ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – Rocky River turned the tide on a 2019 loss to a talented team from Mentor and bounced back from losing the lead on their opening-night game against St. Joseph, as the Pirates defeated the Lake Catholic Cougars, 2-0, in a well-played early-season tilt at Rocky River Stadium on Wednesday night.
River outshot Lake, 16-10, and logged seven corner kicks to the Cougars’ one. The Pirates (1-0-1) tallied one goal in each half, and senior goalkeeper Sabrina Rick made those scores stand up with a four-save shutout.
The opening minutes of Wednesday’s match were an exchange of possessions contesting the middle 40 yards of the field. Gradually, Rocky River initiated some field tilt with crisp passing and alert defense. That sway in momentum eventually resulted in a ninth-minute corner kick which netted a Pirate goal.
That goal came off the right foot of sophomore midfielder Cara McKenna, who came up with a loose ball in traffic after the Lake Catholic goalkeeper – Sophia Pecjak -- lunged forward attempting to clear the play. The ‘keeper came up empty; McKenna did not. The returning letterwinner banged the orb through a tangle of feet and across the goal line, lifting Rocky River to a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates played out the half forcing Pecjak to make three saves against one for Rick.
Early in the second half and on their fourth corner kick of the match, the Double-R doubled up on its lead. A perfect feed from Addie Harris landed amidst a flurry of action in the shadow of the near post. Keira Vesy pounced and launched a quick boot. Her shot was stopped but only by the twisted nylon behind Pecjak.
And with that, Rocky River had accomplished something that eluded the team in Monday’s 2-2 draw – the Pirates had themselves a two-goal cushion. The Detroit Road Buccaneers would protect that two-goal lead, weathering a Lake push over the middle minutes of the half and eventually playing keep-away with deft passing and patient field management.
River’s ball-control approach was efficient. But it wasn’t perfect. The Cougars had a tremendous scoring opportunity in the 48th minute when a 10-yard rifle shot from the left side was sent hurtling toward the top third of the net and bound for the inside of the far post. A fully sprawled Rick, leaping and twisting into the ball’s flight, was able to intercept the bullet. The senior batted the shot harmlessly over the crossbar.
Two-goal lead preserved. Momentum maintained.
Rick gave Lake another dose of twine envy when she stymied a shot from junior Gianna Carcelli, who had made a nifty spin move deep in the box in the 63rd minute.
Late in the game, the River possession game moved south, setting up camp at the Cougar end of the field. The team’s 11th shutout of the last two seasons (2019-20) was preserved in the fashion any goalkeeper would prefer – with the ball some 85 yards away from the undented twine at her back. Prior to that late surge, Rick was protected by the heady defensive play of Mia Kelly, McKenna, Vesy and company.
Wednesday’s Pirate victory ended a run of 2-1 games in the series. Lake Catholic defeated Rocky River, 2-1, in last year’s season opener (Aug. 26, 2019). River beat Lake, 2-1, the year before. And in 2017, the Cougars bested the Pirates by that same tally. Dating back to 2016, Lake Catholic had won 3-of-4 from the Maroon & White.
River twice lost one-goal leads in its Aug. 24 opener against the St. Joseph Jaguars. Wednesday’s home match brought in another big cat, with a talented Cougar foe from the east side. And it brought in a big opportunity … and, after 80 minutes of tremendous team play, a big win.
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