OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Rocky River returned to Northern Ohio Lacrosse League play on Tuesday, and the Pirates remained undefeated in the circuit with an 8-4 victory at Olmsted Falls.
After edging Columbus St. Francis, 9-8, in a marvelous non-conference triumph on Saturday, the Pirates took to the road for the first of three straight games away from the Lacrosse Grounds in the Heart of River. Getting quick scores from seniors Hayden Weaver and Nathan Robertson, the Double-R took an early 2-0 lead and would win the game in wire-to-wire fashion. Weaver would go on to finish with three goals and an assist, and the Pirates rode another strong performance from Reece Rochester in goal as they held a foe under five goals for a third time this season.
The Bulldogs' goals came in one-a-quarter fashion. Rocky River led 3-1 after one period, 4-2 at halftime, and 5-3 through three frames. Aside from a solid start to the game, River's offense was undone by 22 turnovers and an 0-for-7 performance in man-up opportunities. The Pirates had six failed clears which played into an overall minus-10 in turnover margin: River committed 22 miscues to Olmsted Falls' 12.
The Bulldogs failed to capitalize on the turnover haul mostly due to the stellar evening turned in by Rochester. The senior twine-minder, fresh off a masterful, 17-save performance against St. Francis, recorded the same number of stops on Tuesday. Rochester stymied 13 Olmsted shots in the second half alone. He owns a sparkling .739 save percentage over River's last two games.
Aside from Weaver and Robertson, the rest of the Rocky River offense was comprised of Will Bennett (two goals), Robby Lang, and Rowan McDougal. Lang's goal -- River's lone tally in the third quarter -- marked the first of his career. The junior defenseman also logged eight ground balls and a caused turnover.
The home side outshot the Pirates, 36-34, and Olmsted Falls put 21 shots on frame to River's 17.
The victory marked the Pirates' fifth in a row since falling to Toledo St. Francis, 8-3, on March 27. Rocky River (7-2, 6-0 NOLL) is scheduled to play a non-conference game at Columbus Watterson this Saturday.
CANNON FIRE ...
GROUND AND POUND: Rocky River won Tuesday's ground-ball tussle, winning 32-of-50 grounders for the game. Lang, Charlie Hudson (five), Mack Massad (five), and Matthew George (four) were the Pirates' individual leaders. Hudson also had four caused turnovers in the contest.
YOUNG BUCS: Olmsted Falls won Tuesday's junior varsity game, 5-4. Mack Massad (two), Rowan McDougal, and Andrew Lang clocked the River scores. Massad and Parker Hartup were credited with eight and seven ground balls, respectively.
by Skip Snow
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