ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (April 11, 2025) -- Rocky River gave a game effort in a Friday home battle against the defending DII Buckeye State-champion Columbus St. Francis Stallions. Over one early stretch, the Pirates rattled off three straight goals and led the game 5-3. But a strong effort at both ends and a dominant performance in the middle would get the visiting side back in the game, back on top, and eventually well out in front. River did not score after the 7:28-mark of the second quarter, and St. Francis defeated the Pirates 14-5.
The Stallions (7-1) outshot the Buccaneers 12-1 in a decisive third stanza that saw seven goals for the visitors and none for the home side. Even after being held shotless for nearly seven minutes at the front of the second quarter, St. Francis still managed to outshoot River 28-12 for the game.
During that second period, the Pirates got three Claudia Walsh saves -- two on grade-A stops -- while turning a 3-3 first-quarter tie into a 5-4 halftime edge. The Raider offense ran through Grace DeWitt, who filed a goal and two assists, and Elle Mocho, who thrice found twine for her most goals in a game since March 27. But when DeWitt scored a goal -- her team-leading 24th of the season -- at 7:28 of the second, that was it for the Pirates (5-4).
The Stallions took over on draws: they won each of eight lemon drops in the third quarter and controlled 18-of-23 draws for the game. St. Francis controlled possession time: they committed just one turnover in the third and nine for the game. And they leveraged superior talent at the offensive end, forcing a slew looks from the eight-meter arc and getting multiple goals from four different players.
St. Francis midfielder Anna Bogan, a second-team all-Ohio performer last year as a sophomore, netted a game-high five goals for the night. Junior attacker Campbell Heald added three goals and two assists. Freshman midfielder Courtney Kelley clocked two goals, two ground balls, two caused turnovers, and 13 draw controls.
In addition to her three points, DeWitt registered five scoops and two spills. She is approaching the 200-point milestone for her career. The talented senior middie heads into River's next game -- Tuesday at Westlake -- as the author of 193 points (156G, 37A).
by Skip Snow
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