Launch Game 2 Notes 042615   What: Game #2 Who: Chesapeake Bayhawks (1-0) at Florida Launch (0-1) When: Sunday, April 26 – 1 PM Where: FAU Stadium How: TV: www.espn3.com (Live)   Game #2 Preview The Florida Launch will begin their home slate against the Chesapeake Bayhawks at FAU Stadium. After the two teams clashed in Annapolis last weekend, the Launch will be looking for redemption on their home field. Kieran McArdle hopes to build off his strong start to the season after blasting home four goals in the opening game of the 2015 season. Launch vs. Bayhawks Series In the overall series Chesapeake leads Florida 2-1. In the three games he has played against the Bayhawks, Kieran McArdle has recorded hat tricks in each for a total of 12 goals and 15 points. Casey Powell has also had success against the Bayhawks recording six assists against the opponent in the teams’ bout on May 17. In goal, two of Brett Queener’s finest outings with the Launch have come against the Bayhawks. Most recently, Queener set a new Launch record with 25 saves in the 2015 season opener at Chesapeake which trumped his 19 save outing against the same team last season.   Game #1 Recap The Bayhawks started the 2015 season with a 12-8 victory over the Florida Launch, the win marks the first time a home team has won in the series. Jon Hayes put the Launch on top 1-0 with a goal in the opening three minutes and the visitors were able to maintain the lead until the last 30 seconds of the first quarter when Ben Hunt of Chesapeake knotted the score. The Bayhawks took its first lead of the game 2:18 seconds into the second, but Roman Lao-Gosney found the back of the net the following minute off a pass from reigning MLL MVP Casey Powell, who scored his first goal of the campaign with 10 minutes left to play in the first half. Before halftime, Kieran McArdle scored a goal to cut the deficit to 4-5. Chesapeake came out strong in the second half, scoring the first three goals to take control of the game. Brett Queener and McArdle scored back-to-back goals within 30 seconds of each other to make it a two-point contest with 12 minutes to play, but Chesapeake’s Ben Rubeor scored two of his five goals in the final minutes to begin the year 1-0. McArdle led the Launch with four goals and five points, tying Chesapeake’s Rubeor for most points in the game. Lao-Gosney and Powell had two points apiece with Queener, Hayes, Steven Brooks and Tucker Durkin all logging points. Coach’s Corner   Coach’s Corner Stellar Goalie Performance:  “I thought Brett Queener played one of the best games I’ve seen in a long time. 25 saves and a goal!! Has that ever happened before in the MLL?” Good Takeaways from Loss:  “I think the two biggest things that we need to build off of from the first game is the play of Kiernan McArdle and Brett Queener.  If we can keep them playing at that level and get the other players to play at a higher level, our chances for success will increase.” Future Adjustments:  “When you watch the film, there are some clear adjustments that need to be made at the offensive and the defensive end of the field. On offense, we need to work on our spacing. Defensively, we need to communicate better.”  

    Launch Together Focus on the Face-off: After a competitive training camp in which three players competed for time at the X, the Florida Launch won 13 of 23 face-offs in the opening weekend of action. The 56.5 win percentage is 4^th best in MLL two weeks into the season and is a good improvement on last season’s win percentage of .484. Man Down Killers: The Florida Launch joins the Ohio Machine as the only two remaining teams that have not allowed a goal during man down opportunities in 2015. The Launch killed four power play attempts during Sunday’s game against the Chesapeake Bayhawks.   Noteworthy Players #6 Kieran McArdle (A) – After scoring a rookie record 34 goals last season for the Launch, Kieran McArdle has no plans on a sophomore season slump as he tallied four goals on the score sheet during Sunday’s opening game against the Chesapeake Bayhawks. In all 13 games he has played in the MLL, McArdle has recorded at least two points in each.  

  #22 Casey Powell (A) – After taking over the MLL last season, Casey Powell continued his strong play as a member of the Florida Launch in Sunday’s season opener recording both a goal and an assist on the day. As a member of the Launch, Powell has recorded a point in team record 15 consecutive games. Powell was named the 2014 MLL MVP, 2014 MLL Offensive Player of the Year and 2014 All-MLL Attackman.  

  #23 Brett Queener (G) – Although Brett Queener had a solid day in net for the Florida Launch making 25 saves, it was overshadowed by his draw dropping goal early in the fourth quarter. The Launch netminder split the defense through the midfield and was left unmarked near the opposing goalies crease after a great give-and-go.  

  #92 Mike Poppleton (FO) – After an injury sidelined him for the entire 2014 season, Mike Poppleton got a second chance in the face-off X for the Florida Launch on Sunday and did not disappoint. Out of the 11 draws Poppleton took, he came out on the winning end on seven occasions. Before his injury, Poppleton won 123 of 246 face-off attempts for the Hamilton Nationals during the 2013 season.  

    Up Next: The Florida Launch head back out on the road on Sunday, May 3, when the team travels to Rochester to take on the Rattlers at Shriver Stadium. The teams face-off at 1:00 p.m. Tickets available by visiting www.floridalaunchlacrosse.com/tickets.