HUDSON, Ohio (April 30, 2024) -- Rocky River suffered its second loss of the season Tuesday, as the Pirates were dealt a 13-5 setback by the Hudson Explorers.

The Pirates and Explorers -- the LaxNumbers DII No. 4 and DI No. 4 teams in the state, respectively -- were knotted at 3-3 at the half. But the home side dominated the third quarter, scoring five unanswered goals. River showed some pushback in the fourth, but Hudson then tidied up by netting the final three goals of the game in the final two minutes. 

The win for the Explorers (11-2) marked their fourth in a row. Hudson has yielded just 19 goals over those four victories.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Pirates (12-2), who allowed a double-digit goal total for just a third time this season.

Grace DeWitt scored four of River's five goals. DeWitt has played in 13 games this season and has netted multiple goals in 10 of them. 

Mackenzie Russell had three ground balls, three caused turnovers, and six draw controls. Kylie Spies registered 2 GB and 4 CT.

Lexie St. Pierre scored three goals for Hudson, which outshot Rocky River 25-14.

Tuesday's contest marked the first between the Pirates and Explorers since 2017.

Rocky River's sojourn through the choppy waters of late-season, ranked-ranked competition is slated to continue Friday with a 7 p.m. game at DI No. 13 North Canton Hoover.

by Skip Snow

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