MLL Florida Launch

2016 Weekly Draftee Update

Published on April 1, 2016 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Florida Launch News Release


Major League Lacrosse returns to South Florida in just under a month when the Florida Launch take on the Ohio Machine at home April 23rd. The team has it's eye on 8 MLL draftees as they wrap up their college careers. Here you'll find the latest stats, scores, and accolades these budding stars are racking up before they take their game to the next level.

As the NCAA Lacrosse season heats up, several draftees are going head to head in some high-ranked showdowns. UNC's Steve Pontrello (M) was selected 25th overall by the Launch and with a well-rounded 1 goal, 1 assist, and 1 ground ball effort against Maryland it's easy to see why. The Tar Heels couldn't hold off the Terps and fellow draftee Henry West (M) as they fell 11-8. Next up for Pontrello is a high stakes matchup with #11 Duke on Saturday. West was quiet against UNC but shot himself out of a recent slump with a goal Tuesday night against Albany. He'll look to build more momentum against unranked Michigan Saturday.

Another draftee vs. draftee matchup went down last weekend when Notre Dame's Matt Landis (D) took down Ohio State's Robby Haus (D) in a tight 9-8 game. Both players collected 2 ground balls and forced a turnover. Landis has been hot all season with the #2 Irish and will have a big game against conference foe #7 Syracuse on Saturday. The Buckeyes and Haus are also in conference play this weekend as they take on #18 Penn State.

Marquette's Liam Byrnes (M) has already blazed the trail for the Golden Eagles as the first MLL draftee in school history but he is also leading the squad to a 6-1 start. The middie flexed his defensive skills with a forced turnover and 3 ground balls in a decisive 9-8 win over Big East rivals Georgetown. Next up for Marquette and Byrnes is another conference tilt against Villanova on Saturday.

Late in the draft, the Launch scooped up what could turn out to be one of the drafts best finds in Harvard's Devin Dwyer (A). Dwyer's 3 goal, 4 assists, 3 ground ball, and 1 caused turnover effort lifted the crimson to a comfortable 18-8 victory over Ivy League opponent Dartmouth. Harvard will return to conference play April 9 as they take on Cornell.

Bucknell had a rough outing as they fell 14-3 to Loyola Maryland but Alex Spring (D) managed to be one of the few bright spots for the Bison. Spring was the last player selected by the Launch in the collegiate draft but with 4 ground balls and 2 forced turnovers he looks ready to perform at the next level. Bucknell springs back into action this Saturday against Army West Point in conference play.

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Major League Lacrosse Stories from April 1, 2016


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