Scott Rodgers Backstops Machine to 16-9 Victory over Hounds
June 9, 2016 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Charlotte Hounds News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Hounds on Thursday night fell 16-9 to the visiting Ohio Machine at American Legion Memorial Stadium, marking the team's third-straight loss since opening the season 3-0. The Machine jumped out to an early lead and never looked back thanks to stellar play in the goal by Scott Rodgers, who was named Coca-Cola player of the game after making 19 saves on 27 shots. Meanwhile, the Hounds were lead by Mike Chanenchuk and Joey Sankey with two goals each.
"It's been kind of frustrating for us the past two games," said Hounds captain John Haus. "We felt like we haven't really shot the ball well. With that being said, give credit to both Brian Phipps (of the Chesapeake Bayhawks) and Scott Rodgers, they both are very good goalies and had some pretty good saves. Then it just comes back to movement off the ball and making sure we're getting out of each other's way - dodging, throw, throw, dodge again - I think a lot of that has kind of gone out the window the past two games and hopefully we can take a step back today and tomorrow and really focus on that so we can get ready for Boston."
Brendan Fowler won the game's opening faceoff for the Hounds, but it was Brandon Mangan of the Machine who struck first, scoring an unassisted goal 5:39 into the first quarter. Chanenchuk tied the game one minute later, but the Machine closed out the first quarter with goals from Tom Schreiber and Peter Baum to take a 3-1 advantage that would not relinquish.
Chanenchuk tallied his second of the night early in the second quarter before the Machine rattled off four straight goals - three of which came from Marcus Holman - to push their lead to 7-2 with 7:40 left in the half. Rookie Ryan Brown stopped the run momentarily, scoring in his second-straight game for the Hounds. Two minutes later goalie Charlie Cipriano made the initial save on a Machine shot, but Schreiber was able to bury the rebound to give the visitors an 8-3 lead at the break.
The second half began the same way the first ended, with a goal from Schreiber. Sankey traded goals with the Machine to pull the Hounds back within five, but the visitors responded with another four-goal run across the third and fourth quarters to make it a 14-5 game with 5:55 left to play. Then for the first time all night the Hounds scored two in a row - one from rookie Dylan Donahue and a 2-pointer from Michael Ehrhardt - to close the gap to 14-8. The momentum didn't stick, as the Machine notched two more before Haus scored in the closing seconds to account for the 16-9 final.
The Hounds (3-3) face a quick turnaround, and will immediately travel to Boston to face the Cannons (4-3) at Harvard Stadium on Saturday, June 11.
"I think it's actually kind of nice," said Haus of the double-header weekend. "We get to forget about this one, now we'll look at it and hopefully make a few changes and watch a little film, but I don't think any of us think that's our best game, 16-9, against a pretty good Ohio team. So it's nice to get a day off tomorrow and get right back at it on Saturday."
When the Hounds and Cannons first met in Charlotte on April 23, the Hounds came away with a 15-12 victory, led by Sankey's 9 points (6g, 3a). The rematch at Harvard is scheduled for 7:00pm ET and the game will be available live on ESPN3.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 9, 2016
- Machine Defeat Hounds in Charlotte Behind Holman, Rodgers - Ohio Machine
- Scott Rodgers Backstops Machine to 16-9 Victory over Hounds - Charlotte Hounds
- MLL Announces First Ever Legends Alumni Game - MLL
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