ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- On Monday evening at Rocky River Stadium, the Pirates collected a ninth consecutive victory, as Rocky River defeated Lutheran West, 10-1, to advance in district-tournament action.
With the victory on a rainy late-October night, the Detroit Road Buccaneers are now 21-1-1 over their last 23 games at home. The Pirates will get a chance to extend that trend: Rocky River will host the
DII Region 6 Elyria district title match on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Monday's triumph over the Longhorns included nine different Pirates scoring goals. In a contest that featured six River goals in the first half and four in the second, Lutheran West was also tagged with an own goal. Scoring for the Pirates were Mackenzie Russell (goal, two assists), Sophia Murray (goal, two assists), Ava Patti (goal), Sophia Sindelar (goal), Bella Hunt (goal), Kylie Crane (assist), Maeve Kelly (goal), Taylor Byall (goal, two assists), Addie Harris (goal, assist), and Chloe Eberlein (goal).
The Longhorns did manage something no River foe had since Sept. 22 -- a goal. The 10-1 final brought an end to an eight-match shutout streak for No. 4 (Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association) Rocky River. Still, the Pirates (16-2) haven't lost or tied a game since that date. They are now 9-0 over that span, outscoring foes, 48-1.
Goalkeeper Caitlin Rose was credited with two saves on Monday. Rose logged 24 saves during the shutout streak, and through Monday's contest owns a sparkling .858 save percentage on the season.
And for Rose and the Pirates, its a season that continues on Thursday when they host the Lancers of Gilmour Academy. Gilmour downed Padua, 6-3, in Monday's other semifinal.
CANNON FIRE ...
LOCKING HORNS: Rocky River and Lutheran West are separated by just 1.8 miles of west-side suburban pavement, but the Pirates and Longhorns were separated by 16 years of soccer scheduling until Monday's district semifinal match. River and Lutheran West hadn't met on the field since 2005. Dating back to 2000, the Pirates are now 4-0-3 against their neighbors to the south.
POINT GUARD: With her four points Monday, senior forward Sophia Murray became the 10th player in Rocky River history to tally 90 career points. Murray -- who has registered a point in eight of River's last nine games -- now has 12 goals and 11 assists this season. For her career, the two-sport standout (basketball) has notched 36 goals and 20 assists (92 points). On Monday, she leapfrogged Jillian Krebs (class of 2015), Meredith Turk (2003), and Jessica Levine (1996) on the scoring list. Murray is now slotted behind current assistant coach McKenna Klodnick (class of 2014, 96 points) for ninth place on the Pirates' all-time scoring roll.
GOT 'EM IN AUTUMN: Rocky River is now 9-2 over its last 11 playoff games. Since 2010, the Pirates are 37-10 (.787) in postseason play. On Thursday, the Maroon & White will be shooting for the third straight district crown and their sixth overall (2012-14).
by Skip Snow