Men’s lacrosse team receives national championship rings, holds annual alumni game

Family Weekend was the perfect occasion for Liberty University's reigning MCLA Division I national champion men's lacrosse team to receive its championship rings and celebrate a season of unprecedented success.

More than 120 current and former players, family members, and friends attended Saturday's ceremony held in a classroom in DeMoss Hall before the festivities moved to the Liberty Lacrosse Fields for a highly competitive alumni game and tailgate party leading up to the Flames Football game against James Madison University at nearby Williams Stadium.

MCLA National Championship rings — A Liberty 2025 MCLA Division I championship ring

"Last season was such a milestone for our program," Head Coach Kyle McQuillan said of the Flames winning their final 19 games to claim the first national title in team history. "For us as coaches, especially for our current roster with 17 new players, it was important that we painted a picture of the journey of how we got to this point and everything that transpired before this season, going back to the team that was on campus in 1980s."

He said the time of remembrance and friendly competition between old and new players sets the stage for another promising season next spring, pre-empted by scrimmages at NCAA Division III Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., on Oct. 17 and against ALC rival Virginia Tech on Oct. 23 at home.

"All of our new guys are trying to get adjusted to Liberty Lacrosse and get invested in what we have done here, and events like this do a good job of that," McQuillan said. "At the end of the day, after getting a bigger picture of the story of Liberty Lacrosse, it is hard to come out of this event without a ton of excitement and optimism for the future."

He was particularly pleased with the interaction between the current and former players during the alumni game.

"I was really happy with the number of guys that came back to play on the alumni team," McQuillan said. "They didn't have nearly as deep a bench as we did, but there were some really talented players on the alumni team, which gets better every year, and it was a fun event."

The contemporary Flames led by three goals going into the fourth quarter when McQuillan, who served as the head referee, ruled that the alumni team would be awarded the ball back after every goal, which helped it cut the deficit to one goal by the game's end.

"It is always a pretty friendly contest, and as the head official, I always try to find creative ways to keep it as close as possible," McQuillan said. "Though it is not a game we keep score of or really care who wins, I want a competitive and fun game to watch. The goal is to get them together on the field for fellowship and to build the community of players."

Men's lacrosse on steps of Montview — Liberty's national championship players pose with their rings on the steps of the Montview Student Union after Saturday's ceremony. (Photo by Anna Wheat)

He liked what he saw from his current roster and looks forward to seeing them in live game action next month.

"It is really important with the group as a whole to see their commitment and work ethic, all the things that are really hard to coach," McQuillan said. "I was impressed overall with the defensive group, where we graduated a lot, and it is an area where we've had to restock and readjust. When we put them in situations on the field to be tested, against Randolph-Macon or Virginia Tech, it will be a learning process for all of us. There are a handful of guys who could jump into a starting spot or at least an important reserve role as freshmen."

For the tailgate party that followed, held in the gravel lot adjacent to the lacrosse field, the Flames showcased humility and thankfulness by serving their families and the alumni on hand with servants' hearts and a joyful spirit.

"After every game (in the spring), our parents and family members do such a fantastic job at running the tailgates, so we wanted to do things differently this time," McQuillan said. "We flipped the script and had our current team members serve our alumni and families, which was a great idea from (Associate Head) Coach (Mike) Zumpano. The players jumped in and put on the tailgate and pitched in to feed everybody."

He said the selfless act demonstrated the team's primary mission to develop Champions for Christ who look to positively impact their families and communities and change the world for good.

"Jesus calls us to be the servant leaders, and we have such great examples on our staff, from Coach Z (Zumpano) and (Assistant Coach) Jesse Glauser and especially (Team Chaplain) Reese Braband," McQuillan said. "Our primary non-negotiable, fundamental principle on our team is gratitude and that was a practical way to show it."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer

Men’s lacrosse team receives national championship rings, holds annual alumni game

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