TODAY’S GAME
Charlotte Hounds (4-6) at Ohio Machine (4-6)
7 p.m., Selby Stadium, Delaware, Ohio
TV: CBS Sports Network
After a two-week break, the Charlotte Hounds and Ohio Machine head into the homestretch of the 2014 Major League Lacrosse season, with playoff implications on the line for both teams.
The Hounds and Machine are both tied for fifth in the MLL standings along with the Florida Launch, just a game behind the fourth-place Boston Cannons with four games remaining.
One of those three teams – Charlotte, Ohio or Florida – would need to win at least three of their final four games to have a chance at making the league playoffs.
The Hounds will have the hardest schedule, with only one home game (Aug. 1 vs. the New York Lizards) remaining. Charlotte is also the only MLL team this season to not have a road win (0-4).
The Machine, on the other hand, play three of their last four games at home – the lone road game is Aug. 2 against the Rochester Rattlers. However, they haven’t had the best success at Selby Stadium, going 2-2 in home games.
Charlotte – which like Ohio joined the league in 2012 – is 4-1 all-time against the Machine. But the one blemish on that record came in the Hounds’ 20-14 season opener, a 15-8 loss at American Legion Memorial Stadium.
However, both teams have undergone significant changes since late April.
Charlotte has once again gone to its 2014 draft class to upgrade its roster. Attacker Justin Ward, the Hounds’ third-round pick from Loyola, has emerged as a legitimate rookie of the year candidate with 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in just six games. Mike Chanenchuk, Thomas DeNapoli, Pat Laconi, Michael Ehrhardt, Henry Lobb and Brendan Fowler have all made contributions as well.
Meanwhile, Ohio will be without two of its leading scorers for Saturday’s game. Both Marcus Holman (22 goals, 8 assists) and Kyle Harrison (21 goals, 5 assists) are playing for the U.S. National Team in the 2014 FIL World Championships, which conclude Saturday in Denver.
The Machine may also be without rookie Tom Schreiber (12 goals, 4 assists), the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 MLL draft, who has been coaching Uganda’s team in the world championships. Several reports from websites that follow pro lacrosse also have Steele Stanwick (3 goals, 20 assists) and leading scorer Peter Baum (28 goals, 5 assists) out of the lineup as well for unknown reasons.
Charlotte is missing only one player of note – faceoff specialist Geoff Snider, playing for Canada.
