ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – The Pirates are still undefeated, and they are undefeated now where it matters most – in Ohio’s DII state tournament brackets where one loss doesn’t merely end a streak, it ends a season. Rocky River’s remarkable 2020 season now continues into regional tournament play, because on Thursday evening at Rocky River Stadium, the Pirates defeated the Copley Indians, 2-1, to earn a district title.
The fifth district crown in program history was earned in a taut, well-played contest between two foes battling in a light drizzle throughout.
Rocky River (17-0-2) scored its first goal in the fourth minute after a series of right-side throw-ins led to a quick pass-and-shoot on the doorstep in front of the Copley goal. Ava Patti scored the goal with Maya Patti providing the assist, and Rocky River had itself an early lead.
The goal was part of a 10-minute stretch that saw good Pirate pressure. The middle minutes of the opening half were a more even exchange around the middle 40 yards, and center back Keira Vesy came up with a couple big plays snuffing out Indians opportunities before they could develop into something dangerous. Copley didn’t get off its first shot of the match until the 21st minute. Playing into the wind, the Indians would go into halftime with just the one attempt and with Rocky River leading, 1-0.
Goal No. 2 for Rocky River came on the first shot of the second half. Ava Patti took a pass from the left flank, dribbled the ball once to set up an angle, and put a well-placed 17-yarder into the right side of the net. The pass from the left side came from Mackenzie Russell, who with the assist has now logged a point in four straight games. Russell made artful plays throughout, helping the Pirates maintain significant possession time. Patti’s goal marked here eighth of these playoffs, and it lifted the Double-R to a 2-0 lead.
The Indians countered with a hard-working netfinder in the 56th minute. A sharp-angle pass from Ashley Kerekes found Kami Ayoup in traffic and near River ‘keeper Sabrina Rick. Ayoup was first to the ball, hammering in a quick shot to cut the Copley deficit to one (2-1).
Sharp, spirited play – led by Taylor Byall up front and Cara McKenna at midfield – was River’s response. And the response was impressive. Copley didn’t register another shot for 17 minutes. Byall and McKenna were in on a slew of touches preserving possessions for the home side and denying them for the visitors. The touches and plays were athletic, creative, and – most of all – productive.
After Copley (6-6-4) misfired on a shot in the 73rd minute, only three more shot would be taken the rest of the way. Two of those would be taken by the Pirates some 100 yards north of the precious goal they were defending. Those two efforts – and the one by the Indians – would be harmless misfires. Off frame. And most importantly for Rocky River – off the scoreboard.
By game’s end on a night that saw the Pirates outshoot the Indians, 18-5, the lights on that scoreboard spelled out something that has become familiar in the Pirate Country on the south shore of Lake Erie – something familiar but fought for: another River victory.
CANNON FIRE …
HOME-TURF TOUGH: With Thursday’s win over Copley, Rocky River extended its home record to 12-0-1. … The Pirates are 15-0-1 over their last 16 games on Detroit Road. … River’s last playoff loss at Rocky River Stadium which was on Oct. 20, 2014 (3-2 to Holy Name). The Pirates have won 12 home postseason games since.
TITLE TOWN: Rocky River has won two district titles in as many years and now five in the history of the program. River’s other district crowns were logged in three straight years, from 2012-14. … The Pirates’ 16 victories this fall mark the program’s most in a single season since 2013 (22). Thursday’s win marked Rocky River’s 14th consecutive victory. That’s a winning streak eclipsed only the state-champion 2013 Pirates (16 straight) in the history of the program.
FAB FROSH: Ava Patti has now scored 23 goals in 2020. That total marks the Pirates’ most in a single season since Abby Elinsky found twine a program-record 43 times in 2013.
STELLAR SENIOR: With her first-half assist, Maya Patti moved int a tie for fifth place on Rocky River’s all-time points list. With 43 goals and 31 assists, the senior forward has scored 117 points. That ties her with Ashley Rucker (class of 2007), who logged 117 points (50 goals, 17 assists) over her RRHS career. … Patti now has a team-high 14 assists in 2020. That marks the Pirates’ most in a single season since Samantha Zamirrapa clocked 17 helpers in 2015.
UP NEXT: Rocky River will take on West Geauga -- which defeated Streetsboro, 5-0, Thursday – in a Northeast Ohio Region Tournament match on Tuesday (site and game time TBA).
by Skip Snow
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