MLL Ohio Machine

Machine Comeback Falls Short

Published on July 4, 2015 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Ohio Machine News Release


In an exciting July 4th showdown at Selby Stadium, the Ohio Machine (6-5) fell to the Rochester Rattlers (6-5) 15-16. The Machine held a lead through the first three quarters but came up short in the fourth quarter.

The Machine fought hard until the end as Tom Schreiber scored a 2-point goal with under a minute left to play to bring the score within one. Rookie Jimmy Bitter and team captain Marcus Holman led the way offensively for the Machine. Bitter had six goals in the game, which tied the club's all-time high for goals scored in a game. Holman had a hat trick with two goals in the second quarter and one goal early in the fourth.

The Machine scored four goals in the first quarter and Goalie Brian Phipps allowed just two Rattlers goals. Brian Karalunas started off the game with a bang and scored in the first ten seconds. The goal was also the first of Karalunas' five-year career.

In the second quarter, Phipps continued to make his presence known in goal and held off a total of nine shots on goal in the first half. Bitter had a hat trick with three goals while Holman scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season. The Machine led the Rattlers 8-3 at halftime.

The Rattlers made a comeback in the third quarter with three goals by Mark Matthews, two goals by Dave Lawson, one goal by Randy Staats and one goal by Jack Near. Bitter responded with two more goals and Greg Puskuldjian scored his first career goal coming off of an exciting faceoff.

However, the Machine could not hold on to their momentum and the Rattlers took the lead in the fourth quarter. The Rattlers offense led by attackman Mark Matthews and midfielder Dave Lawson, added six goals to the Rattlers score for a total of 16. Both Holman and Bitter responded with goals and Machine midfielder Tom Schreiber had an exciting two-point goal in the last seconds of the fourth quarter to bring the score to 15-16, but it was not enough to secure the win.

Coming off of this tough loss, the Machine are now 6-5 for the season and will hit the road next Saturday to faceoff against the Boston Cannons. The Machine returns to Selby Stadium on July 18 face the New York Lizards for the second time this season.

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Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 4, 2015


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