The Ohio Machine won their first game of the season with a 13-11 over the visiting Rochester Rattlers. This win ends the Machine’s 0-6 start to the season as they advance to 1-6 as the Rattlers fall to 3-4 after being tied for the fourth and final playoff position last week.
Joe Cummings emerged as the dominate power in this match-up for the Machine as he doubled his season’s total of goals after the game. His five goal performance earned him player-of-the-game honors.
Cummings got the game going just 46 seconds deep. This early spark of offense would be the first of an eventual first quarter hat trick by Cummings. Kyle Hartzell, who’s been basically absent from the Machine’s offense this season would score the Machine’s fourth and final goal of the first quarter.
The Rattlers saw goals from Ned Crotty, Steven Boyle, Rob Rotanz, and John Ranagan in the first quarter. However, for Rochester, the spotlight was on goalkeeper John Galloway who recorded nine saves in the first quarter alone.
The Machine were locked in during the first half as they sparred no-time in their offensive production in the second quarter. Connor Martin scored first for the Machine in his first game back after being injured for the beginning of the season. Rookie, Marcus Holeman, of the Machine then struck a goal before Matt Striebel answered quickly for the Rattlers. Another rookie for the Machine, Logan Schuss found the back of the net to give the machine a 9-7 lead heading into halftime.
Both teams seemed a little flustered following halftime as only Connor Martin for the Machine and Ranagan of the Rattlers were able to find the back of the net.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Rattlers refused to go away despite being down three with fifteen minutes left to play. Mike Leveille and Crotty both scored goals to cut the Machine’s lead by one. The Machine then turned on the burners going on a 3-0 run to put the game away for their first victory of the season. Schuss, Cummings, and Chazz Woodson scored the three final goals respectively.
The Machine will travel to Denver next weekend to take on the undefeated and league leading Outlaws. The Rattlers will travel to Florida to play the Hamilton Nationals.
