LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Deuces were wild at Lexington High School Saturday. Two DII ranked squads scored two goals each as the Pirates and Lexington Minutemen played to a non-conference draw.

The Pirates (4-1-4) tallied the first two goals of the contest, both in the first 15 minutes of play. But host Lexington knotted the match at 2-2 by halftime. The rest of the contest amounted to a hard-fought scoreless exchange.

Christian Cukon and Jack Maher scored for Rocky River, which is now 1-0-2 over its last three games. Stephen Cain and Gold Rrustemaj had assists. Will DeClerck was credited with two saves.

River went into the match ranked No. 11 in the state (DII Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association); Lexington (4-1-3) went in ranked fifth. The Minutemen have lost just six games since the start of the 2019 season.

"This was a great test for us against a quality opponent," said head coach Kevin Zerbey. "When two ranked teams meet on the field, you hope the game will live up to it, and this one did. Another tie isn't what we wanted, but the effort and the fight we had matched what we were able to do with the ball. Too bad we just couldn't score one more."

Zerbey and the Pirates are scheduled to return to action Wednesday with a Great Lakes Conference West Division rivalry match against another ranked team. Rocky River and No. 1 Bay are slated to meet at Bay Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.


by Skip Snow

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