Gonzaga’s Matt Borda is no longer the only 80-yard man. Max Schmidt of the Ohio Machine scored an unbelievable 80-yard buzzer beater goal as time expired in a Week 13 match-up with the Boston Cannons this past weekend. No, the goal didn’t win the game for the Machine, but it was worth two points.
Boston, MA – The Ohio Machine (2-11) jumped out to an early three goal lead but the Cannons (8-5) stormed back to win 19-13.
Machine midfielder Eric O’Brien won the first faceoff of the game and found attackman Jim Connolly for the first goal of the game. Midfielder Connor Martin and defenseman Greg Bice followed it up with two more goals to make it 3-0 Ohio.
Cannons attackman Kevin Buchanan scored the team’s first goal of the game, but Machine midfielder Dan Groot answered to maintain the three goal lead for Ohio.
The Cannons scored three out of the next four goals, but the Machine still led at the end of the first quarter 5-4. Midfielder Connor Martin scored the first goal of the second quarter on a pass from Groot. Paul Rabil then scored a two-point goal and Martin Cahill followed it up to give the Cannons their first lead of the game.
A goal from Steele Stanwick tied the game back up at seven but the Cannons scored four straight goals to take a 12-7 lead. Machine attackman Chazz Woodson ended the Cannons run at the end of the second quarter with his first goal of the game.
Connolly opened up the second half with two straight goals to put the Machine back into the game and made it 12-10 Cannons. Boston attackman Ryan Boyle found Buchanan and scored a goal of his own to help the Cannons regain their five goal lead.
Matt Poskay scored his league leading 35th goal to give the Cannons their largest lead of the game. The Cannons expanded their lead with a goal from Buchanan to start the fourth quarter. Machine rookie Joe Cummings got the Machine on the board in the fourth quarter with his second goal of the day.
Rabil scored the next two goals for the Cannons and Boston held the Machine scoreless until Max Schmidt netted a two-point goal at the end of regulation.
In the loss Machine goalie Brian Phipps tied his career high for saves in a game with 19 and attackman Jim Connolly returned after an off-week by scoring three goals against his former team.
Cannons midfielder Paul Rabil continued his historic season with seven points to bring him three points away from John Grant Jr’s all-time MLL point record of 71.
