via the Launch press release – pictures are from the MLL web site   Eight players found the back of the net tonight as the Launch put up a season-high 20 goals against the New York Lizards, winning their third game of the year, 20-18. Dylan Molloy and Kieran McArdle combined for 10 goals to lead the squad to victory.  

In the first half, the Launch offense took control, taking 12 shots on cage, scoring the first four goals of the game until the Lizards came back with two of their own. Molloy let his presence be known early, fighting his way through his defenders to score the first two goals and assisted on the third of the game. In just the first quarter, Molloy recorded a hat trick and finished the night with six goals and on assist. Fellow attackmen, Jules Heningburg and Kieran McArdle had hot starts as well and ended with five and seven points respectively. Ben Williams went 5 for 9 at face-off the first quarter, which provided these early looks on cage for the Launch offense, who lead 5-3 after the first 15 minutes.  

The second quarter saw the Lizards make a run to cut the lead to one midway through the quarter to bring the score to 8-7. However, midfielders Steven Brooks, Nick Mariano and Connor Buczek stepped up, firing shots past New York back up goalie, Brian Carcaterra, to bring Florida to a five goal lead at half, 12-7. Buck’s first goal of the game marked his 100 th career point as the Launch end the half on a 4-0 scoring run in the final two minute span of the half. Coming back from the break, the Launch took a longer time warming back up then the Lizards, who went on their own run of four unanswered goals to slim the Launch lead to just one with 7:30 remaining in the quarter. The Launch then found some momentum as Mark Mcneill and Tim Barber were freed up and sparked the offense with much needed goals. By the end of the third, the Launch were back up by five, leading 18-13.  

Going into the last 15 minutes of play in New York, the Lizards came back again on a small run with three consecutive goals, but with a few acrobatic saves from Austin Kaut, the offense took advantage and connected for two more goals from Molloy and Buczek, to hold on to win 20-18. On the defensive side, Mark Mcneill and Luke Duprey picked up four ground balls each, while Kaut made 12 saves in goal. Williams finished his night going 20-42 at the face-off X against the Lizards duo of Brendan Fowler and Tom Kelly. This is the first game all season the Launch scored 20 or more goals.  

McArdle, Molloy and company will look to continue this momentum next weekend as the Launch head west to vs. the Denver Outlaws. The game will be Saturday, June 16 at 9:30 PM EST and can be viewed live on LSN.