SCORING MACHINE: Tom Schreiber races upfield in 2014 during his senior season for the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team. Schreiber, who holds Princeton records for career goals, assists, and points in a career by a midfielder, finished his second campaign with the Ohio Machine of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). Building on his success at Princeton, Schreiber scored 60 points this summer on 30 goals and 30 assists to help the Machine make the MLL semifinals. He was tied for the league lead in assists and was named as a first-team All-MLL performer at midfield. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Tom Schreiber was thrown into the fire when he joined the Ohio Machine of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) in the spring of 2014 shortly after wrapping up his record-breaking career with the Princeton University men’s program. 

“I am not sure how many days were between my last game at Princeton and my first game at MLL but it was not a lot,” said midfielder Schreiber, whose last appearance for Princeton came in a 12-10 loss to Cornell on April 26, two weeks before his MLL debut on May 10. “I was playing against guys I had watched as a kid, it was a lot to take in. I met the team the night before.”

Schreiber had a goal and an assist in his debut and went on to score 20 points on seven goals and 13 assists in his rookie campaign.

“It was pretty good to score in that first game,” said the 6’0, 190 pound Schreiber, who scored 200 points on 106 goals and 94 assists in his Princeton career, setting program records for career goals, assists, and points in a career by a midfielder.

“The game is so much faster for a couple of reasons- there is a 60-second shot clock and the pace of play increases and there are only 8 teams so the talent is pretty concentrated.”

The season ended on a down note as Schreiber was sidelined by a late season injury.

“I broke my hand and had surgery, the rehab was fine,” said Schreiber. “The worst part was missing the last few games and the playoffs. I had surgery in the first week of August and I was back ready to go on October 1.”

This season, Schreiber proved he was ready to become a dominant performer, scoring 60 points on 30 goals and 30 assists, tying for the league lead in the latter category with Machine teammate Steele Stanwick and Rob Pannell of the New York Lizards. He played in the league’s all star game and was named a first-team All-MLL performer after the season.

“My whole life I have been an initiator with the ball,” said Schreiber. “I have had the ball more than others, trying to make more plays. My game revolves around what the other guys are doing, cutting and anticipating. Even small gestures can be important. Without a doubt, a big part of lacrosse, and the MLL specifically, is being confident.”

Another big part of the MLL is getting used to not being with your teammates on a daily basis as the players are only together on the weekends for practices and games.

“You are not training with the team all week, you are just playing games,” said Schreiber, who is based in Long Island near his hometown of East Meadow, N.Y. and works full time in lacrosse, doing clinics and instructional groups, and serving as an endorsed athlete by Warrior Lacrosse.

“You are not together in the offseason. People think we just show up and play but that is not the case. You have to put in the work to keep up. I am living near where I grew up, I fly out on Friday, have practice and then have the game.”

Even though the Machine players come from far flung locations to compete for the team, which is based in Columbus, Ohio and plays its home games in Delaware, Ohio, the squad has developed a solid camaraderie.

“With our team, it is a young roster with a few veterans mixed in,” said Schreiber. “The chemistry is good, it helped us get used to the league, we were in the same boat together.”

Riding a good late surge this season, the Machine posted a 9-5 record to finish second in the standings in the eight-team league. Although the team fell 12-8 to the Rochester Rattlers in the league semis, Schreiber is optimistic about its prospects going forward.

“We definitely made some strides this season,” said Schreiber.

“We are feeling pretty good about getting a championship in the future. It was pretty disappointing the way the season ended. We have built a lot of chemistry between the players and the coaching staff that is going to help us in the long term.”

Schreiber sees himself playing pro lacrosse over the long term. “If I am able to enjoy it and play at a high level, I will keep playing,” said Schreiber.

“Once that goes away, I will stop. I have been enjoying it for 18 years so I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.”

If Schreiber keeps going in the sport, he would enjoy getting a chance to play for the U.S. team at the World Championships in 2018 in Manchester, England.

“It would be great to be part of it, I was coaching with team Uganda last year and it was a great experience to be there,” said Schreiber.

“Playing for the U.S. at the worlds would be great. My dad (Maryland All-American and U. S. Lacrosse Hall of Famer Doug Schreiber) played for the team way back when. It is lacrosse at its highest level.”