys. They have done a great job. The season did not start the way we wanted it to, but from then on, the guys decided to respond in a positive way, and (that loss) has motivated and fueled us throughout this season. Now, our spirits and confidence are on the rise. We have a chance to repeat as ALC champions and make a real run at the MCLA national championship."
Mohs, who now is within 18 points of Assistant Coach Ryan Miller's all-time Liberty and MCLA DI scoring record (337 points), increased his league-leading season totals to 38 goals and 49 assists with Landry (48G, 30A) right behind him.
"To have two guys at the top of the list on the same team is pretty impressive," McQuillan said. "From an offensive standpoint, they will pose a problem (for opposing teams in the postseason) moving forward."
Liberty could overtake reigning MCLA National Champion BYU at the No. 1 spot in this week's Coaches' Poll after the Cougars (12-1) had their 29-game winning streak snapped by No. 14 Colorado 12-11 on Thursday.
"That would not be a program first, as we've held the No. 1 ranking before," McQuillan said of the 2022 season when the Flames moved up to the top spot in early March before promptly falling to Clemson and slipping to No. 3. "It would be great affirmation for all of the hard work these guys have put in. Obviously, we would want to retain it a little longer than last time. Nobody cares that we were No. 1 at some point in the regular season. All that matters is who is No. 1 at the end of the season. If we want a No. 1 seed for the national tournament, (defending the ALC Championship would put) us in the driver's seat."
Liberty will face the winner of Friday's quarterfinal between ALC South No. 2 seed Virginia Tech and No. 3 seed Clemson in the April 26 ALC semifinal at Lynchburg's City Stadium. Tennessee (10-3) defeated the Hokies on Friday, 8-4, to clinch the top seed in the ALC South Region and first-round bye in the tournament.
Last season, also played at City Stadium, the Flames dethroned Virginia Tech in the semifinals before topping Tennessee in the championship game to claim their second ALC Tournament crown in the four seasons of the conference's existence.
On Sunday, the Flames overcame a 1-0 deficit to WVU following the opening faceoff to outscore their host 9-2 over the remainder of the first quarter and netted four goals in each of the final three quarters to continue to pad their lead.
"Right off the first faceoff, West Virginia scored to go up 1-0 for about 30 seconds," McQuillan said, noting Liberty graduate faceoff specialist Caleb Hammett won 13 of his final 15 draws in the first half, taking one all the way in for a goal of his own. "They won a faceoff early, pushed the ball in transition, and caught us napping a little bit. From that moment on, we were able to regain the lead throughout, separating ourselves pretty quickly with our most offensively explosive quarter in the first."
"It was a sloppy start to the game, but a good response," he added. "One thing that has been an identity of this group is how they have responded. We lost our first game of the season and how they have responded since is what has made this group special."
Junior attack Luke Branham scored four goals and distributed three assists to complement Landry and Mohs, his attack linemates. Freshman midfielder Josiah Hoopman also netted three goals while junior middie Gabe Dymmel tallied two and freshman middie Will Morris, sophomore middie Luke Campbell, junior middie Shane Supek and Hammett each added one.
In net, sophomore goalie Ian Carvajal made nine saves and allowed six goals through three quarters.
The Flames will have next weekend off to celebrate Easter before ramping up practices for the ALC Tournament the following weekend and the May 5-10 MCLA National Championships in Round Rock, Texas.
"It will be a great opportunity for the guys to spend time with family and get a break from lacrosse," McQuillan said. "We know we still have a lot of work to do."
On Saturday, Liberty's players spent a couple hours in Martinsburg, W.Va., visiting with Spring Mills High School's lacrosse team — formerly coached by Club Sports Hall of Fame member Jeremy Kortwright — which is still mourning the loss of one of its top players, Nico Loeber, who died last year.
Liberty has designated a scholarship in Loeber's memory to pay for one Spring Mills player each year from here forward to attend its Flames Futures U-19 Summer Lacrosse Camp, set for July 17-20 this year.
"Jeremy Kortwright has done so much to spread the sport of lacrosse in that region, and he is a great ambassador not just for the sport, but for Liberty," McQuillan said, noting he has sent as many as 15 players from Spring Mills to Liberty's camps in previous summers. "We wanted to offer a scholarship for Spring Mills to be able to select one player who embodies the spirit of Nico and how he played, which is 'fast, physical, and relentless.'"
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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