PARMA, Ohio – Rocky River yielded a trio of goals in a hard-fought 3-1 loss to Chagrin Falls on Monday. And the Pirates are unscored upon in 160 minutes since.
That scoreless stretch is comprised of two matches, the second
of which was booked as a 2-0 victory over Padua on Saturday afternoon.
River got goals from Chase DeClerck and Jack Maher and a
lockdown performance from the Pirate defense in what was a physical affair
between the visitors and the host Bruins. DeClerck tallied his second of the
season off a Maher corner kick in the first half. Maher and Gold Rrustemaj
turned in solid playmaking efforts over an opening 40 minutes that ended with a
1-0 halftime lead for the Pirates.
Despite more opportunities in the second stanza, the score
remained 1-0 until the 77th minute. It was then that Maher – a sophomore who had three goals and four assists as a JV player a year ago – corralled a Connor McKenna pass and left-footed the ball into the net from 15 yards out. Varsity goal No. 1 for Maher. 2-0 lead for the Rocky River Pirates.
And, as it turned out, the final score of a game controlled
throughout by the Pirates.
Another 80 minutes, and another clean sheet for senior goalkeeper Connor O’Toole. The 2018 All-Greater Cleveland Second Teamer now has two shutouts this season and 13 in his career.
Rocky River (2-1-1) will continue its season on Monday with the Rockport Cup, the program’s annual battle with its neighbor to the south – the Fairview Warriors. That contest (Rocky River Stadium, 7 p.m.) will mark the Pirates’ 2019 Great Lakes Conference opener.
by Skip Snow
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