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One of the bigger rivalries in modern-day professional sports is between the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Both teams feature elite players in their sport and the two have squared off against each other in the past three NBA Finals. Golden State won the first matchup in 2015, Cleveland got revenge the following year and Golden State regained the crown this year.

Another professional sports franchise from Ohio will try to reverse its fortunes against a rival from the West when the Ohio Machine take on the Denver Outlaws in the MLL championship game Saturday in Frisco, Texas, in a rematch of the 2016 championship game that featured wild weather and a fourth-quarter comeback. It’s the first championship rematch since the Bayhawks and Lizards battled in the first three championships in league history from 2001-2003.

Players and coaches are sure this go-round will be another classic.

“If you look back over the last several years, I don’t think there’s many Ohio-Denver games not separated by one or two goals,” Outlaws coach B.J. O’Hara said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it came down to the wire again. We match up well against each other.”

Since Ohio entered the league in 2012, the Machine and Outlaws have played each other 13 times. Denver leads the series 9-4. All four of Ohio’s victories have come since 2014, the first year the Machine made the playoffs. Eight of the last nine games have been decided by two goals or fewer, including six one-goal games.

“It makes it a fun rivalry,” Outlaws attackman Eric Law said. “They’re incredibly talented and a great coached team. They’ll be ready to go and want some revenge. We’ll have to come out and match their intensity for a full 60 minutes. Hopefully we can get one more goal than them. We respect them incredibly all over the field.”

Denver and Ohio played each other twice this season, splitting the series, with each team winning the road game. On July 15, Denver defeated Ohio 13-11, with the Outlaws outscoring the Machine 3-1 in the fourth quarter. Law and Wes Berg led Denver with four points apiece, while goalie Jack Kelly made 22 saves on 33 shots.

A week later, Denver and Ohio squared off again, with the Machine defeating the Outlaws 13-12. Rookie Connor Cannizzaro, who had three goals and an assist in the first game, scored another three goals and added two assists, while MLL MVP candidate and midfielder Peter Baum scored two goals and added two assists.

The Machine won that game despite a massive possession deficit, going just 4-for-29 on faceoffs.

“In a weird way, that gives us confidence,” Holman said. “If we can do a little better at the faceoff X and generate more possessions and momentum, we’ll be OK. That was one of the grittiest wins I’ve been a part of in my years with this organization — in Denver, a tough place to play, and we were able to scrap our way to a win.”

While both teams were missing important players in different games, they will be at full strength for the rubber match, which Ohio coach Bear Davis anticipates will be a close game.

“We were missing Marcus one game and Jake [Bernhardt] and Nick Fields one game,” Davis said. “They were missing [Matt] Kavanagh and [Matt] Bocklet. It’s one of those things where that’s how the season goes. It’s about as evenly matched as you can get. The team that makes fewer mistakes and has more possessions will probably be successful.”

If Denver wins, it will be just the third team to repeat as champions and the first since the Chesapeake Bayhawks took home titles in 2012 and 2013.

Baum has a lot of respect for the Outlaws, their talent and their team mentality.

“They’re a really balanced team,” he said. “Their scoring has diversified from last season. Zach Currier is doing a great job. Romar Dennis has come on strong late. Eric Law has had an unbelievable season. He has such a nose for the goal. There’s a lot of mutual respect. Both our teams try to play the game the right way. There’s not a lot of after-the-whistle chippiness. Their defense has been playing well. They have a great goalie. We’re excited for the challenge, and I’m sure they are as well.”

Ohio is looking for its first MLL championship, and, if they succeed, the Machine would be the fourth consecutive team to hold the longest winning streak in the regular season (Ohio won five straight games from May 27-June 24) to win the championship.

Law also offered a positive scouting report of his opponent.

“They’re an incredible talented team,” he said. “Tom Schreiber, Peter Baum, Marcus Holman, Connor Cannizzaro on offense, any one of those guys can take over. Our defense has their hands full. Defensively, they’ve been one of the best, the guys down low and the defensive middie group.”

Both teams come into the championship game off of big home semifinal victories, which they hope will give them enough momentum to win the final game.

Seven of 16 MLL finals have been decided by one goal. No matter who comes out on top, both sides are confident the 2017 championship game will be one to remember.

“Considering the way it ended last year, I don’t think our organization would’ve wanted it differently,” Davis said. “To play Denver again in the championship is what you want. We’re excited about that opportunity. It was about getting there, though. It just happens to be an opponent our guys will be easy to get up for. The game is enough, but throw in a rematch, and that adds to it. And it’s in a climate-controlled stadium, so that’s a good thing. We’re excited about that.”