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Ohio Machine Sign Midfielders Kiel Matisz, Cam Holding, Tucker Ciessau and Jeff Edwards

December 4, 2018 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL) - Ohio Machine News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Machine have signed midfielders Kiel Matisz, Cam Holding to two-year contracts and Tucker Ciessau and Jeff Edwards to one-year contracts, the team announced today. Matisz, a member of the Machine's inaugural team in 2012, returns to Ohio for the first time since 2015. In three seasons with the Machine, Matisz recorded 23 goals and six assists in 21 games played.

"As we continue to build our roster for 2019, we're excited to add four more names to the list," Davis said. "Each of these players have had success in their collegiate careers, two of them have excelled in the NLL, and one of them has succeeded with us previously. We believe that these additions will push us even further towards another Major League Lacrosse championship."

Matisz recently played for the Georgia Swarm of the NLL, where he scored 350 points on 127 goals and 223 assists and captured the 2017 NLL Championship. Matisz was recently picked in the second round of the 2018 NLL expansion draft by the Philadelphia Wings. A 2012 graduate of Robert Morris, Matisz was a two-time captain, a Lowes Senior CLASS Award finalist, a Tewaaraton Award semifinalist, an NEC Offensive Player of the Year honoree, a three-time All-NEC selection, and a third-team All-American honoree. Matisz finished his career second in program history in total points scored with 166 on 94 goals and 72 assists. Matisz entered the Robert Morris Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017 and was the first lacrosse player to achieve that accomplishment.

Holding has made a name for himself in the NLL, recording 91 points and 127 caused turnovers in 111 career games. Holding spent his collegiate career at Grand Valley State playing attack in the MCLA where he was named CCLA Offensive Player of the year, Offensive MVP of the CCLA tournament, and MCLA First Team All American. During his time at Grand Valley State in Michigan had a standout senior year where he surpassed the 100-goal mark with 121 goals and 33 assists over 19 games. Holding tallied 364 points over his three-year collegiate career. Holding was a recent addition to the San Diego Seals, an expansion franchise in the NLL. Holding also served as head coach of Michigan State University's club lacrosse team, amassing a record of 38-11, including an MCLA national championship and three CCLA championships.

Ciessau graduated from Bellarmine as the Knights' all-time goal-scorer and point-getter, totaling 83 goals and 127 points, while tying for second in school history with 44 assists. Ciessau was a three-time All-Southern Conference honoree, earning First Team honors in 2015 and 2016 and a Second Team honor in 2017. During his freshman year, in 2014, he was recognized on the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team. Ciessau was also a three-time Academic All-SoCon performer in the classroom. Ciessau currently serves as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Mercyhurst University.

Edwards is a 2017 graduate of Canisius College and is a two-time All-MAAC First Team honoree. During his time with the Golden Griffins, Edwards received USILA Scholar All-American honors in 2017, CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large Team honors in 2016, and was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team in 2014. Edwards finished with 121 points (50 goals and 71 assists) in 57 games.

All four players will compete for a roster spot at training camp this Spring.

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