Chicago Machine

For the Chicago political machine, see Chicago machine.

The Chicago Machine is a lacrosse team based in Bridgeview, Illinois. Since the 2006 season, they have played in Major League Lacrosse.

Franchise history

The establishment of a Chicago Major League Lacrosse expansion franchise was announced on August 21, 2005. Along with expansion teams representing Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver, the Chicago Machine became part of the Western Conference of the MLL in 2006. The team played its home games in 2006 at Sports Complex at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.

The Machine finished the 2006 season on August 12. The team became the first MLL team to go the whole season without a victory. The team lead most of game against the Dragons on August 12 only to see the Dragons tie the game at the end of regulation and then win the game in overtime.

File:Chicago-Primary-web.gif

2006 logo

The Machine are committed to both the expansion and improvement of lacrosse in the midwest by running clinics and camps to try and bring lacrosse to the next level.

In December of 2006, the Machine announced that its home field for the 2007 season would be Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.

After losing their season opener, the Machine won their first game in franchise history on June 2 defeating Denver, the Machine had lost a league record 13 consective games (including all 12 games in 2006).

Season-by-Season

Chicago Machine
Year	W	L	Regular season finish	Playoffs
2006	0	12	4th in Western Conference	---
2007	1	5	Western Conference
Totals	1	17	Regular Season Win % = .056	Total Playoff Record 0 - 0 Playoff Win % = .000

Coaches and others

• Kevin Finneran - (Coach/GM) 2006
• John Meister - (President) 2006
• Lelan Rogers - Coach 2007

Current Roster

2007 Chicago Machine
Number	Player's Name	Position	Height	Weight
1	Trasolini, Robert	M	6' 0"	200 lbs
3	Paccione, Dan	M	5' 8"	170 lbs
4	Cappadoro, Jason	A	6' 2"	190 lbs
6	Bigas, Jeff	D	5' 11"	205 lbs
8	Karweck, Matt	A/M	5' 11"	175 lbs
9	Gabel, Mike	G	6' 4"	205 lbs
10	Bender, Andrew	M	5' 11"	190 lbs
12	Heritage, Brad	M	6' 3"	215 lbs
15	Scott, Gregory	M	6' 1"	205 lbs
17	Deane, Jake	D	6' 3"	200 lbs
19	Leveille, Kevin	A	5' 10"	185 lbs
20	Hughes, Adam	A	6' 0"	190 lbs
23	Keating, Chris	M	6' 1"	195 lbs
25	Morris, Sean	A	5' 9"	190 lbs
26	Shanahan, Doug	M	6' 1"	195 lbs
31	Falkman, Larry	G	5' 11"	225 lbs
32	Iannucci, Athan	A	6' 4"	215 lbs
33	Brundage, Stephen	A	6' 0"	190 lbs
36	Culver, Michael	D	6' 1"	190 lbs
41	Heffner, Zach	M	6' 1"	195 lbs
44	Gagel, Zach	D	6' 0"	220 lbs
45	Malone, Chris	M	6' 1"	190 lbs
0	Davis, Damien	D	6' 1"	225 lbs

• updated 05/18/2007

Players of note

Both current Machine star Doug Shanahan (midfielder) and former star Todd Rassas (defensemen) were named to to the 2006 USA team after competing together in the 2002 World Championships. The 2006 USA team competed in the IFL World Championships in Ontario, Canada from July 13-22, 2006.

Machine attackman, Kevin Leveille, was named to play in the 2006 Major League Lacrosse All-Star game on July 6, 2006 in Boston, MA. Leveille was also named an alternate on the 2006 USA team to compete in the IFL World Championships in Ontario, Canada from July 13-22 2006.

Michael Culver, Machine defenseman, was voted 2006 New Balance Sportsman of the year by both general managers and coaches of each of the ten Major League Lacrosse teams. Culver received this award after starting all 10 games for the Machine and recording 27 ground balls. Culver is a leader both on the field and off. Off the field he helped the community by donating half of his 2006 salary to the Children's Heart Foundation.

In the November 2005 expansion draft, the Chicago Machine drafted Philadelphia Barrage Midfielder Doug Shanahan as their first pick.

The Chicago Machine also drafted Todd Rassas in the 2005 supplemental draft. He is a local product from Northfield, Illinois. He was a three time All-American at Notre Dame, Captain of the 2002 Gold Medal Team USA and part of the 2006 Team USA.

It is not uncommon for retired athletes to become sports broadcasters when they retire. However, the Chicago Machine may be the first team to have a former broadcaster become a professional player. In the December 2005 supplemental draft, the Machine drafted former WCAV-TV anchor Zach Heffner.

Another Machine draftee, Lyle Shirley, is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame at Lake Forest College.