For the second time in four games, the Florida Launch blew a large lead, only to survive at the very end. This victory, an 18-17 win Saturday over the Boston Cannons, helped the Launch clinch their first playoff berth in franchise history.

“We know we just have to focus on us,” Launch attackman Kieran McArdle said on the team’s website. “We’re in a good spot right now. We can clean up a few things, but overall, we’re rolling, and we’re going into the playoffs.”

Two weeks ago, the Launch held an 11-3 halftime lead against the Chesapeake Bayhawks, but the Bayhawks outscored the Launch 16-9 in the second half, nearly coming from behind to beat Florida if not for a Dylan Molloy goal with one minute and 36 seconds remaining.

Against the Cannons, Florida entered halftime with a 14-6 lead and then scored the first two goals after the break. Boston responded, however, with 11 consecutive goals to take a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter.

Florida did not let the slide affect the outcome, however. McArdle scored the equalizer one minute and 38 seconds after Scott Bieda put the Cannons ahead and Nick Mariano scored the game-winner with just under five minutes remaining, and the Launch were able to hold on.

Offensively, eight players scored for the Launch. At the other end of the field, goalie Austin Kaut made 15 saves, six of which came in the fourth quarter.

“With some time off, we had some chances in practice to kind of discuss film,” Launch head coach Tom Mariano responded when asked about Kaut on Lax Sports Network earlier in the week. “He’s refocused on his fundamentals in the last week or two. You’re seeing the results speak for themselves. It’s fun to watch him go to town.”

The game was Florida’s final contest of the regular season. The victory marked a big difference from the beginning of the season, however, when Florida lost to Boston 18-7 in overtime.

2016 finalists back in the playoffs

After splitting the season series in the previous two weeks of the season, both the defending champion Denver Outlaws and runners-up Ohio Machine won their games this week, putting them at 9-4 and earning return trips to the postseason.

Led by Peter Baum — who scored five goals, including a 2-pointer, to go with one assist — five players scored at least five points for the Ohio Machine in the team’s 21-14 victory Saturday over the New York Lizards. The 2-point goal was Baum’s second of the season. He has increased his range as he has progressed in the league. He has five 2-pointers in the last two seasons, compared to two in his first two seasons.

“As I’ve gone on in my career, you become more aware of where the line is,” Baum said on Lax Sports Network after the game. “Sometimes, early on, you’re not really thinking about it when you’re a young guy and not used to having it there, but you start to kind of know where you need to set up, where you need to cut [or] set your feet to get those shots off.”

The Outlaws needed overtime to defeat the Chesapeake Bayhawks, but Eric Law’s lone goal (he also had three assists) was the game-winner Thursday. Jack Kelly made a career-high 24 saves.

Denver has now made the playoffs in 11 of its 12 seasons of existence.

“Our goal as an organization remains the same each season—win the MLL championship,” Ted Tseng, senior director of team/business operations, said on the team’s website. “Qualifying for the playoffs is the first step towards that objective, and we are certainly excited to host a playoff game in Denver in front of our great fans.” 

While the top seed is up for grabs in the final week of the season, both teams will host a semifinal game.

Rochester in prime position

With an 11-7 victory over the Atlanta Blaze, the Rochester Rattlers didn’t just remain in the race for the final playoff position, they took the lead with a 7-6 record, one game ahead of the Lizards, Hounds and Bayhawks. The win was the team’s third in a row.

Rochester was buoyed in the low-scoring affair by goaltender John Galloway. The Jacksonville University coach made 17 saves on 24 shots on goal, including seven in the fourth quarter, and earned Player of the Game honors. 

“I thought defensively, Jordan Stevens and Matt Dunn were incredible tonight,” Galloway said on Lax Sports Network after the game. “Then you see John Lade at the end cover [Kevin] Rice. I mean, we have three guys down there that are incredible. Those guys carried the way. I was fortunate to get hit with a couple [shots] at the end and keep it at bay there as Atlanta tried to make a big push.”

The Rattlers host Ohio in the final game of the season. Rochester defeated the Machine 12-11 in the second game of the season, and another victory would earn the Rattlers a trip to the postseason one year after they finished tied for first in the standings but missed the postseason due to tiebreakers.

Noteworthy

Cal Dearth, the first Boston University player to appear in an MLL game, was traded from the Charlotte Hounds to the Boston Cannons at the trade deadline. He made his Cannons debut against Charlotte and scored his first MLL goal. He followed that up two nights later by scoring two goals against the Launch. … Cannons goalie Jack Murphy made his first MLL start against the Hounds, making 20 saves on 24 shots on goal. … Brodie Merrill picked up five ground balls against the Launch, making him the first non-faceoff specialist to reach 900 career ground balls. … Against the Cannons, Florida midfielder Steven Brooks scored two goals and added two assists. … Charlotte midfielders Mike Chanenchuk (three goals, two two-point goals) and Kevin Crowley (three goals, two assists) each scored five points in the team’s 16-12 victory over Boston. …

Tom Schreiber, the 2016 MLL MVP, tallied five assists in Ohio’s victory over New York, giving him a league-high 25. … Joe Walters (three goals, two assists) and Rob Pannell (two goals, three assists) each scored five points for the Lizards. … Will Manny scored two goals and added one assist for the Lizards, keeping him tied atop the league for most goals this season (33). …

Wes Berg and Romar Dennis each scored a hat trick for the Outlaws. Dennis also added an assist in the game. … Matt Danowski led the Bayhawks with five points (three goals, two assists). … Chesapeake rookie Josh Byrne scored four goals, marking four consecutive games he has scored at least that many. …

Ty Thompson led Rochester with three points (two goals, one assist). … Kevin Rice assisted on three Atlanta goals, but was held without a goal of his own for the first time in 2017 as well as for the first time since June 20, 2015, when Rice was a member of the Rattlers.

Player of the Week

Kieran McArdle, A, Florida Launch

The attackman matched a season high with eight points on four goals and four assists. McArdle also came through when Florida needed him most. His fourth goal tied the game at 17 and ended an 11-goal run from Boston, and his fourth assist set up Mariano’s game-winner. He earned Player of the Game honors.