After a lightning delay just two minutes into the first quarter that postponed the game for an hour and 15 minutes, the Machine fell to the Florida Launch 15-12 despite hat tricks from Peter Baum and James Daily.
The game got off to a quick start in favor of Florida as David Earl fired home the first goal of the game at the 12:17 mark in the first quarter. Immediately following the first score, lighting struck over FAU Stadium, postponing the game until 8:30 p.m.
The hour-plus break seemed to be just what the Machine needed in order to even the playing field with the Launch. After a quick Florida goal, the Machine was able to tie the game up with back-to-back goals from Tom Schreiber and Marcus Holman.
Steele Stanwick returned to action for the Machine for his 38th career appearance after missing last weekend’s win over Chesapeake. Stanwick made his presence known, finishing with three assists.
After a hat-trick in his Machine debut last weekend, Daily picked up right where he had left off in Chesapeake with a behind-the-back goal to end the half and tie the game at seven. For the second weekend in a row, Daily would tally a hat trick for the Machine.
The second half would open with another goal from Daily to give Ohio its first lead of the game. However, Florida would answer quickly with a two straight goals after to put the Launch up by two.
The Launch would continue to extend its lead to as many as five in the fourth quarter. The Machine slowly tried to chip at Florida’s lead when Kyle Harrison got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
Baum and Holman followed with late fourth quarter goals, however it seemed to be a story of too little too late as the deficit was too much for the Machine to fight back from.
After two straight games on the road, Ohio will be back in action for two straight home games. The Machine returns to Selby Stadium on Saturday, May 16 as the Charlotte Hounds come to Ohio.
