COLUMBUS, Ohio - When the Chicago Machine and Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse meet on Saturday night in Crew Stadium, a quartet of former Ohio State standouts will be returning home to play in front of their alma mater's fans.

Chicago Machine defenseman Greg Bice and midfielder Anthony Kelly will try to defeat the Lizards for the first time in six all-time meetings. Meanwhile, Long Island defenseman Ricky Pages and attackman Joel Dalgarno will try to sweep the three-game season series from the Machine.  

This game will serve as the sixth and final "home" game of the season for the Machine.  The Machine has played each of its previous five home games in potential expansion markets Cary (North Carolina), Pittsburgh, Albany, Virginia Beach, and Rochester.  The game will be played on Saturday night at Crew Stadium with opening face-off scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Game day activities will include a Cleveland / Columbus Lacrosse Showcase at Olentangy Liberty High School.  Games will be played with U9, U11, U13, U15, High School and College Club teams competing in "friendly" matches to celebrate the growth of Ohio lacrosse. Olentangy Youth Lacrosse Commissioner Gary Harkin, Gordon Glass of Cleveland's Gateway Lacrosse, and Olentangy Liberty Head Lax Coach Eric O'Brien have organized the showcase.  After each game, each team will select a player from the opposing team who best displayed the spirit of the game of lacrosse.  The players will then be recognized on the field during a halftime ceremony of the MLL game, where they will be presented with a special gift from the Machine.

"We have a unique opportunity to land an MLL franchise in Columbus, and I'd like to help make that happen.  OYAA had 435 boys playing on 25 teams in 3 divisions this year, and we'll be over 500 kids next year." said Gary Harkin, OYAA Lax Commissioner. www.oyaalax.com  He added:  "I like to say the rising tide lifts all ships - and having an MLL franchise in Columbus would benefit lacrosse programs throughout our state.  So buy a ticket and cast a vote!" 

Tickets for Saturday's game at Crew Stadium are available at Ticketmaster.com, any TicketMaster outlet by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the Crew Stadium ticket office.  Group discounts are available by calling (614) 447-4169.