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MLL Florida Launch

NCAA Lacrosse Player Drafted to Florida Launch

January 23, 2015 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Florida Launch News Release


BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Florida Launch (Launch) drafted the 2014 co-Tewaaraton Award winner Lyle Thompson and 2014 Ivy League Player of the Year Connor Buczek, along with six additional picks during the 2015 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft.

"Overall, we had an impressive draft with the eight players we were able to pick up tonight," said Launch Head Coach Stan Ross. "With our first couple picks, we added strong offensive firepower with the attackmen and midfielders and were also able to bolster our defense with who we wanted in the later rounds."

The Launch started out with the top two picks of the night and choose well with University of Albany attackman Lyle Thompson and Cornell University midfielder Connor Buczek. Thompson earned many awards and honors during his junior year with Albany where he set the NCAA single season records for points with 128 and assists with 77. After his historic 2014 season, Thompson received the USILA Lt. Raymond J Enners Award (DI Outstanding Player of the Year) and USILA Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull Award (DI Most Outstanding Attackman of the Year), as well as named USILA First Team All-American and America East Player of the Year. Thompson now holds the NCAA records in a season for points and assists, as well as the all-time assists (156) for Albany.

"Lyle adds a new and exciting dimension to an already solid and talented attack unit with Casey Powell and Kieran McArdle. With his addition, teams will have to change the way they prepare for the Florida Launch," said Ross. "He is a great ambassador for the sport of lacrosse and we are looking forward to seeing what he does during his senior year at Albany."

The Launch followed up the draft of Thompson immediately with the pick of Connor Buczek who finished his 2014 season with Cornell with 30 goals and 17 assists for an overall 47 points. Buczek was named USILA First Team All-American and 2014 Ivy League Player of the Year for his performance. The Launch then took midfielder Chad Tutton from University of North Carolina with its third pick (13th Overall). Tutton finished his junior year playing in all 15 games for the Tar Heels and scored 23 goals, ranking third on the team. He also tallied five assists for a total of 28 points and finished 2014 with a 60.5% shooting percentage.

"With Connor Buczek and Chad Tutton we were looking for big, strong middies that can add power to our midfield group and I believe we found that in those two," said Ross.

The Launch rounded out the night with five additional picks starting with Maryland midfielder Joe LoCascio, who put up 20 goals and four assists for 40 points during the 2014 season, and Syracuse attackman Kevin Rice who tallied 36 goals and 44 assists in 2014. The Launch added top defenders to the Launch draft class with Pat Frazier from Loyola, Pat Farrell from High Point and Casey Ikeda from Maryland.

2015 Florida Launch Collegiate Draft Class

1st Pick (1st Overall) Lyle Thompson (A) Albany

2nd Pick (2nd Overall) Connor Buczek (M) Cornell

3rd Pick (13th Overall) Chad Tutton (M) UNC

4th Pick (17th Overall) Joe LoCascio (M) Maryland

5th Pick (23rd Overall) Kevin Rice (A) Syracuse

6th Pick (32nd Overall) Pat Frazier (D) Loyola

7th Pick (47th Overall) Pat Farrell (D) High Point

8th Pick (55th Overall) Casey Ikeda (D) Maryland

The Launch currently holds the rights to the players named above. No NCAA player has made any commitment (express or implied) to play in Major League Lacrosse following graduation.

The Launch kicks off its 2015 season with a home-and-home series against the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Florida takes its offensive unit with the 2014 MLL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Casey Powell, as well as the 2014 Rookie of the Year Kieran McArdle, to Annapolis on Sunday, April 19 before returning to Boca Raton for the 2015 Launch home opener on April 26 at 1 p.m. Florida Launch season tickets for the 2015 season are available now by calling (561) 923-9067 or emailing tickets@floridalaunchlacrosse.com.

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