The young Ohio Machine gave the chesapeake Bayhawks a run for their money, exchanging leads multiple times throughout last night’s game, but came just short of defeating the defending champions. Ohio’s goaltender, Brian Phipps, stood on his head, and made 17 stops to keep the game close.
It was a back and forth first quarter, as both teams defenses seemed fluctuant. Ohio got on the board first with a Kiel Matisz goal, followed by Joe Cummings tally to go up 2-0. Chespeake’s offense fired back, going on a 4-0 run, starting with Ben Rubeor’s first of the game. With John Grant Jr out, Kevin Cooper was assigned a roster spot, making his MLL debut, and tied the game at two with his first goal of the season. Drawing two flags on Cooper’s goal, the Bayhawks took a lot of shots before Rubeor finally capitalized for his second goal. On the ensuing face-off, Brandon O’Brien ran over Dan Burns, putting his team man down again. Drew Westervelt got on the stat sheet with his first goal of the night, putting his team up 4-2. With under a minute to go, Logan Schuss bounced a shot past Kip Turner to make it a one-goal game. Striking again, Chase Carraro took a dodge from X and shot off his defenders hip without Turner ever seeing it to notch the game at four to end the first.
Chesapeake wasted no time going to work as Drew Westervelt took rookie Dominique Alexander from X and ripped a low to high past Phipps. Joe Cummings hit right back with a left handed bouncer. Matt Mackrides took over on attack with Grant Jr absent, and picked up his first goal to give his team back the one goal lead. Tying the game at six and picking up a hat-trick was Cummings after he drew the flag sending Brian Spallina to the box. Chesapeake nearly ran the timer out of Ohio’s man up, but a last second transitional play left Schuss open, giving the Machine the 7-6 lead. The game was tied at seven after Kimmel took his man down the alley and found Steven Brooks open on the crease. Mackrides got in on the action again, recording his second of the game. With a 1:14 left, Jake Bernhardt got his first career goal to bring the score to eight all. That would be it for the first half.
Up and down the two squads went again, but this time, goalie play was a big factor as Phipps and Turner made key saves to keep the score at eight a piece. It took five minutes before the first goal of the third was scored. Thanks to quick transition by Ohio and the hair trigger of Kyle Hartzell, putting the Machine up 9-8. It took the Bayhawks almost the entire third quarter to record their ninth goal in big thanks to the rookie Cooper. Stanwick had other thoughts on his mind as he got the ball and went airborne through the crease to take back the lead for the Machine. After another lengthy battle at the face-off x, Michael Kimmel went to the cage by himself, putting one past Phipps as he was falling down. The third quarter would end with some bizarre time out call by Ohio with 1.5 seconds left, leaving Hartzell to fire a shot that did nothing to round out the third.
Heading into the final quarter, the wrestling match between O’Brien and Rand kept it’s pace, killing an entire minute off the clock ending with Chesapeake being awarded the ball. Ben Hunt found the back of the net with a north to south roll dodge putting his team up 11-10. Turner came up with a big save to keep Ohio at bay. The Bayhawks then went on the offensive. Kimmel found Cooper down low to give the rookie his first MLL career hat-trick. Spallina was hit with a slash call, giving the Machine an EMO. Jesse Bernhardt, another rookie for Cottle came up big with a nugget and kill the penalty. It eventually lead to a Hunt goal off a Macrides feed, making it a 13-10 score and the first three goal lead of the night. Ohio finally got on the board on an EMO goal from Schuss to Cummings. With a little over two minutes to play, Stanwick came up big on the ride, intercepting the ball and then drawing a flag. Unfortunately, a mishandle and scramble for the ball gave Chesapeake possession and down to the offensive end, calling timeout with 1:21 left in the game. The Machine double teamed the ball and forced a turnover. coach Davis called timeout after getting the ball over midline with 1:01 left on the clock. Out of the time out, the ball got loose, but Holman came up with it, firing a pass from top center down to Schuss for the goal, making it 13-12. Rand won the draw and Abbott picked up the flag, giving possession to their team and running out the final 32 seconds.
With the win, Chesapeake becomes 6-4 while Ohio drops to 1-9. The Machine will travel to Hamilton on Saturday, to take on the Nationals to try and get their second win of the season. Coach Cottle’s Bayhawks head home to duel with Boston in a much heated game on Thursday. The Cannons will come out firing after their overtime win over Charlotte.
