Young and hungry
Men’s lacrosse hopes to build reputation
UNDERDOG — The men’s lacrosse team finished the 2016 season ranked No. 16.
Photo Credit: Caroline Cummings
The Liberty University men’s lacrosse team is coming out of the preseason with high ambitions to not only have a successful season, but to also claim victory over nationally-ranked opponents.
According to Head Coach Kyle McQuillan, the preseason has been an integral time for the players to polish their skills before jumping into the regular season.
Despite graduating nearly half its players, the lacrosse team is embracing the challenges before it.
“I feel very good about where we’re going,” McQuillan said.
“The focus for us coming into the preseason was just to figure out what kind of team we were going to be.”
McQuillan said one of the biggest differences between last season and the current season is the offensive improvement.
“I think we have a lot of talented offensive players,” McQuillan said.
“We are a fast and athletic group as well, so getting points in transition is something we will have success in.”
During the regular season, the team faces nationally-ranked lacrosse programs including Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Florida State University.
In November 2016, Liberty hosted Virginia Tech at the East Campus field for a scrimmage.
The result saw Virginia Tech take the victory 14-4.
“We got a wake-up call,” senior midfielder Brett Wood said.
“However, I feel like we learned a lot.”
During the following months, the players turned their attention to the fundamentals of lacrosse, making sure they had all the basic skills necessary for competing at the highest level.
“One of the main things we focused on (during preseason) is making sure everyone could pass with both hands,” junior midfielder Sam King said.
“(In) the last few months of practice we have been getting back to the basics.”
McQuillan said one of the biggest accomplishments during the preseason was the team camaraderie that developed during practices and scrimmages.
“(The players) genuinely care for one another,” McQuillan said.
“I very rarely have a team this early in the season experiencing this kind of camaraderie. We’re hoping that that will translate onto the field, but only time will tell.”
According to McQuillan, one of the biggest challenges will be the road games against ranked opponents.
The team will travel west to face off against teams such as Colorado State University and Michigan State University — games that will be integral for the advancement of Liberty’s lacrosse program.
“We haven’t lost at home (during the regular season) in four years, but we also haven’t made nationals for the last three,” McQuillan said.
“So it doesn’t really matter how many games we win at home. We have to win some on the road.”
Although winning the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference Championship is
Liberty’s priority, making nationals is something the team is striving for.
“This team legitimately has gotten better every single year as this program has gone on,” McQuillan said.
“Three years not being at nationals is probably too long, and I think we need to start being consistently competitive on the national level.”
Liberty’s first regular season game will be against East Carolina University at the East Campus fields Saturday, Feb. 18, marking the first game in a long journey for the lacrosse team.
“We’re young and hungry more than anything,” Wood said.
“We’re pumped, and we will be ready for these challenges.”