ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- Rocky River earned an 18-2 victory over Toledo Central Catholic to open play in the Region 5 bracket of the DII Ohio Girls Lax Tournament.

Collecting a season-high in goals, 13 Pirates found the back of the net in the second-round Region 5 tilt. Sharp River passing resulted in lengthy possessions, and the Striped Buccaneers registered assists on 14 of their 18 goals.

The Irish -- the No. 16 seed in the region tournament -- didn't record their first score until the midpoint of the second half. Top-seeded Rocky River outscored Central, 13-0 in the first half and 5-2 in the second, and was able to get siginificant playing time for its well-stocked bench.

Multiple points were logged by Ella Nejad (two goals, two assists), Grace Harte (1G, 1A), Olivia Konopka (3G, 1A), Allie Kysela (1G, 1A), Blair Willse (1G, 2A), Lilly Milius (2G, 1A), Lauren Solecki (2A), Eve Larsen (2A), Evelyn Polly (1G, 1A), Mackenzie Russell (1G, 1A), and Marin Richmond (2G).

With her three goals in the game, Konopka has now tallied a dozen scores over River's last five contests.

With the victory, Rocky River (12-6) snapped a four-game losing streak. The Pirates will now host ninth-seeded Toledo Notre Dame -- winners of a 13-4 game against Olmsted Falls Wednesday -- on Saturday. The opening draw between the Pirates and Eagles is slated for 2 p.m.



by Skip Snow

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