COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 29, 2023) -- Rocky River split a pair of games in a Friday-Saturday trip to Columbus. On Friday, the Pirates prevailed amid the chaos of yellow cards and man-down time to defeat Columbus Academy 17-16. On Saturday, River was undone by a powerful Columbus St. Francis squad in a 15-5 tussle.

On Friday, Rocky River (11-2) let an 8-1 lead slip away in a wild game rife with penalties and an ever-shifting number of players on the field at any one time. The host Vikings tallied five man-up goals in a contest that saw nine ties and lead changes. The score was tied on three different occasions in the second half. Grace DeWitt broke the final deadlock -- a 16-16 partition of 32 twine-finders -- with a game-winning goal at the 3:53-mark.

In Saturday's affair, St. Francis de Sales bolted to a 6-1 lead and never looked back. The Stallions dominated on the draw, taking 22-of-29, and shut down the River offense for long stretches. The loss snapped a seven-game win streak, and the Buccaneers' five goals tied a season low.

The Pirates (six yellow cards) and Vikings (5 YC) combined to get tagged for 11 yellow-card violations in Friday's game.

Over the two games, DeWitt registered seven goals, an assist, six ground balls, three caused turnovers, and 11 draw controls. The sophomore standout has now scored 15 goals over River's last four games and a team-high 35 on the season.

Olivia Konopka tallied seven points (4G, 3A) in Columbus. Kaitlyn Byrne netted 5G. Alexis Tisler added 5P (3G, 2A). Annika Mocho logged seven scoops and six spills.

McKenna Kelly, Addie Tisler, and Emma Yezbak clocked their first varsity action in Saturday's game at St. Francis. Yezbak recorded her first career point, assisting on a Konopka goal at 1:30 of the second half.

Rocky River will return home for a Senior Night Northern Ohio Lacrosse League contest on Tuesday (vs. Olmsted Falls, 7 p.m.).

by Skip Snow

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