via Florida Launch press release   The Launch are back in action after two consecutive bye weeks to redeem themselves against the Ohio Machine. The two teams last met July 7 at FAU Stadium, where the Machine was able to narrowly hold off the Launch attack, winning 13-11. In the game, Dylan Molloy led the offense with five points, off a team-high four goals and one assist. Connor Buczek added two goals and Kieran McArdle contributed one goal and two assists. Coach Tom Mariano told LSN last week, “Dylan’s play has been outstanding… we have to take care of the ball around him and be more consistent.” In the loss, Ben Williams went an even 13 for 26 at the face-off X and Austin Kaut made 18 saves in cage in his best statistical game since May, with a .60 save percentage. For this Thursday night’s matchup, the Launch aim to correct some specific aspects of their game to stay in playoff contention. Coach Mariano stated, “We’ve got to get to win number 5, and then win number 6, and then number 7. But, none of that happens if you don’t get to win number 5, you do that by focusing on the details and doing the little things, which we were inconsistent on” in their last meeting with the Machine. Reducing the number of offensive turnovers and being more efficient in the ground ball game are points Coach Mariano focused on. “…we won the ground balls, but there were a couple key ground balls I thought we could have had.” Currently sitting at 4-7, the Launch are one game behind the Atlanta Blaze and sit just behind the New York Lizards in the MLL standings. As they enter this game against Ohio and then face Atlanta this weekend, the team must win out the rest of the season to stay in postseason contention. When asked about the winning streak the Launch must find to have hopes of a postseason, Mariano said, “We have to take it one play at a time, one day at a time. The focus is on today first.” They must even the season series with the last-place Machine before hosting the Blaze Saturday, and traveling to Dallas to close out the season in August. “We have games where we are not executing at a high level.. we need to prove to ourselves we can finish the year how we know we are capable of doing.” Watch the Launch LIVE on Lax Sports Network (laxsn.com) or on the LSN app for free as the Launch travel to Fortress Obetz! Game starts at 7PM on Thursday night. Be sure to log on as the Launch hope to stay in the MLL playoff hunt!