Men’s lacrosse lands a dozen recruits to reload after first MCLA DI national title

Fresh off its first MCLA Division I national championship, Liberty University's men's lacrosse team is actively reloading after graduating 11 players, including several starters, from the 19-1 squad that finished ranked No. 1 in the MCLA DI Coaches Poll.

The Flames have 12 incoming recruits currently committed and a few more prospects in the works to replace the likes of MCLA DI Player of the Year and all-time-leading scorer Keaton Mohs, faceoff specialist Caleb Hammett, and Atlantic Lacrosse Conference Defensive Player of the Year Conor Guiltinan.

"It is definitely our biggest recruiting class to date, with a lot of talented kids we've had longstanding relationships with, whether they have attended our summer camps or recruiting showcases," Liberty Head Coach Kyle McQuillan said. "We have done a much better job of making a plan and being more strategic with who we're bringing in."

As talented as the Flames' new recruits are, McQuillan and his coaching staff are confident the returning corps of players are ready to take their games to the next level.

"In maintaining the level of success we've had this year, we don't want to put too much pressure on this incoming class," he said. "This group really is more a part of our long-term than our short-term plan for success. We're not putting a lot of weight on these guys to be real big playmakers for us. We want them to come in their first year and get feet wet, really embrace what we're trying to do, and when the opportunity presents itself, they will be ready."

Isaiah Bainbridge Philadelphia area lacrosse — Isaiah Bainbridge brings a diverse skillset to the Flames' defense.

The Flames had the most holes to fill among the defensive corps and have landed five recruits — Derek Fay, Jacob Haas, KJ Loconti, Noah Maclary, and Isaiah Bainbridge.

"Defensively, this is probably our best class in terms of consistency and what we hope these guys will be for us and the impact they'll have on our program over the next few years," McQuillan said. "Overall, it is our deepest, most well-rounded defensive group."

Bainbridge, a 5-foot, 10-inch, 170-pound defender from a suburb of Philadelphia, was the latest to commit last week.

"He's a hard-working player with a blue-collar, gritty mentality and the ability to handle the ball in the middle of the field, play solid defense, and to play short-stick and take faceoffs as well," Liberty Associate Head Coach Mike Zumpano said. "Having that level of versatility in his skillset gave us confidence in offering him a (roster spot)."

Zumpano said Haas (6-4, 205 pounds), from Wooster, Ohio, is the most formidable and strongest defender in the class.

Jacob Haas ground-ball pickup — Jacob Haas, picking up a ground ball for Wooster (Ohio) High School, could become a centerpiece for the Flames' defense to build around.

"Jacob is big and aggressive and definitely brings a level of physicality and athleticism for his size," Zumpano said. "He also has a high lacrosse IQ and understanding of the game and adapts quickly, taking instruction well. He should come in and contend for playing time and be a player we can build around in years to come as a centerpiece of our defense."

Meanwhile, Zumpano said Fay, a two-way player from Monument, Colo., who grew up competing in both ice hockey and box lacrosse, is the most game-ready and likely to make an immediate impact.

His brother, Connor Fay, a rising junior Resident Shepherd and Pre-Law student at Liberty, played on the Flames' Division III men's hockey team his freshman year.

Derek Fay defensive action — Derek Fay (left) provides close defensive coverage for Monument (Colo.) High, knocking the ball out of the stick of an opposing attack.

"I live an hour from Denver, which is still a bit more of a hockey hotbed," Derek Fay said. "I am equally gifted in both, but am more passionate about lacrosse."

"He is a great kid and tenacious competitor, a very physical and intelligent defender, which will play to our advantage," Zumpano added. "He will be a great asset to the team with his maturity. He leads Bible studies, wants to be a doctor, and has a lot of compassion for people."

Fay, who plans to pursue a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences (Pre-Med), is spending the summer doing plenty of lacrosse training and weightlifting, as well as camping and backpacking. He hopes to climb as many 14,000-plus-feet peaks in Colorado as he can as he prepares mentally, spiritually, and physically for life at Liberty.

KJ Loconti action — KJ Loconti was a captain for his Brentsville District High School team in Haymarket, Va.

"It is a godly environment, and I am definitely excited to be a part of that," said Fay, whose father died of cancer in 2022. "The team has an amazing coaching staff and culture, with everybody pushing each other. That's the great thing about team sports. You've got a lot of people together to push you through stuff."

Loconti, who like Fay was a captain of his high school team, is a 6-0, 160-pound long-stick midfielder from Haymarket, Va. He has come to Flames Futures camps the last two summers, building relationship with current players and the coaching staff.

"Loconti is a very good athlete with a high character standard," Zumpano said. "He is very fast and has a very good stick and will be a high-capacity player who can exude some leadership qualities."

Maclary, from Lititz, Pa., is a 5-10, 160-pound LSM prospect who Zumpano compares to a right-handed version of rising junior Graham Lilley.

Noah Maclary Liberty defensive recruit — Noah Maclary is an aggressive long-stick midfielder from Pennsylvania.

"Noah's got that same capability and physique on the defensive end," he said. "He is a high-IQ player in the midfield, and for his size, he's aggressive and tenacious and has the ability to carry the ball as a transition threat."

On the offensive side of the ball, the incoming freshmen recruits include midfielders/attackmen Corben Bowen, Peyton Fox, and Taydan Williams, middies Benjamin Lippy and Jonathan Papendick, attackman Jeffrey Pitcher, and faceoff specialist Chester Kim.

Bowen, from Gibsonville, N.C., got on the Flames' radar early by standing out in a Flames Futures Camp three summers ago.

