ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- Rocky River earned its fourth consecutive victory, as the Pirates triumphed over the Westlake Demons, 2-0, Wednesday.
The No. 8 (Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association) Pirates got goals from seniors Sophia Murray and Ava Patti in the Great Lakes Conference West Division win on home turf. A solid defensive effort held those twin scores in place, as the Detroit Road Buccaneers clocked their fourth consecutive shutout and their ninth of the season.
After a scoreless opening half that witnessed six saves from Pirate goalkeeper Caitlin Rose, Rocky River (11-2, 3-1 GLC West) dented twine in minute No. 53 when a Taylor Byall theft led to a quick-strike goal by Patti, who finished on a fine centering pass from Sophia Sindelar.
With Chloe Eberlein, Addie Harris, Siena Roselli, Mackenzie Russell, Riley Wasserman diffusing possessions for the Demons, the next 21 minutes of action were scoreless ones but in River's favor. Rocky River then cashed in on a Murray goal assisted by Patti to double its lead in the 74th minute.
With her late goal in the contest, Ava Patti has now scored in three straight matches. Sophia Murray has registered a point-or-more in four straight.
With the victory at Rocky River Stadium, the Pirates are now 6-1 at home this season and 18-2-1 over their last 21 games on home turf.
The Maroon & White are scheduled to be on the road for their next match, a GLC West tilt at Fairview on Oct. 13.
CANNON FIRE ...
YOUNG BUCS: The Double-R junior varsity logged a 4-2 victory over Westlake on Wednesday. The Pirates got goals from Kylie Crane, Bella Crompton, Grace DeWitt, and Caroline Kysela, as they won their fifth match in a row. The River JV has outscored foes, 23-5, over that stretch.
SUBURBAN REUNION: Wednesday's game marked Rocky River's first against new GLC-member Westlake since 2010 (1-0 loss in a district final on Oct. 23).
FLOWER POWER: With her half-dozen stops on Wednesday, freshman netminder Caitlin Rose upped her save percentage this season to .787 (37-of-47). Rose's six saves marked her most in a single game since Sept. 6 (seven vs. Mansfield Madison). She has made 13 saves in Rocky River's curretn four-match win streak.
NOT HALF BAD: Since Aug. 30, the Pirates have outscored opponents, 20-0, in the second half. River allowed three such goals in its first two games of the season; the Pirates have allowed none since.
by Skip Snow
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