Atlanta Blaze coach Liam Banks speaks with the team during training camp earlier this year. The Blaze (7-6), will host the Outlaws next Saturday to close the regular season. The winner will clinch one of four spots in the MLL playoffs.
Atlanta Blaze coach Liam Banks speaks with the team during training camp earlier this year. The Blaze (7-6), will host the Outlaws next Saturday to close the regular season. The winner will clinch one of four spots in the MLL playoffs.
The Atlanta Blaze will play for a spot in the playoffs after beating the Florida Launch 16-13 on Saturday in Boca Raton, Florida.
The Blaze (7-6), now with the most wins of their three-year history and tied for third in the Major League Lacrosse standings with Denver, will host the Outlaws next Saturday to close the regular season. The winner will clinch one of four spots in the MLL playoffs.
Even with a loss, Atlanta could still have a chance at reaching the playoffs, based on potential tiebreaking scenarios with Charlotte and New York, should all three teams finish at 7-7.
Like their win Thursday against Chesapeake, the Blaze got off to a strong start, taking a 7-2 lead into the second quarter. Florida, however, went on a run of its own and cut Atlanta’s lead to 10-8 at the half.
The Launch (5-8) continued to stay close before a three-goal run in the third quarter led to Dylan Molloy’s score knotting the game at 12-all with 3:37 left. Just 16 seconds later, however, former Walton High School star Scott Ratliff scored, giving the Blaze a lead they did not relinquish.
The Blaze also had to overcome an 89-minute delay in the third quarter for lightning around the area of FAU Stadium.
Daniel Eipp led Atlanta with four goals, while Christian Cuccinello had three goals and an assist and Ratliff two goals. Connor Kelly had a goal and three assists, with Tommy Palasek adding two assists.
Joe Nardella commanded the faceoff spot, winning 26 of 32 opportunities, and also scored in the first quarter. Adam Ghitelman had 15 saves.
Connor Buczek, Kieran McArdle and Bryan Cole each had three goals for Florida, which was eliminated from playoff contention.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.