When the draft was over Launch fans were very happy due to the fact that Lyle Thompson was now a member of the team.
The Launch front office and coaching staff was happy because most of their draft strategy played out as well as they could have hoped (no team’s draft board gets fully met in any sport) as they not only got most of the players they were targeting but they had a few of them fall to them later than they anticipated. Kevin Rice, in particular, was expected by most mock drafter’s to go no later than the middle of the second round. And in a season where the consensus was that the defense pool was a little light the Launch were happy to get their targeted players with their last three picks.
But as any sports fan knows, potential and accomplishment are two different things. So as we review the draft let’s keep in mind that translating their skills to the MLL is a player by player accomplishment. But right now this draft is looking to be transformative for now!
So let’s review how the drafted player’s seasons worked out:
Lyle Thompson – Attack – Albanyhttp://www.ualbanysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205388918
The reigning co-Tewaraaton Trophy winner (and very possibly a repeat winner this year) has put up 35 goals and 53 assists so far this season in 14 games and has now become the all-time leading point scorer in NCAA Division 1 history. He has helped to lead Albany to a high national ranking this year and the top spot in the America East conference. There really is nothing more you can say about him and the Launch look forward to his offensive skills being put on display ASAP.
https://youtu.be/y8Zn7X-RIsM
Connor Buczek – Midfield – Cornellhttp://www.cornellbigred.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=37967&path=mlax
The reigning ivy League Player of the Year in 2014 has come through big time in 2015 as he has scored 32 goals and added 12 assists in 13 games as a senior middie. 32 goals is quite a number for any middie, much less one who plays such a difficult schedule. Connor became Cornell’s all-time leading scorer at the Midfield position this season and his combination of size, skill and shooting skills will be a weapon set that Launch coaches will find very useful.
https://youtu.be/uVwYsyKdqRo
Chad Tutton – Midfield – North Carolinahttp://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209866537&DB_OEM_ID=3350
Also a large midfielder, Chad Tutton is a pre-season first team All-American and as a Canadian has a somewhat different skill set from Buczek, meaning when they play together they could make a very effective combo on man-up. The Canadian style he brings, along with his outside shooting, makes it hard to play him man-to-man. Either way, a Buczek/Tutton combo means one of them is likely to operate against a short stick and that means matchup problems for Launch opponents. Chad has put up 31 goals and 5 assists in 14 games so far this season and has helped the Tar Heels to the #2 ranking in the nation. Another gem for the Launch to build around.
(Tutton with four second half goals)
Joe LoCascio – Midfield – Marylandhttp://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=207385863
A more traditional two-way middie with a nice scoring touch, Joe LoCascio is more of the classic late bloomer for the MLL as he made his first start for Maryland as a junior before really taking off in the second half of 2014. Joe is third on the Terrapins this season with 20 goals in 13 games and has a knack for scoring big goals at key times.
Kevin Rice – Attack – Syracusehttp://cuse.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=10586
Maybe the biggest steal of the draft was Florida picking Kevin Rice at #23 overall at the top of the fourth round. A nominee for the Tewaraaton Trophy last year after an 80-point season, Kevin has followed up with 22 goals and 30 assists in 11 games so far this season. Kevin can play both with the ball and off-ball effectively, is comfortable creating for himself and finding open teammates and will provide solid depth in his transition to MLL. Rice has already been named to the All-ACC first team this season.
Pat Frazier – Defense – Loyola (Md.)http://www.loyolagreyhounds.com/sports/m-lacros/mtt/pat_frazier_795531.html
A starter for Loyola since the third game of his sophomore season (after being a walk-on his first year!) Pat is a pre-season Honorable All-American selection by USILA and was just honored as a first-team All-Patriot League selection. And he also was selected for the PL All-Academic team so learning defensive schemes at the MLL level should not be an issue for him.
Not a video, but a nice award anyhow:
http://www.loyolagreyhounds.com/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/021815aaa.htmlPat Farrell – Defense – High Pointhttp://www.highpointpanthers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5332
Pat Farrell of High Point is a solid stay at home defenseman who has started every game since his sophomore season and played in every game as a freshman. Pat has 22 caused turnovers in his senior season and 16 groundballs in 13 games played.
Casey Ikeda – Defense – Marylandhttp://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=207327229
The second potential great heist of the draft for the Launch is Maryland long pole Casey Ikeda. The last Launch pick and an 8th rounder, Ikeda has taken the leap forward in the current season and has 3 assists, 16 groundballs and 12 caused turnovers so far in 13 games. Casey has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week FOUR times, a remarkable number. And Inside Lacrosse named Casey to its’ mid-season first team All-American list, along with Lyle and Connor. Kevin Rice was named second team.
http://www.diamondbackonline.com/sports/article_c34b3110-c770-11e4-a543-036bf7e78ae7.html
All in all, a very promising looking draft class for the Launch and fans need to pay attention as the team adds these players to the roster down the line!
