Machine Win 1st Game
Attackman Athan Iannucci scored a game-high four goals, including a two-pointer, and added two assists as the Chicago Machine (1-1) earned their first win in franchise history with a 19-17 victory over the Denver Outlaws (1-1) in a Western Conference match-up at TOYOTA Park on Saturday evening. The win snapped a league-record 13-game losing streak for the Machine, who entered the league last year. It was also Chicago’s first victory over the Outlaws in four all-time meetings.
After attackman Kevin Leveille opened the game by converting a pass from Iannucci to give Chicago a 1-0 lead, the Outlaws responded with back-to-back goals from midfielders Mike Law and Jeff Sonke to gain a one-goal advantage. However, the Machine quickly countered by recording three straight goals for a 4-2 lead with 7:23 left in the opening period. Midfielder Pat Heim, who was the first overall pick in Thursday’s Collegiate Draft, scored his first career goal in the spurt.
Led by three goals from Sonke, including a two-point goal, the Outlaws went on a 7-1 run to take a 9-5 advantage with 7:34 left in the first half. Midfielder Brad Heritage ended the Outlaws’ run by scoring an unassisted goal with just over seven minutes left in the stanza before midfielder Doug Shanahan followed with a goal off a Sean Morris assist just 26 seconds later, cutting the Machine deficit to 9-7.
The Outlaws ended the first half by scoring four of the final five goals in the period to take a 13-8 advantage into the intermission.
After attackman Brendan Mundorf gave Denver a six-point edge midway through the third quarter, the Machine ran off four straight goals to end the third quarter and narrow the margin to 14-12. Iannucci scored a goal and had an assist during the rally.
With 12:22 left in the fourth quarter, midfielder Matt Brown scored an unassisted goal on a power-play opportunity to give Denver a 15-12 advantage, but the Machine tied the game by scoring three unanswered goals, including two by Morris, to tie the game at 15-15 with 6:02 left in regulation.
Denver regained the two-point lead with goals from midfielders Matt Hanna and Geoff Snider within a 21-second span. But, Iannucci scored a pair of goals, including a two-point tally, to give Chicago an 18-17 advantage with 3:04 left. Heim added a goal with 51 seconds remaining and the Machine held on to record the first win in franchise history.
Iannucci was named as the Bud Light MVP after recording a game-high seven points. Heim added four goals while goalkeeper Mike Gabel registered 19 saves in his first career victory.