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MLL Florida Launch

Florida Launch Continues Strong off Season

December 16, 2015 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Florida Launch News Release


The Florida Launch filled a good amount of holes in its roster with its 13 picks during the 2016 MLL Supplemental Draft.

The Launch started out the draft strong by selecting MLL veteran defenseman Ken Clausen with the 3rd Overall Pick. The addition of Clausen helps build back up the defensive line that was hit hard with Casey Ikeda being drafted by the Atlanta Blaze during the 2016 MLL Expansion Draft.

Clausen was selected by the Denver Outlaws as the 5th Overall Pick in the 2010 MLL Collegiate Draft. Clausen played in eight games during his rookie season where he gathered 16 groundballs. Clausen then spent the next two seasons battling knee injuries but returned to the field in 2014. After returning from injury, Clausen played in 20 games with the Outlaws and collected 58 groundballs, including a career high of 45 this past season. Prior to the MLL, Clausen was a four-time All-American at the University of Virginia, where he became the first Cavalier to earn that distinction more than twice.

The Launch continued to fill holes by picking up midfielders Erik Smith (12th Overall) and Matt Clarkson (21st Overall), attackman Owen Blye (14th Overall) and defenseman Kevin Randall (22nd Overall). Collectively the 2nd and 3rd Round picks have a combined six years in the MLL, playing in 37 games and scoring 26 goals.

A new addition not only to the Launch but to MLL entirely is the Launch's 4th Round pick and former Harvard attackman Dan Eipp. Even though Eipp was drafted by the Rochester Rattlers in the 2014 MLL Collegiate Draft, he was never activated. In his college tenure, Eipp scored 46 goals in just 36 games during his three-year collegiate career and has accolades such as being named to the Ivy League All-Tournament Team and the NEILA Academic All-Region Team.

The Launch followed up with adding a name to the team who should feel right at home on the 2016 roster, midfielder Jeremy Thompson. Thompson joins his two younger brothers Miles and Lyle Thompson after playing for the Hamilton Nationals and Rochester Rattlers. While with the Nationals and Rattlers, Thompson played in 30 games, scored 18 goals and tallied seven assists plus collecting 35 groundballs.

Former Launch players Pat Farrell, Duncan Clancy and Connor Hunt were added to the roster along with midfielder Mark McNeill and MLL veterans John Ortolani and Sean Lindsay. Ortolani has played the past six seasons with the Boston Cannons and Rochester Rattlers as a face-off specialist. In the 37 games played, Ortolani won 472 out of 978 face-offs. Even though Lindsay hasn't played an MLL game since 2010, he brings with him six years of MLL experience starting in 2004. He tallied 84 goals and 35 assists in a total of 56 games with five different teams.

The Florida Launch begin its 2016 season at home on Saturday, April 23 at FAU Stadium. Florida Launch season tickets for the 2016 season are available to purchase by calling (561) 923-9067 or emailing tickets@floridalaunchlacrosse.com.

2016 Florida Launch Supplemental Draft:

1st Pick (3rd Overall) - Ken Clausen (M - Virginia)

2nd Pick (12th Overall) - Erik Smith (M - Air Force)

3rd Pick (14th Overall) - Owen Blye (A - Maryland)

4th Pick (21st Overall) - Matt Clarkson (M - Colgate)

5th Pick (22nd Overall) - Kevin Randall (D - Notre Dame)

6th Pick (30th Overall) - Dan Eipp (A - Harvard)

7th Pick (38th Overall) - Jeremy Thompson (M - Syracuse)

8th Pick (57th Overall) - Pat Farrell (D - High Point)

9th Pick (66th Overall) - John Ortolani (FO - Endicott)

10th Pick (75th Overall) - Duncan Clancy (M - Jacksonville)

11th Pick (84th Overall) - Mark McNeill (M - North Carolina)

12th Pick (93rd Overall) - Sean Lindsay (M - Syracuse)

13th Pick (102nd Overall) - Connor Hunt (D - North Carolina)



Major League Lacrosse Stories from December 16, 2015


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