ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Aug. 19) -- The Pirates opened their 55th season with a 1-1 draw against Aurora.

The Greenmen (0-0-1) took an early lead and would hold it most of the way in what marked the first match between Aurora and Rocky River. But the visitors lost their lead 15 minutes before the finish line when senior Nathyn Marius banged home a penalty kick to knot the opening-night affair at 1-1.

Marius' seventh career goal marked the final score of the contest.

The Pirates (0-0-1) got five saves from senior goalkeeper Will DeClerck.


CANNON FIRE ...

THE TIES THAT BIND: Rocky River has now logged ties in back-to-back season openers. The Pirates battled Amherst Steele to a scoreless draw in the 2021 lid-lifter (Aug. 19, 2021). Last season's 7-6-5 River squad equaled a program record for draws: the 1992 Pirates went 11-2-5.

YOUNG BUCS: The Double-R junior varsity also got underway Friday. The Pirates were felled by the Greenmen 1-0.

ON DECK: Rocky River will host Buckeye on Wednesday. A year ago, the Raiders and Bucks played to a 0-0 draw in the regular season (Aug. 25). Buckeye then ousted River from the OHSAA playoffs 1-0 on Oct. 23. Across five matches against the Bucks since 2019, the Pirates have gone 0-4-1 while being outscored 8-1.


by Skip Snow

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