(Photo by Andrew Snyder)

LYNCHBURG, Va. – A juggernaut in the waiting. If the Flames had been able to play out a couple more weeks, they could very well be the top seed in this ficticious tournament and the presumptive favorite.

They may just fill their destiny virtually.

As with most MCLA teams flirting with the mountain-top, Liberty is led by a 12-man senior class.

The midfield unit led by Carter Elliot, C.J. Nichols, Derrick Esh and Autin Aguilar was arguably the best in the country and the attack unit was similarly potent.

D-I Round 1: San Diego State at Liberty | https://t.co/ZqdENqFReU #mcla20
— MCLA Tournament '20 (@MCLA_Tournament) March 17, 2020

The defense hadn’t jelled to the point it had achieved in 2019, but senior goalie Ryan Reynolds was rounding into form.

"Excited to have the Aztecs visit us," said Liberty coach Kyle McQuillan*. "We're blessed to have a great competition against talented players."

The Flames run into an Aztec squad that has been upgraded in Bryan Bome’s second year at the helm. San Diego State matched its win total from 2019 in the first half of 2020 and were primed for an SLC run.

Patrick Greene – a Massachusetts transplant – was on pace for another monster season for the Aztecs and had a capable sidekick in rookie Evan Dean.

With just five seniors on the roster – and perhaps again in 2021 – San Diego State is a young team ready for big things.

Big enough for this upset?

“I love our defense,” said Brome*. “We’re compact and give our offense time to work. I’m excited for this matchup.”

[*- The coaches didn’t really say this. This is all made up. It’s fake]