By: Andrew Gallagher, Beat Writer Atlanta Blaze
The first season of play for the Blaze begins on April 23, 2016. They have acquired a full roster through the Supplemental Draft; Expansion Draft; and Free Agency and are ready for their first game. The roster is full of young talent ready to make a name for them selves and shock the MLL.
The most recent players acquired by the Blaze are Joe LoCascio, and Nicky Galasso. They are both young midfielders with great offensive skill sets. LoCascio was a great midfielder for the Maryland Terps and had a very good year for the Launch last year. Galasso had a complicated college career for UNC and Syracuse. He was the number one recruit coming out of high school and chose to go to UNC and later transferred to Syracuse. He also played well for the Launch last year. They will add offensive power, and some depth to the midfield. The team looks lethal and has a lot of potential. The team also has some big pieces that will dominant the MLL.
Scott Ratliff, an Atlanta native, is possibly the best LSM in the MLL. He is one of the best one-on-one defenders; and a nuance in transition. He had 20 points last season in transition along with 81 ground balls. I believe that his scoring ability will only improve this year. The Blaze also has Kevin Rice and Randy Staats. These two were on the same deadly attack line at Syracuse. They will come in with a connection from college ready to pick apart defenses. Randy Staats also plays for the Georgia Swarm as a forward and is doing extremely well for them; and is a premier scorer with a high IQ. Kevin Rice is a great playmaker and will probably quarterback the offense from X.
Once the players drafted by the Blaze are done with their senior years a lot more depth will be added and along with some superstars. The face of the franchise will be Myles Jones, and once he is out of college, will become one of the most dominant midfielders to play in the MLL. The team is young but they have a lot of talented players on the roster. They will be able to come out and shock the MLL with a great season.
Andrew Gallagher, Beat Writer Atlanta Blaze
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