They won the first MCLA national championship 20 years ago and tacked on another three since to become widely accepted as the second most successful program in the history of the MCLA. In fact, Brigham Young is the only team to qualify for every single tournament the association has sponsored.

Can the Cougars put a bookend on the first two decades of the MCLA with another title in 2016? BYU coach Matt Schneck recently took on the MCLA.us in a “5 Questions” quiz show.

MCLA: It’s probably one of the biggest questions facing you every fall: how in shape were the guys returning from their missions? How many can make an impact this season?

MS: We always look forward to the return of our players from their missions. It's a fun reunion every fall. Few around the country recognize the challenges BYU faces every year with almost a 50 percent turnover of our active roster due to graduation, missions and life changes.

Regarding our missionaries, it is definitely a physical struggle being away from the game for two years. Being in physical shape is only half the battle for our returning missionaries; being in playing shape – speed of game, field IQ, shooting accuracy, etc. – is the other half of the battle. We have five recently returned missionaries who will be in starting roles this year. It typically takes a year of playing to get back to where they were before they left. As always, we hope to speed that timeline up once the season starts.

MCLA: On the flip side of that coin, how many freshmen are heading out into the world for a couple of years? Any big-minute contributors?

MS: We had 10 players from last year's team head out on missions. One of which was the leading freshman attackman in the RMLC: Chandler Wescott (23g, 49a in ’15). He was an honorable mention MCLA All-America last year. Chandler was a two-time high school All-American, graduated early from high school and played what would have been his senior year of high school with us. He was incredible. We will miss him.

MCLA: Junior long-stick middie Max Neser didn’t seem to be fazed much after returning last year. Does he have the potential to reach the Brigham Young LSM pantheon with the likes of Britton Cone and Grayson Dahl? What makes him so good?

MS: Absolutely. Max has the potential to be the best we have had at BYU. Both Britton Cone and Grayson Dahl are tough shoes to fill, and they did have the advantage of playing four years straight, whereas Max will have three years because of his mission. Amazingly, the three of them are similar in personality on and off the field.

I knew Max would be good, but admittedly was surprised when he made an impact so quickly after being out of the game for two years. Max is good because he is a threat in multiple ways on the field. He has solid one-on-one defense, has speed and can play offense with a long pole.

MCLA: BYU is the only team to qualify for the previous 19 national tournaments, but the last two have featured first-round losses. Do those setbacks get under the skin of your staff and players, or have you moved on?

MS: We are extremely grateful as a program to have represented the RMLC 19 years in a row at the MCLA Tournament. As most coaches and many players around the country know, it is not an easy task and certainly not a given to make it the MCLA Tournament at the end of the year. We are certainly disappointed with our early exit from the tournament the last two years and it is frustrating when you know you aren't reaching your potential as a team. Last year was especially frustrating as each of our losses during the season came by only one goal. We are not dwelling on it, but at the same time we aren't ignoring it so we can learn from the experience and improve as a team as we enter the 2016 season.

MCLA: We know the challenges the RMLC will present, but what are key games are on the docket this spring? Any games in particular circled on the calendar?

MS: BYU's 2016 schedule will be one of the most difficult in years. Grand Canyon, Colorado, Arizona State, Chapman, SDSU and Colorado State are just a few that top the list. With a couple additional games with top MCLA teams pending, we are looking forward finalizing the schedule and anxious for a great season of MCLA lacrosse.