Machine drop home opener to San Francisco
June 3, 2006 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chicago Machine News Release
The Chicago Machine faced the San Francisco Dragons today at their inaugural home opener at the Sports Complex at Benedictine University. Although the team started out strong, the Machine was unable to overcome bad breaks and shots bouncing off the posts in a 21-9 loss to the San Francisco Dragons.
The Machine opened up the game on a big up note, jumping out to a 3-0 lead halfway through the first period. Attackman Josh Coffman scored the first home goal in Machine history with a close blast on net. Midfielders Doug Shanahan and Kyle Boland scored goals two and three with Sean Morris, Chicago's recent pick in the 2006 MLL Collegiate Draft, assisting on the latter. Goalie Mike Gabel got some help during this stretch as the Dragons put the ball in net, only to have the goal disallowed on a Machine penalty.
Unfortunately, that would be the last Machine lead for the game. The Dragons roared back with seven straight over a five-minute span, with attacker Brad Reppert ripping off three shots. Morris stopped the scoring streak with his first MLL goal, which kicked off a three-goal run that had the Machine only down by one goal with four minutes left in the first half. Attacker Kevin Leveille, the shining cog in the Machine's offensive attack over the first part of the season, performed some welcome acrobatics in front of the home crowd. A Machine shot clanged off the right post right in front of the Dragon goalie, and Leveille scooped the ball into the net, diving right in after the shot. But the Dragons banged home two more, including a goal by the Dragons recent pick, attacker Joe Yevoli, putting the Dragons up 10-6 at halftime.
The Machine started the second half in much the same way they started the first thanks to Sean's second goal of the game. But the Dragons went on yet another seven-goal spree that finished out the third period. In the fourth quarter, Chicago got back in the game thanks to a diving shot across the crease by Boland, his second of the game, and the fourth Machine player to score two goals for the game. Yet a couple Machine shots ringing off the posts gave the Dragons the opportunity to scoop up the rebounds, and dash up the field for a pair of backbreaking goals. Chicago tried to get back into the fray again with some physical play, but the Dragons converted on one of two power plays in the fourth, as they hit blackjack in the scoring column.
"We came out strong again like the last couple of games. We're 0-3, but two of those losses were against teams in our division, and we play them two more times," Machine head coach Kevin Finneran said.
The Chicago Machine will play next weekend against the Philadelphia Barrage at the Sports Complex at Benedictine University. Face-off begins at 7:00pm.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 3, 2006
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