ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (March 28, 2023) -- Rocky River remained unbeaten on the young season by blanking the Mentor Cardinals 16-0 Tuesday.

The Pirates dominated the Great Lakes Conference affair, going long stretches without allowing the visitors to possess the ball within 50 yards of the River cage. The shutout -- River's first since May 18 (18-0 vs. Copley) -- marked the Pirates' second in a row against their Northern Ohio Lacrosse League foes from the east side (RRHS defeated MHS 17-0 May 22). Rocky River is now 6-0 all-time against Mentor.

In Tuesday's game, the Pirates got three goals apiece from Kaitlyn Byrne and Alexis Tisler. Olivia Konopka, Bode McDougal, and Mackenzie Russell found twine twice each. Reagan Connelly, Jane Rathbun, and Tisler led a sharp River passing game. Konopka was impactful on defense, nixing multiple clearing attempts by the visiting Cardinals.

Most of the game's second half was played with a running clock.

Dating back to last season, Rocky River has now won eight straight regular-season games. The Pirates (4-0, 3-0 NOLL) are a plus-114 in goal differential over those eight wins. The Striped Buccaneers are slated to host Solon in a Thursday night NOLL battle at Rocky River Stadium (7 p.m. opening draw).



by Skip Snow

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