On a rainy Saturday night in Delaware, OH, the home town Ohio Machine topped the visiting Charlotte Hounds 14-10. Machine attackman Marcus Holman lead the way with six goals, earning Coca-Cola Player of the Game honors, while goalie Brian Phippsfinished with 21 saves. Meanwhile, the Hounds’ top scorer was midfielder John Haus (2g, 1a) and Pierce Bassett made 19 stops in net.
Holman struck first for the Machine, sneaking a low shot past Bassett. Brendan Fowler won the ensuing faceoff for the Hounds and Michael Ehrhardt scored off a rebound to tie the game at 1-1 early. Joe Cinosky was hit with a slashing penalty 80 seconds later, setting up the Machine’s Steele Stanwick for a go-ahead power-play goal. After some brilliant saves at both ends of the field, Jake Tripucka forced his way to the net and scored low-to-high to knot the game at 2-2. But the Hounds were called offsides with 34 seconds remaining in the quarter, allowing Holman to score his second of the night with 17.5 left on the clock.
The Hounds tied the game again early in the second quarter, as Justin Ward found Haus on the crease to make it three all. But the Machine scored four straight goals over the next 10 minutes to build a 7-3 advantage. The teams traded goals to make it an 8-4 game at the half.
Zach Palmer and Holman scored early in the third quarter to push the Machine in front 10-4. One minute later Kevin Drewfound the back of the net to cut the lead to five. But the Machine strung together another two goals, including the sixth of the night from Holman, to move in front 12-5. Mike Chanenchuk got on the board for the Hounds with 20 seconds left to play in the third.
Chanenchuk kept things moving for the Hounds early in the fourth, finding Haus on his right side. Haus beat Phipps high, closing the gap to 12-7. The teams continued to trade goals, though Charlotte finished with two-straight from Josh Dionne and Mike Sawyer to account for the 14-10 final.
The Hounds (1-4) return home on Saturday, May 23, and will look to get back on track against the Boston Cannons (1-3), who are coming off their bye week. The game will be played at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC, with faceoff scheduled for 7:00pm. The contest will be followed by a fireworks show to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend.
