Major League Lacrosse week three has come to an end with three teams left undefeated. Meanwhile, two teams have yet to win a game and history is already being made early on in the season.
* The Ohio Machine have played in two games and have yet to win. They have the least amount of goals in the league with just 13 so far. Steele Stanwick has just four points while their third leading scorers are Jeff Ledwick (two career games) and Eric O’Brien (faceoff man). Connor Martin has no points, Chad Weidmaier has none and they are waiting for Kiel Matisz. “I thought defensively and offensively, it was probably the best we’ve played on both sides this season. Overall, I thought we played pretty well,” Bayhawks coach Dave Cottle said after the game against Ohio. “I thought we handled the ball better and shot the ball better on offense. Defensively, our guys are tough and make teams earn their goals. I thought Kip played well and bailed us out a few times with great saves.”
Ted Garber also said in the Columbus Dispatch, ““I think we can generate opportunities to score,” Garber said. “We just have to score. If you don’t have the ball in this league, it makes it hard.”
* Boston really needs some goalie help. It doesn’t seem likely they can survive long term with Mike Gabel in net and Eric Hagerty as the backup. Jordan Burke will be out for a while, so who is out there that can help? At 0-3, what kind of run do they need to go on to make the playoffs? “The character of our team is really going to show this week,” said Cannons coach Steve Duffy in the Boston Herald. “We are going to have to work hard during the week and have some tough conversations and move on.:
“We are 0-3 and it sucks but we will try and be 1-3 at the end of the week.”
* Denver could be on a historic run. They are 3-0 after starting the season with three straight games on the road and lead the league in scoring with 47 goals. “I think it’s important to win early. I think last year when it went to eight teams it makes a difference. You used to be able to stub your toe early and make up for it,” Outlaws coach Jim Stagnitta said about winning on the road earlier in the week. “We tried to build our roster to supplement for the guys we were going to be missing for a few weeks. It’s important to get these under your belt. It takes some of the pressure off down the stretch.”
* What kind of team are the Charlotte Hounds? They are second in the league with 37 goals but are 1-2 with just one win, on the road in Rochester. Ryan Young has emerged as a star player with 13 points and Peet Poillon and Matt Danowski have played great. However, it drops off after that. Can Kevin Drew and Jovan Miller step it up? Will Shayne Jackson have an impact? Adam Ghitelman is sixth in the league in goals against average, and he spoke with Kyle Fletcher on Hounds Live last night.
