(Photo: Liberty University)
After narrowly missing out on a chance at the tournament last season, this team has a chance to break out from under the SELC’s shadow and make a big national splash with Player of the Year candidate Ryan Miller and company. This is part of an ongoing series during which we will focus on one of the MCLA’s top teams each day, counting down till Christmas to the true “cream of the crop.”
Last year
Record: 12-3
Postseason finish: SELC Tournament Championship
Quick season recap: In 2014 the Flames, in their first year competing as an MCLA Division 1 team, grabbed wins against several quality opponents and held a star-studded Michigan State team to a one-goal game, but it wasn’t enough to garner national recognition for one of the SELC’s top teams, as it ended up being a one-bid conference despite being by far the largest in the MCLA. Although Liberty defeated Virginia Tech in the regular season finale, it was the Hokies who had the final say with a 13-9 win over the Flames to punch their ticket to the MCLA Tournament.
Roster losses: Kurt Tobias’s graduation will be the most noticeable on-the-field change for Liberty. In his senior year, Tobias netted 41 goals en route to a 61-point season. While those totals only tied him for second on his own team, the captain’s absence will be missed as both an offensive presence and a model of leadership. Also graduating is long-stick midfielder Michael Zumpano, whose 60 ground balls were good for second on the team last season, and starting defenseman Travis Briggs.
This year
Who to watch for: Ethan Kamholtz, senior goalie
No, Ryan Miller and his 82-point season in 2014 haven’t been forgotten, and yes, Miller is still absolutely a Player of the Year candidate this season. But this is an offensive unit that was dynamic last year and should continue to find its groove this season, with a deep returning class. The Liberty defense is where the true question marks lie, and the play of Kamholtz will likely make or break the Flames’ season. A captain last year as a junior, Kamholtz had a respectable 7.72 goals allowed average, but it’s his 12.94 saves per game and .626 save percentage that pop off the page. If this defense can start to limit the shots he’s faced with, his experience will be a big factor in a year where many contenders are without returning, battle-tested goalies. His vocal leadership will be a crucial element to Liberty’s success in the SELC in 2015, but on the field he will need to perform at a high level against a rigorous schedule. If his play escalates into the top-tier-goalie conversation, the Flames will reap the benefits.
They’re dangerous if this offense proves to be as unstoppable as it appeared last season. No matter how many goals this defense let in, the offense consistently dropped massive games. Only eight teams in the MCLA scored more goals per game in 2014 than Liberty, and with so much returning talent, it’s likely this team is due to climb on that list. The team’s top two points-getters last year, attackmen Ryan Miller and Chris Armstrong, are coming off of a season in which they combined for 143 points, most of any two teammates in the SELC. “Ryan Miller is one of those guys that has been great,” head coach Kyle McQuillan said. “Statistically, in what he’s accomplished over the last couple of seasons, having the success that he’s had, there’s a lot of programs and teams that know he’s coming in.” With the opening for other players to make an impact in the event that Miller is shut off by any opposing defense, let’s not forget the trio of sophomore midfielders (Bryce Mrakovich, Chad Moore, Brett Bernardo) who averaged 45.7 points apiece last year. Assuming those three continue to improve and build on last year’s stellar chemistry with the attacking unit, there’s a good chance this offense could blow away a lot of teams, particularly ones that are defensively susceptible (as is the case with much of the SELC).
Achilles’ heel: A schedule jam-packed with dynamic offenses. An Arizona road trip could prove fatal if this defense isn’t ready for the offenses of ASU, GCU, and even a budding Arizona team. Beyond that, match-ups with Michigan State, Florida State, and rival Virginia Tech will push these Flames’ long-poles to their limits. If McQuillan doesn’t have this defense prepared for the immensely talented offenses that await, this team could succumb to the powerhouses on the schedule, no matter how strong its offense may look. “Over the last four years of the program, we’ve definitely been more offensively based,” McQuillan said. “This season, there might be more of a shift, with the strong leadership of Ethan [Kamholtz], a lot of our defensive guys want to be known as a defensive team, as a physical team.” Kamholtz and company are charged with a tough task in 2015, but if they’re able to pair up the team’s already-explosive offense with a strong defensive front, Liberty will be knocking on the door to tournament contention sooner rather than later.
Trey Lanthier is a lacrosse reporter and editor at WCSN, as well as a contributor for Inside Lacrosse. You can reach him at treylanthier@gmail.com or on Twitter, @TreyLanthier.
