After an impressive win in Charlotte week one, Denver continues their season-opening road trip in Columbus, Ohio versus the Ohio Machine May 4. The game will be the Machine’s season-opener, while Denver opened up their season with a 21-16 win over the Hounds April 27.
Heading into their second Major League Lacrosse season, the Machine look to get their first win versus the Outlaws after they won both match-ups last season. Ohio was led last season by attackman Chazz Woodson, who tallied 38 points on 24 goals and 14 assists.
Returning to the line-up is 2012 MLL MVP attackman Brendan Mundorf in his first appearance for Denver since a season-ending injury took him out of the 2012 semi-final. Mundorf will certainly add an offensive boost for the Outlaws, as he finished his National League Lacrosse season with the Philly Wings April 27.
The Machine will look to get start quickly to build an early lead, as Denver fell behind early April 27 versus the machine to end the first quarter down 2-3. While Ohio’s stout defense is anchored by 10-year MLL defensive veteran Greg Bice, and 2012 All-MLL defender Kyle Hartzell. Hartzell set the league record for most points in a season in 2012, to chip in on an offense that ended the season with three 30-point scorers.
Standing in the way of Ohio’s quick-start plans, however, is Mundorf and attackman Chris Bocklet – who is coming off a six-goal performance in week one. Mundorf’s presence should help the Outlaws put more goals in net in the first quarter, as they were only able to net two goals in 10 shots versus the Machine.
The 21-16 win in week one matches the franchise’s regular-season winning streak at seven games, counting from the six-game winning streak they ended the 2012 season on. The Outlaws’ regular season success may thwart the Machine’s plans for netting their first-ever win versus Denver, as Ohio was outscored by twelve-combined goals in two meetings last year.
While both team will vie to gain the early advantage, the Outlaws firepower on offense, combined with a defensive core that boasts of All-Stars defender Lee Zing and goalie Jesse Shwartzman, may prove to be too much to hand for the second-year team. After putting up 21 points in their season-opening match, it will be up to Ohio to stop an explosive offense that has multiple perennial All-Stars and is capable of hitting the 20-goal mark again.
The Outlaws versus Machine game will face-off at 8 p.m. EST, and can be seen at youtube.com/MLL.
