When the Denver Outlaws take on the Ohio Machine both teams will be looking to get back to winning games as both teams lost last weekend.
Surprisingly, it might be the Machine who has the upper-hand in this game however.
Ohio will be playing just its second game at home, where it won its only game of this inaugural season of theirs.
The beginning of the Machine’s season has been all about Chazz Woodson. He leads the team with 11 goals and has been spotted on ESPN’s Sportscenter top plays on numerous occasions. He’s been exciting and effective.
Fellow attackmen Connor Martin (a former Outlaw) has nine goals and four assists and Jim Connolly has eight goals.
Last week first-round pick Rob Rotanz made his MLL debut and scored a goal. He provides much needed depth in the midfield and a nice shot from the outside.
Even more rookie goal scorer at the midfield position will make their debuts this weekend.
Syracuse’s Bobby Eilers enters the picture coming off a year when he posted career-highs in goals (22) and assists (eight). UMass’s Anthony Biscardi will also debut this week. He helped lead the Minutemen to an undefeated regular season and was fourth on the team in goals (21).
No. 1 overall pick Steele Stanwick is still missing, but there are many more options on the field now for Ohio.
Denver rookie Mark Matthews made a sparkling debut last week, scoring four goals and earning Rookie of the Week honors despite the team losing to Chesapeake.
The team will miss the attackman Saturday though as he graduates from the University of Denver.
Also out this week will be Peet Poillon, still recovering from injury. Without Poillon and Matthews, more attention can be paid to attackman Brendan Mundorf.
It was also confirmed that defenseman Eric Martin will be out for the remainder of the season. He played in only one game this season, but it’s a lack of depth at the position that could continue to hurt the Outlaws.
How will the Outlaws respond to the depleted roster? How will the new faces for the Machine perform?
