Another picture perfect night in Boca Raton, FL, the crowd of nearly 1,300 people saw a gritty battle between the Florida Launch and Chesapeake Bayhawks. The game started slow on offense as both teams traded possessions with sloppy turnovers.
At the 9:48 mark in the first quarter Stephen Keogh found the back of net off of a cleaver feed from Chazz Woodson at X. Keogh snuck the ball off Chesapeake goalie, Tyler Fiorito.
The Bayhawks answered just two minutes later with a Joey Walters cannon from the top of the key from about 10 yards at 7:41 in the first. Ben Hunt took a pass from Joe Walters and buried in from just inside the two-point line at 1:33 in the first quarter. The Bayhawks took a 2-1 lead into the second period.
Chesapeake would open the scoring in the second quarter with a goal from Brandon Benn on the crease at 11:47 in the second.
However, the Launch would answer right off the faceoff with another goal from Stephen Keogh, assisted by Casey Powell.
Joe Walters seems to always be in the right spot, at least he was for his third point of the game when a Matt Mackrides shot rang off the post right into Walters’ stick from 12 yards—Joe fired a worm burner that beat Brett Queener.
A quick two-goal run by the Launch tied the game up at 4-4, first Kieran McArdle got on the board dodging to his right hand and beating Tyler Fiorito over his left shoulder, then under a minute later, Roman Lao-Gosney cranked one on the run, right where mom keeps the cookies, top shelf.
Brandon Benn got his second goal of the game on a man advantage situation at 5:13 in the second. Walters, and David Earl would each add one unassisted goal before the half. Walters took a feed from Peet Poillion for his fourth goal of the game. Chesapeake took a 8-4 lead into the half.
The second half would belong to Joe Walters and the Chesapeake Bayhawks, tallying seven more goals in the third quarter to pull their lead to nine heading into the fourth quarter, 15-6.
Florida would stop the bleeding somewhat in the fourth quarter narrowing the lead to four, following a 4-0 run to start the quarter. The comeback fell short as the Launch ran out of time.
Joe Walters was named Coca-Cola Player of the game for his performance. Joe finished with four goals and four assists. Matt Mackrides also played a great game as he added six points; three assists, a two-pointer, and a goal. Powell and McArdle continue to lead the way for the Launch, they each had four points.
The Launch will be looking to bounce back as they hit the road this Thursday, July 3, at 7:30 as they take on the New York Lizards. Chesapeake are on the road as well next week, they will battle the Ohio Machine on July 4.
