ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- Rocky River is headed for a Region 5 final for a third time in four tries since girls' lacrosse became an OHSAA-sanctioned sport in 2017. The Pirates' appearance in a regional title contest comes courtesy of a 7-4 semifinal victory over the Wooster Generals on Tuesday at Rocky River Stadium.
A hard-nosed Pirate defensive effort was backed by solid goalkeeping, and the offensive production supplied by senior Allie Kysela and company was enough to get the top-seeded Pirates past the fifth-seeded Generals in convincing fashion. The three-goal home win came in a contest that saw the Maroon & White play a man down for eight minutes-and-10 seconds and two men down for 3:44, both in the final 12 minutes of the game. Rocky River (13-6) was tagged with five yellow cards on the night.
Kysela tallied three goals for her second straight playoff game and was alert in snatching up key ground balls and settling offensive possessions. Grace Harte (two goals), Ella Nejad, and Olivia Konopka provided the rest of the offense. River scored one man-up goal on the evening, with Konopka feeding Nejad during a mid-first-half stretch that saw the Pirates score four goals in two minutes-and-45 seconds. And the Pirates also found success in the transition game.
Rocky River was sharp on defense and in the ground-ball war. The Pirates won 8-of-13 draws (61.5%) and 28-of-46 (60.9%) ground balls. And on three occasions, tremendous defensive and 50-50 plays led directly to twine-finders. Kysela's first goal -- on a Blair Willse assist at 11:52 of the first -- came on the heels of a 10-bell save by junior goalkeeper Hannah Burgess. A minute later, Konopka scored off a draw won by Nejad and a subsequent ground ball scooped by Madeline Lundin. The junior defender also figured in River's next goal, a transition job at 9:07 of the first, with River clearing its defensive zone and Lundin hurtling the pellet to an in-stride Kysela who finished the fast break.
For the game, Lundin registered three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Fellow defender Kalyn Scalabrino logged the same line.
The Pirates took a 6-1 lead into halftime. The stout River defense didn't allow a Wooster goal from 17:06 of the first half to 9:16 of the second. During that stretch, Burgess made two saves and a couple other plays in aggressively challenging shooters atop the crease and winning ground balls.
Rocky River's physical play and perhaps some limitations on the efficacy of a three-man officiating crew led to yellow cards being handed out like spades in a game of blackjack, and the Pirates were forced into a mostly man-down defense of an eventual 7-1 lead. The Generals scored three goals over the final nine minutes-and-change. All three were of the man-up variety. Gisella Fead and Hallie Wilks were both in on two goals in that stretch, each with a goal and an assist.
River's performance on a couple late draws, along with Nejad, Konopka, and Kysella maintaining key possession time in the waning minutes, helped the Pirates avoid a closer final score. For the game, Rocky River outshot Wooster, 24-9.
And now the Pirates -- who have allowed just 10 goals in three playoff games -- are moving forward in the brackets, with a shot at reaching the the state's final four.
CANNON FIRE ...
19-FIFTY, A BIG YEAR: Allie Kysela's third goal Tuesday marked her 50th point of the 2021 season. Kysela has 44 goals and six assists this season. Her final goal also marked the 75th of her career.
ON DECK: The Pirates are slated to host the Region 5 title game on Friday. River will battle the No. 3 Walsh Warriors. The opening draw is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Double-R and Walsh met in Cuyahoga Falls during the regular season, with the Pirates earning a 7-6 overtime win. In the last-held Region 5 tournament in 2019, Walsh ousted River in the semifinals with a 12-10 victory (May 21, 2019). ... Rocky River was also in the Region 5 final in 2017 and 2018.
by Skip Snow
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