LA Tops Machine

Early goals by Leveille and midfielder Nick Schmidt got the game started, putting the Machine up 2-0 within the first four minutes.

Los Angeles quickly found the answer to Chicago’s fast start, scoring eight un-answered. Midfielder Graham Gill tallied first for the Riptide, scoring four minutes in. Nifty passing allowed Combs to draw the teams even at two.

The Riptide pulled ahead with a goal by midfielder Kevin Dougherty 30 seconds later, but they weren’t going to settle for a one-goal lead. They would score five more before the quarter ended, leaving the score at 8-2 in their favor.

The Machine started to second quarter off in highlight-reel fashion, as Leveille scored on a behind-the-back goal to bring Chicago within five. What seemed to be the beginning of a rally was cut short by Los Angeles’s ninth and tenth goals of the game by Combs and Gill, respectively. Dougherty and Combs would add two more before the Machine could score again.

The rally was ended by Doug Shanahan, who scored from just inside the two-point arc with eight minutes left in the second to bring the Machine within seven.

Andrew Combs scored his fourth goal of the half with three minutes remaining, putting the Riptide up by eight. Leveille and attacker Bryan Poole quickly followed, Leveille scoring his 3rd of the half. Despite the Machine’s best efforts, the first half would end with the Riptide in the lead, 13-6.

Riptide midfielder J.J. Morrissey got caught holding two minutes into the third quarter, allowing a man-up opportunity for Chicago. Leveille capitalized, scoring his fourth of the game. Midfielder Doug Shanahan continued the attack, scoring 30 seconds later.

The Riptide didn’t score for the first seven minutes of the quarter, but midfielder Sean Lindsay struck with eight minutes remaining to put them up by six.

Shanahan answered with six minutes left in the third, keeping the Machine within striking distance. Lindsay followed with a behind-the-back goal of his own.

The Riptide maintained their seven-goal lead through the third quarter, leading the Machine through three, 16-9.

Errant shooting seemed to plague the Machine to begin the final quarter, but midfielder Brad Heritage connected five minutes in. Not thirty seconds later, Combs connected with his final goal of the night. Combs would finish with five on his way to being named the Bud Light Player of the Game.

Heritage connected on a two-pointer with 1:41 left in the game, bringing the Machine within five. But following the recurring trend of the night, Wes Green scored for the Riptide ten seconds later, sealing the Machine’s fate.

Chicago goalie Larry Falkman did all he could to keep his team close, but the Machine couldn’t seem to score without the Riptide answering almost immediately. Falkman finished the night with 23 saves, allowing 12 goals.

Although the score turned out in favor of the opposition, Chicago Head Coach Lelan Rogers remains optimistic.

“Any time you have a game, it prepares you for the next game because it gives you that much more experience,” says the first-year head coach. “It’s a foundation. You lay one brick, one bock at a time. We know where we’re at, we know what we have to do, and we’re just going to keep working at it.”

Leveille, who is a five-year veteran of the MLL, credits his tenure in the league for his poised play.

“The whole spectacle of the thing really doesn’t get to me anymore,” says Leveille. “I just go out and play my game, try and make limited mistakes, and help the other guys play their games.”

Leveille will try to help his team get its first franchise victory, which will have to wait until at least June. The Machine’s next game is two weeks after their first, on June 2 against the Denver Outlaws.