Kansas City and Charlotte kick off 2024 MLQ Championship with wins

The Kansas City Stampede celebrate after seeker J.D. Hopton caught the flag runner against the Washington Admirals.

The 2024 MLQ Championship kicked off Saturday morning in Howard County, Maryland with two high-stakes play-in bracket matchups. The Kansas City Stampede came from behind and defeated the hometown Washington Admirals 135-80 and the Charlotte Aviators ran away from the Toronto Raiders, winning 195-70. 

The contest between the Stampede and Admirals was a tight half-court battle. Washington started strong, with stout half-court defense and sharper execution on offense. Chasers Bryan Mulcahy, Shane McConaghie, and Liz Stone tallied two goals apiece to jump out to a 60-40 lead. But Kansas City worked its way back into the game, led by five goals from chaser Bitzy Archibold and a flag runner catch by veteran seeker J.D. Hoption. While the Admirals managed to limit scoring opportunities for Kansas City ballcarriers Ryan Mehio and Riley Usami, the young Stampede stars were able to draw attention and dish to their teammates, especially Archibold, as the game progressed. 

Whereas the Kansas City-Washington matchup was slow and tactical, the Aviators and the Raiders played their opening game of the weekend at a breakneck pace. Charlotte’s deep beating corps, boosted by the return of Celine Richard from injury, forced turnovers and created opportunities for the Aviators to run in transition. They took a 50-0 lead in the early going and never looked back. Though Toronto started to settle into the game and find a rhythm, with drives from keeper Brian Melchior and accurate midrange shooting, the deficit was too large to make up. US National Team seeker Ryan Davis caught the flag runner for the Aviators.

Kansas City and Charlotte advance to play the Minneapolis Monarchs and the New Orleans Curse at 9:45 am in the winner’s bracket. Washington and Toronto will face elimination against opponents to be determined at noon in the loser’s bracket.