"We pulled him out of his age group and he was able to compete with guys two or three years older," McQuillan said. "He has a ton of potential, and if commits himself to this program, buys in and does the work, he could do something special. We're confident he's going to continue to grow and hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later."

Peyton Fox Pope John XXIII defender — Peyton Fox, a middie/attack, patrols the field for Pope John XXIII Regional High School.

Fox, from Sparta, N.J., played a high level of lacrosse at Pope John XXIII Regional High School, was the latest offensive addition to the recruiting class.

"Peyton really impressed us by how seriously he takes his game, how intentional he was about finding the right place for him academically and playing for a program that was going to push and challenge him," McQuillan said. "For him to emphasize that made us feel even better about what we've seen of him on film, and we are glad he decided he was a good fit for Liberty."

While he stands 6-feet tall, Fox only weighs 160 pounds, a factor that McQuillan used as a recruiting incentive.

"We can develop this young man not only as a lacrosse player but physically as well," he said. "(Strength coaches) Jessi (Glauser) and Justin (Kilian) do an amazing job of that."

Taydan Williams shot — Taydan Williams excelled for his St. Mary's High school team in Lancaster, N.Y.

Williams, a 6-1, 170-pound middie from upstate New York, has also played very competitive levels of box lacrosse across the border in Canada.

"Taydan is probably going to be able to hit the ground running better than most as he is very versatile, wildly athletic, has great hands, and really strong stick skills," McQuillan said. "We are excited to get him here to see how he fits. At our recruiting showcases, where you're thrown into the mix with bigger, stronger, faster players, some shrink and some elevate, and Taydan showed he really can elevate pretty quickly."

Lippy, a 6-1, 195-pound middie from New Freedom, Pa., has been a regular at Liberty's summer camps and recruiting showcases.

Ben Lippy spirit line — Ben Lippy could be used at a variety of positions for the Flames starting this fall.

"Ben is just a really big, physical, athletic kid we don't know exactly how we'll use," said McQuillan, who may start Lippy on the defensive side of the ball. "Defense is more reactive, and you need guys that can match people's speed and be more physical. He has a really strong work ethic and when you ask him to do something, there's no question he's going to go out and do it."

Papendick, the brother of rising sophomore attack/middie Ben Papendick, is a 6-2, 180-pound middie from Kinnelon, N.J.

"Jonathan and Ben are almost like twins, carbon copies of one another, in terms of size and athleticism," McQuillan said. "There is a connection there, and we are excited to use their brotherly intuition to our advantage like we have with Cooper and Luke (Branham on attack), with their ability to find each other on the field. Jonathan is a big, long midfielder with really good speed and the ability to get up and down the field and be dangerous in transition. If he's anything like his brother, his endurance is pretty strong as well."

Pitcher, a 6-2, 180-pound attack from Mason, Ohio, made a strong first impression at the Flames' recruiting showcase last August.

"Ohio and Pennsylvania produce a different brand of lacrosse players, who are a little grittier, more blue-collar, and Jeff fits that mold," McQuillan said. "He is a physical kid who is not afraid to get his hands dirty, especially on attack. Some attackmen kind of like to be on the outside and avoid contact, so it is rare to find someone with his size and frame who is willing to engage, embrace, and bring physicality to the (opposing) defense, with the same mentality as (rising sophomore middie) Will Morris."

Jeffrey Pitcher showed no hesitation on attack for his Mason (Ohio) High School team.

Kim, who will challenge rising senior middies Shane Supek and Jayson Houck for reps at the faceoff dot, played on the same Trinity Christian School team where Assistant Coach Ryan Miller used to coach and Ben Chun, who graduated in May, played defender.

"Faceoff specialist is one of the tougher spots to come in as you are kind of out on an island, similar to a goalie, but Chester has been to a couple of our recruiting showcases and was able to meet Caleb (Hammett), who leaves some pretty big shoes to fill," McQuillan said. "There's not a huge expectation for him to come in and be the guy, but to compete and drive the quality of our faceoff specialists. He's got a really good foundation and skillset that we think is going to transfer well when he faces stiffer competition. We're most impressed by his dedication and diligence, his interest and passion for playing at Liberty. We can train guys to develop athleticism and strength, but the toughest thing to teach is the work ethic, and we're pretty optimistic about his potential."

John Papendick lacrosse clear — John Papendick will complement his brother Ben in the Flames' midfield starting this fall.

McQuillan said coming off the national title season, the Flames' coaching staff will need to adjust their motivational language in a positive way to help get the most out of the returning players and newcomers next spring. Liberty is now chasing the likes of Colorado State, which captured six MCLA DI crowns from 1999-2013, BYU (four), Michigan (three), and UC Santa Barbara and South Carolina (two) in terms of national success.

"Every year, this team has taken steps forward, and it's going to be difficult — some would say impossible — to do better this year with exception of being an undefeated national champion," he said. "We accomplished a goal we've had as a program for 15 years and now it becomes about creating a legacy of championship-level teams by striving for consistency. We want to be one of few teams in the MCLA with multiple national championships, and even fewer with back-to-back titles."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer

Chester Kim FOS — Chester Kim wins a faceoff for Trinity Christian School's team in Fairfax, Va., where Ben Chun ('25) played and Ryan Miller ('16) coached.

Men’s lacrosse lands a dozen recruits to reload after first MCLA DI national title

Players Mentioned

Ben Chun

Conor Guiltinan

Caleb Hammett

Jayson Houck

Graham Lilley

Keaton Mohs

Shane Supek

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