Al Giscombe, Beat Writer Atlanta Blaze
Lacrosse is Awesome
In the season opener the Atlanta Blaze (0-1) welcomed the 2016 MLL championship runner-up, Ohio Machine (1-0) to Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw Ga. The Ohio Machine was able to hang on to a one goal win. Final Score: Ohio 10—Atlanta 9.
It was a defensive battle for the first 14 minutes as neither team managed to score a single goal. The Machine scored first at 14:11 in the first quarter, Jake Bernhard. Not to be out done the Blaze returned the favor nine seconds later with a Scott Ratliff two-pointer. Then just 26 seconds later the Blaze’s Dyan Donahue scored from a feed by Kevin Rice, to end the first quarter 3-1 Blaze.
Player of the Game Jake Bernhardt started the second quarter scoring for Ohio with a goal at the 1:37 mark followed by goals from Mike Rooney; and Patrick Kelly. 
The Blaze added two goals, one from Chris Bocklet and the first goal of the game from James Pannell. The Blaze led 5-4 at halftime.
In the third quarter Ohio opened things up a bit and outscored the Blaze 3 goals to 1, with goals from Peter Baum; Rooney; and Patrick Kelly’s second goal. Bocklet kept the Blaze within reach with a goal.
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The teams traded goals in the fourth quarter with the defense of both teams playing awesome lacrosse. Pannell started the fourth quarter scoring for the Blaze with a goal 48 seconds into the quarter followed by scoring from Justin Pennington; and Rice. Rice also tallied three assists in the game.
In the fourth quarter the Blaze drew three penalties giving the Machine two minutes in “man up” play. Ohio is a championship caliber team and the Blaze had many opportunities to win this one. With such a talented Blaze squad this was definitely a lesson learned as the home team lost its season opener 10-9.
Next up for Atlanta, they host the Boston Cannons on Saturday April 29, who open their season today April 23 in Florida. The Machine (1-0) will head to Charlotte to face the Hounds (0-1) on Saturday April 29, 2017.
Al Giscombe, Beat Writer Atlanta Blaze
Lacrosse is Awesome