ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- The Pirates ceded a 3-0 lead to the visiting Bengals before managing a second-half goal, as Rocky River was defeated by Benedictine in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.

Benedictine pressured the Pirates to the tune of a 14-shot, two-goal advantage in the opening half of action. The Bengals and Buccaneers then traded twine-finders in a more even second stanza in closing out the match on a warm, sunny autumn day at Rocky River Stadium.

Junior Omari Sanders nodded home a corner in the sixth minute to lift Benedictine to a 1-0 lead. The goal -- assisted by Jack Kehres -- came at the front and of what amounted to a blistering 21-minute attack by the visitors. Over the first 20 minutes of play, the Bengals rifled off 13 shots. Eight of those were on frame, keeping sophomore netminder Will DeClerck busy in his duties fronting the River cage.

Benedictine's sustained pressure led to a second goal when junior captain Christian Cora whipped in a sharp-angle shot in the 21st minute. The Bengals took their 2-0 lead into halftime.

Solid Pirate defense after the break kept the deficit at 2-0, but a couple River misfires and determined midfield defense by the Bengals kept the offense for home side quiet.

The Bengals added to their lead with a Samir Gonzalez goal in the 54th minute. Rocky River got on the board four minutes later with a nifty two-man play produced by junior Hogan Kern and senior captain Chase DeClerck. From the left short corner, Kern slid a well-timed, top-spin pass to DeClerck who then rocketed home a 5-yarder for his 12th goal of the season.

The final 12 minutes were a scoreless exchange but one that saw Rocky River out-shoot Benedictine, 6-2. For the match, the Bengals out-shot the Pirates, 20-15. Will DeClerck logged nine saves for River; junior netminder Peter Sterkel registered two saves for the Bengals.

Rocky River (5-4) is slated to return to Great Lakes Conference play with a Wednesday night (7 p.m.) contest at Lakewood.



CANNON FIRE ...

SERIES BUSINESS: The Bengals' Saturday win at Rocky River Stadium marked their first win over River in seven tries. In a series being renewed for the first time since 2012, the Pirates had been 5-0-1 against Benedictine. 

HIGH-SPEED CHASE: With his 58th-minute goal Saturday, Chase DeClerck has now scored eight goals over Rocky River's last four matches. DeClerck -- a Second-Team All-Greater Cleveland performer a year ago -- has now tallied 21 goals over his prep career. ... With his helper on Saturday, Hogan Kern has now logged two goals and two assists in 2020.

BRIDGE BATTLE: Rocky River's upcoming match with Lakewood (Wednesday) marks the sixth Riverwood Cup game. The Rangers defeated the Pirates in a taut 1-0 game last season. The school on the west side of the Rocky River is 2-2-1 in the Cup series; the Pirates lead the all-time series with Lakewood, 17-5-3.


by Skip Snow