CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio (May 11, 2023) -- Rocky River lost a hard-fought battle at Cuyahoga Valley Thursday. On a sunny evening at CVCA, the Pirates' outlook at the end of the first period was anything but. The host Royals had just outscored the Buccaneers 4-0. But River got its offense in gear and got a string of key goalkeeper saves in eventually getting back into the heat of a tussle that ended in a 9-8 Royals win.
With senior Wes Bennett filing a couple key goals -- his 29th and 30th of the season, the Pirates twice got within two over the middle periods. Rocky River (7-9) got within two a third time when junior midfielder Andrew Lang dodged his way free and deposited an 8-yarder into the back of the net at the 10:45-mark of the fourth.
But after Lang's goal, a series of unfortunate penalties put the Pirates first on a knee in front of the field table and then in a hole. CVCA clocked a pair of extra-man goals to extend its lead from 7-5 to 9-5.
The Sons of Blackbeard showed resolve and battled back. Senior Ryan Hildebrand ripped a shot into the upper-right 90 at 6:45. The goal marked the 100th point of Hildebrand's career and got the Pirates within three (9-6). He netted another goal a couple minutes later -- a man-up 12-yarder fed by Lang -- to get the Double-R within two (9-7).
A couple late CVCA penalties and dogged River defense conspired to hold the Royals without a shot in the final nine minutes of play. Parker Hartup, who finished the game with four caused turnovers, and Mac Scott, who logged three scoops and a spill, were in on key plays denying the Cuyahoga Valley offense in that fourth-frame stand.
The final tally of the game was registered by Rowan McDougal; his goal came at the 2:08-mark. The last 128 seconds were scoreless ones, and the Royals held on for the 9-8 triumph.
For the game, Bennett finished with two goals and one assist. Lang filed the same line. Hildebrand finished with three goals and an assist.
Goalkeeper Carter Smith logged a first-half stretch where he stopped three straight shots destined for nylon. He finished the game with nine saves.
Thursday's contest -- River's regular-season finale --marked the first between RRHS and CVCA since 2018.
CANNON FIRE ...
ON DECK: Beginning on May 12, 67 teams will start down the road toward the DII Buckeye State championship game, which will be held June 3 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus. Rocky River is the No. 7 seed in Region 5 and will host No. 10 Padua Tuesday at 6 p.m.
STING OPERATION: Ryan Hildebrand logged 33 points (29 goals, four assists) as a sophomore in 2021. He added 35P (28G, 7A) in his junior season and thus far as a senior has 33P (24G, 9A). The talented midfielder will be continuing his lacrosse career at the collegiate level as a member of the Lynchburg (Va.) Hornets.
by Skip Snow
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