ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – Rocky River dropped a home match for the first time since Oct. 2, 2017 – a stretch of 14 games – as the Pirates fell to a talented Chagrin Falls Tigers squad, 3-1, on Monday night.
A Tiger program that went 15-3-1 a year ago – including a 3-0 win over Rocky River on Aug. 23, 2018 – and which finished the year as a DII district finalist was sharp on Monday. Chagrin Falls shut out the Pirates, 1-0, in the first half and then traded one goal for two in the second. With just one senior back from that 2018 team, the Tigers still managed to tilt the field to the tune of a 23-9 shot advantage on what was a warm, clear night under the lights at Rocky River Stadium. A strong Chagrin Falls backfield neutralized many a Pirate look at the net, and quality shots were hard to come by for the home side. The Men in Maroon would land just five shots on goal on the night.
Chagrin took its 1-0 lead in the 34th minute when
sophomore forward Michael Mashke came up with a loose ball behind the Pirate
defense. Mashke dribbled his way to an open-field 7-yarder which he deposited
into the lower left corner of the Pirate net.
Thanks to Pirate goalkeeper Connor O’Toole, Mashke’s effort would mark the only netfinder of the opening half. O’Toole had five saves in the first, and that didn’t include a heady, diving interception of a Tiger cross near the cage that would’ve certainly resulted in a goal if the senior captain hadn’t sprawled his way across the open passing lane.
Swingman Chris Fry and defender Keegan O’Neill were sharp in diffusing several Chagrin advances. Both also came up with key blocked shots in front of O’Toole.
Rocky River (1-1) got its best sustained push over a
four-minute stretch beginning about 10 minutes into the second stanza. But no
goal was landed.
The Tigers (1-0-1) then doubled their lead in the 61st minute when Jack Stauffer banged home a rebound after a Connor O’Toole save. A minute later, Chagrin’s JT Marting planted a header on a feed from Ellis Clark and the lead was three (3-0).
Rocky River got on the board in the 62nd minute when Chris Fry threaded a shot in close quarters inside the far pole – from the left side to the right – for his first career goal.
That would mark the final goal of the 3-1 contest.
A busy Connor O’Toole made 10 saves on the night.
He and fellow captain Keegan O’Neill and the rest of the Pirates walked off the field after the match under a glow the Rocky River scoreboard hadn’t posted in quite a while – more digits in the visitors’ column than for the home side. River went 9-0-1 at home a year ago, outscoring foes, 36-2, in the process. Since a 2-0 loss to Westlake on Oct. 2, 2017, the Men in Maroon had gone 11-0-3 in 14 games at their Detroit Road address.
CANNON FIRE …
BETWEEN TWO RIVERS: Rocky River is now 8-12-8 over 28 all-time matches against Chagrin Falls.
ON DECK: Rocky River’s next game will be on the road – the Pirates will travel to Chesterland, Ohio, to take on Hawken.
YOUNG BUCS: River lost Monday’s JV game to the Tigers, 3-1, to fall to 0-2 on the season. An undermanned Pirate crew had four players split time in goal. River’s lone goal was scored by Mark Quaiser on a free kick from 20 yards. Quaiser has scored three goals in the early going.
by Skip Snow
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