Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Wednesday, March 18
Knoxville, TN
8:00 PM
Liberty University Club Sports
at
University of Tennessee
Liberty junior midfielder Harris Shook dives toward the crease and unleashes a shot past Tennessee goalie Kyler Gornick in Wednesday night's 15-10 defeat. (Photos by Anna Wheat)
Men’s lacrosse suffers first-ever loss to preseason ALC favorite host Volunteers
3/19/2026 9:23:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
After slipping to 12-1 all-time against No. 5 Tennessee, No. 7 Liberty must regroup before facing No. 2 BYU Friday at 2 p.m. and Auburn Saturday at noon.
A spring break road trip to Knoxville, Tenn., where it is putting itself to the test with three games in four days against high-level competition, is designed to prepare Liberty University's men's lacrosse team to challenge for its third consecutive Atlantic Lacrosse Conference title and defend its first-ever MCLA National Championships crown in May.
"This week gives us great competition against three teams that are obviously going to be wildly competitive, and it simulates a little bit of a national tournament feel, playing three games in a short period of time," Liberty Head Coach Kyle McQuillen said.
After having their 23-game winning streak snapped decisively (22-8) by now-No. 6 Florida State University on March 8 at the Liberty Lacrosse Fields, the Flames (4-2) lost a more competitive game at No. 5 Tennessee, falling 15-10 to the preseason ALC favorite. Liberty defeated the Volunteers (9-1) in the past two conference tournament finals.
"Things didn't go our way, but I know from our perspective that was a very good team," McQuillan said. "We had a lot of respect for them coming into tonight's game. They're having a great year and have a lot of support from their fans, so it was a fun environment to play in. We had a great response from the last game we played, and I was proud of the guys for the way they played and the fight they showed."
The Flames trailed 6-3 at the half before pressing their attack and executing their 10-man ride to make it a game. They got two goals apiece from senior attack Luke Branham, junior middie Hunter Rockhill, sophomore attack Taydan Williams, and sophomore middie Will Morris while senior faceoff specialist Shane Supek won 13 of his 26 draws and junior goalie Ian Carvajal made 14 saves, just missing the 50-percent mark by allowing 15 goals.
"We made too many mistakes and came up short tonight," McQuillan said. "They won every quarter by one or two goals (3-2, 3-1, 6-5, 3-2). They took advantage of their opportunities and did a good job of handling our 10-man ride. There were a few times where it bit us as well, and Tennessee was able to get some points off it."
He said the winning streak against the Volunteers had to end sooner or later, and he is looking forward to facing them again in the ALC Tournament at the Liberty Lacrosse Fields.
"We've been playing Tennessee for a long time," McQuillan said. "They've been knocking on the door here for quite a while, and tonight they were able to break through. A lot of people picked them as the top team in the ALC, and tonight they earned a little bit of that notoriety. Their goalie (junior Kyler Gornick) was one of their strengths, and he showed why he's probably one of the best goalkeepers in the country."
After dropping four spots to No. 7 in this week's MCLA Division I rankings following the lopsided loss to FSU, the Flames know the road ahead doesn't get any easier, with a rematch of last year's MCLA National Championship game against No. 2 BYU on tap Friday at 2 p.m. and showdown with Auburn, which is on the brink of the top 20 with 18 team points, set for Saturday at noon.
McQuillan said being eliminated by the Flames at the MCLA National Championships in Round Rock, Texas, last year gives the Cougars plenty of motivation.
"BYU is one of those perennial powerhouses, and regardless of who they lose, they reload," McQuillan said. "We have to have a short-term memory. We have plenty to learn from tonight's game and a short reset time. We'll watch some film (Wednesday night) and have some meetings (on Thursday) in preparation for BYU, which is another fantastic team. We get to test ourselves against a formidable opponent that doesn't have a loss this year. We'll get some rest and hopefully get a great response."
By Ted Allen/Staff WriterGallery: (3-19-2026) Liberty men's lacrosse at Tennessee
"This week gives us great competition against three teams that are obviously going to be wildly competitive, and it simulates a little bit of a national tournament feel, playing three games in a short period of time," Liberty Head Coach Kyle McQuillen said.
After having their 23-game winning streak snapped decisively (22-8) by now-No. 6 Florida State University on March 8 at the Liberty Lacrosse Fields, the Flames (4-2) lost a more competitive game at No. 5 Tennessee, falling 15-10 to the preseason ALC favorite. Liberty defeated the Volunteers (9-1) in the past two conference tournament finals.
"Things didn't go our way, but I know from our perspective that was a very good team," McQuillan said. "We had a lot of respect for them coming into tonight's game. They're having a great year and have a lot of support from their fans, so it was a fun environment to play in. We had a great response from the last game we played, and I was proud of the guys for the way they played and the fight they showed."
The Flames trailed 6-3 at the half before pressing their attack and executing their 10-man ride to make it a game. They got two goals apiece from senior attack Luke Branham, junior middie Hunter Rockhill, sophomore attack Taydan Williams, and sophomore middie Will Morris while senior faceoff specialist Shane Supek won 13 of his 26 draws and junior goalie Ian Carvajal made 14 saves, just missing the 50-percent mark by allowing 15 goals.
"We made too many mistakes and came up short tonight," McQuillan said. "They won every quarter by one or two goals (3-2, 3-1, 6-5, 3-2). They took advantage of their opportunities and did a good job of handling our 10-man ride. There were a few times where it bit us as well, and Tennessee was able to get some points off it."
He said the winning streak against the Volunteers had to end sooner or later, and he is looking forward to facing them again in the ALC Tournament at the Liberty Lacrosse Fields.
"We've been playing Tennessee for a long time," McQuillan said. "They've been knocking on the door here for quite a while, and tonight they were able to break through. A lot of people picked them as the top team in the ALC, and tonight they earned a little bit of that notoriety. Their goalie (junior Kyler Gornick) was one of their strengths, and he showed why he's probably one of the best goalkeepers in the country."
After dropping four spots to No. 7 in this week's MCLA Division I rankings following the lopsided loss to FSU, the Flames know the road ahead doesn't get any easier, with a rematch of last year's MCLA National Championship game against No. 2 BYU on tap Friday at 2 p.m. and showdown with Auburn, which is on the brink of the top 20 with 18 team points, set for Saturday at noon.
McQuillan said being eliminated by the Flames at the MCLA National Championships in Round Rock, Texas, last year gives the Cougars plenty of motivation.
"BYU is one of those perennial powerhouses, and regardless of who they lose, they reload," McQuillan said. "We have to have a short-term memory. We have plenty to learn from tonight's game and a short reset time. We'll watch some film (Wednesday night) and have some meetings (on Thursday) in preparation for BYU, which is another fantastic team. We get to test ourselves against a formidable opponent that doesn't have a loss this year. We'll get some rest and hopefully get a great response."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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