Phil Shore, our resident Major League Lacrosse writer, previews all nine MLL teams, in reverse order of projected finish, leading up to opening day Saturday.
Check uslaxmagazine.com/mll before and throughout the season for more analysis and stories from the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league.
Florida Launch
Projected finish: 9th
2016 record: 3-11
Coach: Tom Mariano, 1st season
Power Rankings (Scale of 1-5)
Offense: 3
Defense: 2
Faceoffs: 3
Goalie: 2
Key losses: Casey Powell, M; John Ortolani, FO; Matt Landis, D; Lyle Thompson, A
Top returners: Kieran McArdle, A; Tucker Durkin, D
New arrivals: Greg Melaugh, A; Marty Bowes, M; Will Gural, FO
MVP Watch
Kieran McArdle, A
McArdle led the team in scoring each of the past two seasons, and he finished second to Casey Powell in his rookie year. He also finished sixth in the league in scoring and tied for fifth in goals. After the Launch traded superstar Lyle Thompson to the Chesapeake Bayhawks, McArdle, who along with reigning MLL MVP Tom Schreiber of the Ohio Machine has been a revelation as an NLL rookie with the Toronto Rock, becomes the face of the franchise. He will not be with the team, however, as long as the Rock remain in playoff contention.
Under-the-Radar Star
Steve Pontrello, A
After leading NCAA champion North Carolina in scoring (49 goals, 21 assists), he scored 10 goals and added six assists in six games as an MLL rookie. With Florida operating perilously thin until after the college and box seasons, there’s plenty of opportunity for someone to make an impact at attack.
Scouting Report
Three things you need to know about the Launch:
1. They’ll have an undermanned attack.
The talent on the roster merits a higher grade than they received. The problem is they won’t have their stars for the beginning of the season due to their NLL commitments. Add in Casey Powell’s retirement and Thompson’s trade, and the depth at the position is thin. It will be up to the likes of Owen Blye, Steve Pontrello and Greg Melaugh to keep the attack afloat in their absences. “The biggest issues is those guys get back and we add draft picks, how do we add the box guys and the college guys in the mix?” Mariano asked. “You want to keep a quality flow you developed in the beginning part of the season.”
2. Impact rookies could be on the way.
After trading Matt Landis to the Boston Cannons and Thompson to the Bayhawks for first-round picks, the team now has the first, fourth and eighth picks in the upcoming collegiate draft, as well as the first pick in the second round (No. 10 overall). Florida will have a lot of talent to choose from, with players like Sergio Perkovic, Dylan Molloy, Connor Cannizzaro, Sergio Salcido, Alec Tulett and Larken Kemp all possibly available.
3. They plan to compete for a championship.
The team may have finished last in the standings in 2016, but new head coach Tom Mariano has his eyes set on better days in Florida. “At the end of the day it’s a professional organization,” he said. “We want to win a championship. We need to train and compete every day for a championship. If we play the right way, we’ll put ourselves in a good position. From day one, I want the players to compete for a championship, and anything less than that, this isn’t the organization for you.” He used Denver’s 2016 rise from 2-6 to league champions as an example of how quickly things in Major League Lacrosse can change.
Biggest Question Mark
Will the defense improve?
For the first time since the 2013 season, Florida did not finish in the bottom three in goals allowed. They did, however, finish in the bottom four and gave up more goals than in either of the previous two seasons (199). Three different goalies started games. The team traded its top pick in 2016 (Matt Landis) for a first round draft pick. The team still has Tucker Durkin, and Mariano insists they will be an improved unit in 2017. “The sum is greater than the parts,” he said. “That will be our philosophy. Sliding to cover, put ourselves in the right position, the right approaches, do things the right way, that will make us a better defense.”
Enemy Lines
What the opposition has to say about Florida:
“Their weakness is the midfield. Where can they get the scoring from the midfield? … Tom’s a great coach in this league. He’s going to do great things. He’s very organized, understands the league. He’s going to make an impact on the team. … It’s always been a little bit of a headscratcher because in some areas, they have the best talent in the league. If they can find a way to harness that star power and be consistent and share the ball, they have the roster to be competitive.”
Number of Significance
5
Florida scored six two-point goals. Five of them came from midfielder Connor Buczek. He’s proving to be a threat from long-range, totaling nine two-point goals in two seasons. Unfortunately for Florida, Buczek is spending his winter with the Toronto Rock of the NLL and will miss the beginning of the MLL season as well.
Bottom Line
Many around the league believe in Tom Mariano as a coach. It may take him more than just this season to turn the Launch around, however. The offensive firepower will be missing in the beginning, and the team defense will need time to come together.