ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (April 1, 2025) -- The Pirates bounced back from a Saturday setback with a Tuesday-night Northern Ohio Lacrosse League victory over Olmsted Falls. On what marked Senior Night for the Maroon & White, Rocky River leashed the Bulldogs 18-4.
Rocky River (4-1, 3-0 NOLL) got much production up and down the lineup but most especially from the Class of 2025 as it rebounded from a 14-4 loss to Walsh on Saturday. Senior midfielder Grace DeWitt had six points and senior goalkeeper Claudia Walsh filed six saves, as the Striped Buccaneers ran their all-time NOLL mark against Olmsted Falls to 5-0 with a plus-70 goal differential. Seniors Ella Miller and Marabelle Newman registered their career-first goals in a contest that saw the Pirates outshoot the Bulldogs 28-12. Seniors DeWitt (five caused turnovers) and McKenna Kelly (2 CT) had multiple spills as the lead edge of a plus-9 (16-25) for River in the turnover department. They led River in ground balls as well: DeWitt logged seven and Kelly had three.
Sophomore Clara DeWitt chimed in with three goals and one assist. She now has 17 points (9G, 8A) this season.
Ellie Holton, Miller, Elle Mocho, and Addie Tisler each scored 2G Tuesday.
CANNON FIRE ...
SENIORS SALUTED: Seniors Grace DeWitt, McKenna Kelly, Sarah Knox, Rimela Malaj, Bode McDougal, Ella Miller, Marabelle Newman, and Claudia Walsh were honored in a pregame ceremony on what was a chilled evening at Rocky River Stadium.
DeWITT-ICISMS: On Saturday, Grace DeWitt moved past 2024 graduate McKenzie Russell's all-time program record for ground balls. On Tuesday, the senior captain had six draw controls and moved past Ella Nejad for the all-time Pirate lead in that category. DeWitt is Rocky River's all-time leader now in ground balls (152), caused turnovers (109), and draw controls (205). The 2024 NOLL Player of the Year and first-team all-Ohioan has also tallied 141G and 35A in her career.
ON DECK: The Buccaneers' next game will also be a circuit battle. On Thursday, Rocky River will host Avon in a 5 p.m. game which marks the front end of a girls-boys NOLL doubleheader against the Eagles.
by Skip Snow
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