There are normally low expectations for a team entering just their second season in any professional sporting league. However, during the off-season following their inaugural season in Major League Lacrosse, the Ohio Machine put together many pieces that looked like their team would be extremely successful in their sophomore season. With names such as Chazz Woodson, Kyle Hartzel, Kiel Matisz, and Connor Martin many tagged them with high expectations. These expectations fell short as the Machine struggled thus far this season and currently sit at a 1-10 record.
It isn’t all bad for the Machine and their fans. So far this season their first four lead point producers on the team are either rookies or sophomores. The second and third leading scorers for the Machine are both rookies. We’re going to break down the skill set, the importance, and the future of Machine’s Sophomores Steele Stanwick and Joe Cummings along with rookies Logan Schuss and Marcus Holeman.
Steele Stanwick
Stanwick currently sits at 26 points on 9 goals and seventeen assists through 11 games. Stanwick is known for his passing and play making ability via the extra pass. Stanwick is a field general and is extremely talented in that. He took over last season a few games deep of the 2012 MLL season and took charge like he was already a professional veteran. In other words, he makes the team better.
The most stunning aspect of his stat-line thus far this season is his 17 assists. His 17 assists ranks him fourth overall in the entire league, right above Paul Rabil. However, if we take a look at the guys above him, they are surrounded by big name talent. Joe Walters (Hamilton) leads the league in assists with 21. The National’s roster dispalys big name talent who have high goal totals with Kevin Crowley at 31, Stephen Keogh at 18, and even Martin Cahill with 13. These big name, high production scorers help Walters with his assists totals. Joe’s teammate Kevin Cunningham is tied for second in the league in assists with 18. Denver’s Brendan Mundorf ranks second and is the league’s defending MVP.
With this comparisons with the league’s top assisters to the high numbers of goals and offensive production on their teams, comes to show how valuable and talented Stanwick is. There are just two players on the Machine’s roster with double digit goals, Logan Schuss at 20 and Joe Cummings at 18. Stanwick is able to put up nearly league-high numbers surrounded by lesser talent and goal production.
Joe Cummings
Cummings was not anything special last season. He finished his rookie season with 11 points on nine goals and two assists in just four games played. Now, in his sophomore season, Cummings is one of the biggest factors the Machine have to offer.
Cummings currently has 22 points on 18 goals and four assists in 10 games played. Just over the course from rookie season to sophomore season, he has emerged as one of the bright spots on the Machine’s roster.
Cummings fights perfectly into the system that the Machine are building. It seems to be that the Machine run a very active, selfless offense. Lead by Stanwick, this pass first mindset that operates this offense allowed Cummings to blossom in his second season.
Last season the Machine attempted an offense like they are currently running but had names on their roster that scored with their feet and without the pass. It’s hard to find players to buy into such a system but with proven results such as Cummings, the Machine youth will defiantly strive in this format.
Logan Schuss
Logan Schuss was a stud for the Ohio State Buckeyes during his time there. He was selected as the 11th overall player in the 2013 MLL rookie draft. Already knowing the area, the Machine jumped on him in the draft as Schuss landed him a spot on the Machine’s roster.
Now, personally, I didn’t expect much out of him this season. I viewed him as a player who develop into a role-player given a season or two. Have I ever been more incorrect.
Schuss has played just eight of the eleven games for the Machine this season and still manages to lead the team in goals (20) and ranks second in points (23), three shy of Stanwick’s team high 26.
Schuss is another player who has taken stride into this offense the Machine has offered to the league. With 20 goals as a rookie, the sky is the limit for Schuss.
Marcus Holman
Marcus Holman was selected right after Schuss in the roster recent MLL rookie draft (12th overall.) Holman hasn’t made as big of a splash as teammate Logan Schuss has, but Holman has opened many eyes.
Holman currently has 14 points on five goals and seven assists. Holman’s numbers are not eye popping, but let’s break this down. Holman is an attacker but players more like a midfielder. Yes, he has the ability to score, but he strives in the passing game, such as Stanwick. Holman doesn’t get nearly as many touches as the three guys listed prior and not even close to that of Stanwick who plays a very similar game.
Holman has fourteen points, with at least half of them coming from assists in just seven games as well. He puts up decent numbers as a fourth of fifth option on a team this early in its existence. You won’t see Holman come all-star weekend anytime in the near future, but don’t overlook his talents that he shares with the bigger names on the roster.
The Machine are full of youth and are stacked with talent. Things are slowing getting into form in Ohio as they have played many of their games close. With time, comes success, and that’s what the Machine will be looking to do with the plethora of youth and talent that they can offer.
