Boca Raton—The Boston Cannons traveled to south Florida this weekend for their first-ever meeting with the Florida Launch. The Cannons won’t be very eager to come back after getting trounced 23-17 by a much better Florida Launch group tonight.
Boston got off to a tremendous start, scoring off the opening faceoff, with a unassisted goal just 10 seconds into the game from Chris Eck.
Play would get sloppy for a couple minutes with a pair of turnovers from each squad before Florida tied the game on an unassisted goal by David Earl. Earl is playing for his third team this year (Lizards, Bayhawks, Launch).
Brent Adams scored unassisted at the 9:42 mark in the first quarter with frozen rope on the run beating Brett Queener off hip, putting the Cannons up 2-1.
The Cannons would go up by as much as 6-2 before Florida would settle in with two quick goals by Kieran McArdle and a diving finish by Casey Powell to bring the Launch within one.
Stephan Berger scored a nifty goal coming around from X to put the Cannons back up 7-5. Will Manny, and Owen Blye would also tally goals before the half, while Earl and McArdle would score a pair of goals to tie the game at nine. McArdle then hit a cutting Kevin Cunningham in stride who beat Burke to give the Launch their first lead of the game. McArdle wasn’t finished as he went behind the back to beat the Boston goalkeeper just before the half. McArdle went into the break with five goals and one assist.
Boston would get on the board first after the break when Paul Rabil back-doored his defender and Ryan Boyle fed him on the crease for the goal.
Florida got a huge victory and will look to carry that momentum into Boston next weekend as they inch closer to clinching a playoff berth. With Ohio getting a huge win at home against the Outlaws, the Machine currently hold the fourth and final playoff spot.
A season finale looms large as the Launch will match up against the Machine in what may decide that all important fourth seed.
The Launch were lead by Kieran McArdle and Casey Powell, by no surprise. Casey had a hat trick and two assists, while Kieran fueled the charge and finished with five goals and one assist.
The Florida offense was just too much for the Cannons to handle. Cunningham, Hall, Powell, Earl, Brooks, and McArdle all had multi-goal games. Twenty goals is the most in Launch franchise history for a single game.
Chris Mattes even got the better of Chris Eck at the faceoff X beating him in draws.
David Earl had himself a great game, as he had four goals in a game for the first time in his career. Kevin Cunningham also had a hat trick.
With three goals tonight, Paul Rabil is now 15 goals away from reaching 200 on his career. Paul also added three assists tonight.
Jordan Burke has played in all 12 games this season, leaving him and John Galloway as the only goalies that have played in every game this season.
The Launch win tonight puts Florida, and Boston into fifth place with 5-7 records. Florida will be on the road next weekend, as Boston will host them to conclude the home and home series.
