OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio (April 26, 2025) -- Rocky River shook off the rust from a 10-day layoff and then shook itself loose from the Bulldogs to earn a hard-fought 8-4 triumph over Olmsted Falls in a monster match-up of unbeaten Northern Ohio Lacrosse League squads Saturday. The late-April battle and the final conference date for Rocky River marked a de facto league title game. The victory sealed River's second NOLL championship; the program's first was in 2021.
The Pirates (11-0, 6-0 NOLL) won the tussle in wire-to-wire fashion, but the contest was taut throughout with both sides battling to develop quality shots on goal. Only 30 such shots would be loosed -- 17 by Rocky River and 13 by Olmsted Falls -- on the overcast, windy afternoon. Sophomore goalkeeper Gordon Hudson parried away nine of the Bulldog efforts, and a key second-quarter surge by the Buccaneers helped River grab and then keep the momentum of the game.
Leading just 2-1 after a Bulldogs man-up goal by senior attackmen Dominic Fusco at the 8:26-mark of the second period, the Pirates managed to break through for the next four goals of the afternoon. The quartet of twine-finders -- tallied (in order) by Joe Smith, Ryan Taylor, Michael Bebie, and then Bebie again -- vaulted Rocky River's lead to 6-2. Host Olmsted Falls, which had three times over its last four games scored 15-plus goals, would get no closer than three the rest of the way.
For the game, River outshot Olmsted Falls 36-22 and won 42-of-64 (66%) ground balls. The Pirates had 19 turnovers to the Bulldogs' 23. For Olmsted Falls (8-1, 3-1), the loss marked just its second at home since 2022.
Bebie finished with three goals and an assist. Connor Nesbett (1G, 1A) and Dominic Ricketti (1G, 1A) each filed two points. William Sawyer registered seven ground balls and three caused turnovers. Cohen Blair logged five scoops and one spill, he has 16 GB over River's last four games.
Rocky River will look to continue what is the second-longest win streak in program history (16 straight wins in 2011) when it opens a stretch of six non-conference games to close out the regular season on Tuesday (7 p.m. at Hawken).
by Skip Snow
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