MLL Week 5 Preview: Machine’s Karma Kicks In
by Matt DaSilva | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
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| Brett Garber's buzzer-beating deuce last week exalted the Machine, which a third of the way through its road show needs just one more win to set a franchise record. |
The erstwhile Chicago Machine has found quite a niche on the
road.
The Machine, no longer in Chicago after Major League Lacrosse
could not come to terms on an ownership agreement for the franchise
there, is 3-1 in its season-long road show. Tied for first place
with Chesapeake and Denver, the Machine is also just one win shy of
its single-season record.
Success in these situations is hardly unprecedented. The former
Philadelphia Barrage went 7-5 and qualified for the MLL playoffs in
2008 despite logging over 18,000 miles in travel.
But still, the Machine? After an 0-12 inaugural campaign in 2006,
the team went 3-9 for three consecutive seasons -- even with more
concentrated talent after the MLL contracted to six teams in
2009.
The newfound good karma found its way into Brett Garber’s
stick last week. Garber’s two-point goal at the buzzer lifted
the Machine to a 14-13 win last Saturday in Toronto.
It continued on American Eagle Flight 4513 carrying U.S. national
team players Kevin Leveille, Mike Leveille, Matt Striebel and DJ
Driscoll -- the MLL Defensive Player of the Week. The plane was
forced to make an emergency landing after one of its two engines
had to be shut down due to a leak, but Team USA’s four
Machine players landed safely in Elmira, N.Y.
What’s more, the Machine stocked up in the collegiate draft,
nabbing Duke’s Ned Crotty -- the 2010 Tewaaraton Trophy
winner and another Team USA standout -- with the No. 1 overall
selection. Its other selections: Martin Cahill (Delaware), Diogo
Godoi (Massachusetts), Justin Pennington (Rutgers), Ari Sussman
(Dartmouth), Joe Marra (Fairfield) and Casey Grugan (Cabrini).
On Saturday, the Machine heads to Albany -- another test market
for the MLL -- for a game against the struggling Long Island
Lizards. It will be a homecoming for the Leveille brothers, who
hail from Delmar, just outside Albany.
Does this underscore the rise of lacrosse in the Albany area? The
University at Albany men’s lacrosse team has faltered a bit
in the last few seasons, but New York’s capital region
continues to produce top talent.
The local lacrosse community is also abuzz over Great Danes coach
Scott Marr, who is reported to be a candidate for the opening at
Maryland.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com.
MLL WEEK 5 GAMES
Denver (3-1) at Boston (2-2) – Saturday 3 p.m.
(ESPN2)
The Outlaws have won three straight since their season-opening
loss to the Cannons, with a nationally televised rematch on tap.
Denver tried to shore up its defense in the draft, selecting Ken
Clausen (Virginia) and Dillon Roy (Denver), as well as faceoff
specialist Andrew Hennesey (Bryant). Currently, Will Dalton is
taking the majority of draws in the absence of injured Shane
Walterhoeffer.
Denver’s offense is rolling behind Brendan Mundorf, Matt
Brown and Max Seibald. Boston answers with Matt Poskay
(league-leading 16 goals), Ryan Boyle and Paul Rabil, who returns
to action after his ejection last week for throwing a punch at
Chesapeake’s Michael Evans (his former teammate at Johns
Hopkins). Add first-round draft pick and hometown boy Max Quinzani
(Duke) to that mix. It’ll be interesting to see how
Quinzani’s off-ball abilities supplement Boyle’s
vision.
Chesapeake (3-1) at Toronto (0-4) – Saturday 7 p.m.
(ESPN3.com)
Cody Jamieson can’t dress soon enough for the Nationals,
whose anemic offense has done nothing to help an inconsistent
defense. The former Syracuse standout will likely make his debut,
as will NCAA tournament hero Scott Rodgers, who’s likely to
split time with Brett Queener between the pipes. The duo hopes to
do a better job containing the Bayhawks, who put up 25 goals on the
departed Doc Schneider and Queener in a May 22 loss.
Alex Smith also crushed Stephen Hoar on faceoffs that game
(34-of-39), as the Nats were without Geoff Snider. Look for a more
hotly contested affair there, as Smith’s and Snider’s
first dance of 2010 will serve as a prelude to the world
championships, where they’ll play for Team USA and Team
Canada, respectively.
Long Island (1-3) vs. Machine (3-1) (in Albany, N.Y.)
– Saturday 8 p.m. (ESPN3.com)
Is a goalie controversy afoot for the Machine? Mike Gabel has been
a stalwart for the franchise, but his 13.20 goals against average
and .441 save percentage does not necessarily inspire confidence.
Bud Petit, the former Virginia goalie who had success in Boston,
has fared better with an 11.33 goals against average and .564 save
percentage, but he’s logged just 90 minutes compared to
Gabel’s 150. The Machine also landed Doc Schneider in a
draft-day deal with Toronto and added rookie goalkeeper Joe Marra
(Fairfield) late in the draft.
Long Island must be happy to see an opponent other than Denver.
The Lizards have lost to the Outlaws twice already this season.
Last week’s 15-10 loss moved Long Island to 0-7 all-time
against Denver. The Lizards have managed an MLL-low 38 goals. The
most notable no-show: Zack Greer. After an injury hampered his
rookie campaign, he has just three goals in four games. Long Island
will look to ride its more consistent defense, with Brian Spallina
and Nicky Polanco drawing the Leveille brothers.
