CHARLOTTE, NC (June 5, 2015) — The Hounds on Friday night put together their most complete effort of the season, but still fell to the visiting Ohio Machine 14-12. The game was tied through the early fourth quarter, but the Machine used a late three-goal run to seal their victory. Machine midfielder Jesse Bernhardt was named Coca-Cola Player of the game following his three-goal performance. The Hounds, meanwhile, were lead by captain John Haus (4g) and rookie Joey Sankey (2g, 2a) with four points each.
Brendan Fowler won the game’s opening faceoff, and the Hounds maintained possession to set up Mike Chanenchuk on the run. Ryan Flanagan grabbed the loose ball after the ensuing faceoff and dished it to Mike Saywer. Sawyer then found Josh Hawkins in front of the net to give the Hounds a 2-0 advantage less than one minute in. But the Machine answered with two goals of their own from Marcus Holman and Tom Schreiber.
With 5:26 left to play in the first, the Hounds defense forced a turnover to eventually set up a diving goal from Haus for the 3-2 lead. But Kevin Cooper responded for the Machine, tying the game at 3 after one quarter.
The next 15 minutes were action packed, as the game score was tied four different times. Haus and Holman scored twice more each, and Sawyer made it a 7-7 game with 3:20 left in the quarter. After failed possessions on each end, Henry Lobb carried the ball over midfield and ripped a 2-point goal with just 3.8 seconds on the game clock to give the Hounds a 9-7 lead at the half.
Momentum stayed with the Hounds at the start of the third quarter, as Sankey knocked a shot off the post but was able to pick up and bury his own rebound to put the home team in front 10-7. But the Machine rattled off three straight, including the second of the night from Cooper, to tie the game at 10 by the end of the quarter.
Greg Puskuldjian won the fourth-quarter opening faceoff and got the ball to Bernhardt for a quick goal, but the Hounds equalized shortly after with Haus’ fourth of the night. Bernhardt scored twice more to give the Machine a three-goal cushion, then Holman tallied his fourth of the night to put the visitors up 14-11 with 8:47 remaining in the game. Unfortunately the Hounds could only muster one-more goal in the final minutes, accounting for the 14-12 final.
The Hounds (1-7) will have next weekend off, as Major League Lacrosse hosts its 2015 All-Star Game on Saturday, June 13. The game will be played at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium with faceoff scheduled for 6:00pm. Flanagan, Haus and Fowler will be representing Charlotte in the event. The Hounds will return to action on Saturday, June 20th with a road game against the undefeated New York Lizards (8-0), who are coming off an 18-11 victory over the Florida Launch. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00pm at Hofstra University’s James M. Shuart Stadium.
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About Charlotte Hounds
In January 2011, Major League Lacrosse announced a league expansion for the 2012 season that included Columbus, OH and Charlotte, NC. The Charlotte Hounds began play in 2012 at historic American Legion Memorial Stadium. The organization is dedicated to growing the sport of lacrosse in Charlotte and the Carolinas, as well as providing a unique sports environment that entertains and embraces fans.
For more information, please visit www.charlottehounds.com
