ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – Rocky River routed the Redmen, 4-0, on what was a rainswept Senior Night at Rocky River Stadium on Wednesday.
The Pirates’ quartet of netfinders tied a 2019 single-game high. Chase DeClerck (two goals ) and Gold Rrustemaj (two assists) logged multiple-point games for River, which is now unbeaten (2-0-1) over its last three matches.
Along with a staunch Rocky River defense, senior goalkeeper Connor O’Toole registered his sixth shutout of the season. Four of those clean sheets have now been posted against Great Lakes Conference foes.
Gold Rrustemaj got the Pirates (8-4-2, 5-2 GLC) going in the ninth minute when he stripped the orb from a Parma defender and centered it to Chase DeClerck for quick boot past the Redman ‘keeper. DeClerck’s goal would hold up as the only score of the match through halftime.
In the 50th minute, a Rocky River corner led to Rrustemaj
again connecting with DeClerck who nodded the fine pass into the net for a 2-0
River lead.
In the 58th minute, a messy corner clear by Parma resulted in a loose ball 25 yards out. Conor McKenna corralled the wayward clear and lofted it over the Redmen ‘keeper.
In the 72nd minute, Jack Maher flighted a corner
to the far post. In an attempt to clear the ball, a Parma defender redirected
it into the goal. That own goal came amid a flurry of pressures by the River
attack.
DeClerck’s goals marked his team-leading fifth and sixth of the season. With his two assists, Rrustemaj is now tied with DeClerck for the team lead, with five.
The Pirates are now 5-0 all-time against the Redmen. River
has outscored Parma, 26-1, over those five matches.
On Wednesday, seniors Ben Eberlein, Andrew Fry, Keegan O'Neill, Connor O'Toole, John Ruebsteck and Athan Tsigas were honored pregame. RR Boys’ Soccer has gone 44-18-10 over their tenure with the program.
The 2019 Pirates will continue their season at Normandy on
Monday (Byers Field, 7 p.m.).
CANNON FIRE …
SAILING DEEPER INTO SHUTOUT WATERS: Senior captain Connor O’Toole now has 18 career shutouts. That ties O’Toole with Jim Waters (1979-81) for third place on the program’s all-time shutouts list.
YOUNG BUCS: Rocky River won Wednesday’s JV game, 4-1. Pirate goals were scored by Omar Abazied (two), Fionn Harte and Riley Goodill. Assists were logged by Harte and Patrick O’Neill. Freshman netminder Will DeClerck had three saves; Nart Yilmaz had one.
by Skip Snow
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