Alex Urquhart
The Ohio Machine finished the year in last place, with two wins and 12 loses. The Machine’s two wins came against the Rochester Rattlers and the Boston Cannons. With those 12 loses the Machine almost the entire season at the bottom of the MLL standings.
Ohio had some of the worst team stats in the MLL over the summer. The Machine brought up the rear in goals for and penalty killing percentage, while they were second from the bottom in goals against, face- offs, and power play percentage. They also fell to last in ground balls, and as the old lacrosse adage goes, ground balls win games.
Ohio’s few bright spots were in individual play by a select few players. These included Logan Schuss, Steele Stanwick, Marcus Holman, and Kiel Matisz. All four had close to or 20 plus point season, Matisz being the only one who had under 20 points at 18. Schuss was easily the brightest spotlight for the Machine, he was a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year and put up 35 points in 10 games. He was helped tremendously by the fact that Steele Stanwick become a great feeder for him. Stanwick acquired 20 assists en route to a 32 point season. In the Midfield the Machine were lead by rookie Marcus Holman and second year player Kiel Matisz. Holman, the UNC graduate, came away with 20 points this season in 10 games. While Matisz, after a amazing season with the Minnesota Swarm, was able to net 18 points in 10 games. Holman came to be extremely effective late in the season and, along with Schuss, was one of the more electrifying players on the team.
The Ohio Machine have a long way to go before next season. They will need to go hard in the off season in trying to acquire quality players in either the draft, through trade, or on the free agent market. Ohio has gotten a start on building, after yesterday’s announcement of trading for Brian Farrell of the Boston Cannons. The Cannons will get Diogo Godoi and the Machine’s third round pick in the 2014 Draft. The Machine have some hard choices coming this off season, but for the organization and the fans in Ohio things can only get better.
