The Ohio Machine announced Tuesday a trade with the Rochester Rattlers that brings midfielder Roy Lang and the 11th overall pick in the upcoming 2013 Collegiate Draft to Ohio in exchange for midfielder Dan Groot and additional picks in the same draft. In addition to Groot, the Rattlers will receive the Machine’s 17th, 20th and 38th picks.
Lang is coming off a rookie campaign in which he played in 13 games for Rochester, recording 14 goals and 3 assists for 17 points along with 26 groundballs. The Cornell star was a first-team All-America selection in his junior year and a third-team selection and Tewaaraton semifinalist in his senior year. Lang was selected with the 11th overall pick by Rochester in the 2012 MLL Collegiate Draft. At 6’3, 205 pounds, Lang is considered a versatile two-way threat that can inject offensive punch into a midfield unit that struggled to score at times last season. By acquiring the 11th overall pick in the upcoming collegiate draft, the Machine now holds the #1, #11, #12 and #13 overall picks.
“Dan Groot is a fantastic player who brought exceptional leadership and an impressive work ethic to our team. We can’t thank him enough for his hard work during our first season,†said Machine President and General Manager John Algie. “But we are looking forward to having Roy Lang join our team as we build towards the future. Roy had an outstanding rookie season and is a dynamic addition to the Machine midfield.â€
In 13 games with the Machine, Groot posted eight goals and three assists for a total of 11 points to go with 26 groundballs on the year. The former University of Maryland player was drafted by the Machine in the fourth round of the 2012 MLL Expansion Draft.
“Roy has quickly proven to be one of the up and coming dynamic midfielders in the MLL. I was very impressed with him when we played the Rattlers last summer,” said Machine Head Coach Ted Garber. “In order to be able to trade for Roy, we had to give up Dan Groot a proven quality MLL player and a tremendous team member, but in the end I believe that the trade worked out for both the Machine and Rattlers in a positive way. Roy will give the Machine another tremendous athlete at the midfield position who will add to our offensive fire power.”
With the addition of Lang, the Machine now has eight players on its 23-man roster whose rookie seasons concluded in 2012, including #2 overall selection and 2011 Tewaaraton winner Steele Stanwick and fellow 2012 Tewaaraton semifinalists Kiel Matisz, Anthony Biscardi and Billy Eisenreich.
