thanks to Megan Danner of the Launch for this preview   What: Game #8 Who: Florida Launch (1-6) at New York Lizards (7-0) When: Friday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Shuart Stadium How: TV: www.espn3.com (Live)   Game #8 Notes   Game #8 Preview The Florida Launch concludes its longest road swing of the season on Friday, June 5 when they take on the undefeated New York Lizards. The matchup will pit two of the top scores in the league with New York’s Rob Pannell (19 goals, 35 points) and Paul Rabil (18 goals, 32 points) against the Launch’s Kieran McArdle (22 goals, 32 points).   Launch vs Lizards Series Last season the two sides split the inaugural series with both sides taking wins on their home turf. In the first-ever meeting between the two clubs on June 7, the Launch were able to hold the Lizards under 10 points in an 11-8 victory. Kieran McArdle paced the Launch with four goals with an assist for five points while Casey Powell posted a pair of goals and assists for four points. In the goal, Brett Queener saved 14 of 22 shots for a save percentage of 0.636, the third-best percentage in team history. Almost a month later on July 3, the Lizards got its revenge with a 20-11 victory. Casey Powell met the requirements for a hat trick with three goals while also having two assists for five points.   Game #7 Recap In the first game of the Launch-Cannons 2015 series the Launch fell 13-9 at Gillette Stadium on May 30. Kieran McArdle did all he could to keep the Launch in the contest, scoring all of the visitors three goals in the opening half. After only having one goal in the third quarter off rookie Casey Ikeda’s first professional goal, the Launch more than doubled its score in the final frame while cutting the deficit to two. Steven Brooks scored in the opening minute of the quarter followed by a three-goal run with goals from McArdle, Lyle Thompson and a two-point blast from Bobby Lawrence made the score 11-9 with four and a half minutes left. The Cannons scored the final two goals of the game to win by four.   Coaches Corner  

  First vs. Last: “This will be a huge game for us. There will be games within the game. Right now there face-off guy is at to 80%, with that being said, we need to value our possessions.  We need to find different ways to gain possession of the ball and get second chances against this top team.” Transition of Lyle: “I think Lyle still trying to find his way in the MLL.  There is definitely an adjustment period and Lyle is going through that right now.  I think once he feels comfortable is going to be a great player in the MLL.” Refresh for Second Half: “I think the second half of the season for us, is really like a first half of the season. We have so many new faces with the addition of our collegiate players that we just have to get everybody on the same page and working together on the field.”   Launch Together A Night of Firsts: The previous game saw 2015 rookies Connor Buczek and Casey Ikeda both making their professional debuts and both recording points in their first MLL appearance. Ikeda logged the lone Launch goal in the third quarter while Buczek got the assist on the first two-point goal recorded by the Launch with help from Bobby Lawrence. Threes Company: The Florida Launch will be well represented at the 2015 MLL All-Star Game with three of its top players hitting the field in Houston. Attackman Casey Powell and Kieran McArdle and defenseman Tucker Durkin have been selected to the All-Star roster and will be representing the Launch on Saturday, June 13 in Houston, TX. Tewaaraton Worthy: The Launch’s roster consists of two Tewaaraton winners with Miles and Lyle Thompson. Both Miles and Lyle won the award in 2014 as co-winners after their impressive seasons at Albany. Lyle now has become the first back-to-back Tewaaraton winner as he was named the 2015 recipient last Thursday after a record-breaking season on the field for Albany yet again. Rookie Takeover: The Launch has seen the addition of five rookies to its line up over the past few weeks causing a shift in the field scheme. The shift is seen at all positions with attackman Lyle Thompson, midfielders Connor Buczek and Chad Tutton, and defensemen Pat Frazier and Casey Ikeda. The rookies have tallied three goals and five assists, as well as collected 12 groundballs in the last five games.   Noteworthy Players #6 Kieran McArdle (A) – With his second-consecutive four-goal outing, Kieran McArdle has 22 goals on the season, the most by any player in the league. With 32 points this season, McArdle only needs 17 to match his total from last year and is 19 away from 100 career points.  

  #21 Casey Ikeda (D) – In his MLL debut, 2015 rookie Casey Ikeda scored his first MLL goal and became only the third defenseman to score a goal for the Launch. Prior to his debut Ikeda played four seasons for Maryland and was recently named the 2015 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.  

  #37 Bobby Lawrence (D) – Bobby Lawrence helped the Launch get on the two-point goal board with the Launch’s first two-pointer this season and last of the team’s to get one. Lawrence has played in all seven games for the Launch this season and sits third on the team for groundballs with 20.  

  #44 Steven Brooks (M) – Steven Brooks joins Kieran McArdle as the only players to record a point in each Launch game this season. Through the first half of the season, Brooks has 13 goals with three assists for 16 points, already surpassing his total with the team last year of 15. Brooks also surpassed a career total of 100 goals and is now at 103. Brooks sits second on the team for goals and points, 13 and 16 respectively.  

  #74 Lyle Thompson (A) – In his first two games in the MLL, Lyle Thompson has two goals and four assists for six points with multiple points in both contests. Lyle also can boost that he is the first back-to-back Tewaaraton winner with the 2014 and 2015 awards in his pocket after record-breaking seasons at Albany.  

    Up Next: The next stop for the Launch takes a weekend off while Casey Powell, Kieran McArdle and Tucker Durkin represent the Launch at the 2015 MLL All-Star Game in Houston on Saturday, June 13.