ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Sept. 14, 2022) -- Rocky River tied a season-high with eight goals, as the Pirates routed the Elyria Catholic Panthers 8-0 to open Great Lakes Conference West Division play Wednesday.
The Maroon & White scored early and often in tying their output from an Aug. 24 win over Buckeye. That game -- an 8-0 victory over the Bucks -- marked Rocky River's first shutout victory of the season. Wednesday's battle against EC marked River's seventh. The Pirates dented twine 26 seconds in, doubled their lead by the second minute, and tripled their lead by the third. Rocky River (8-1-1, 1-0 GLC West) went on to score six goals in the opening half of play and two more early in the second half.
Sophia Sindelar -- who had assists on two of River's rapid-fire first three goals -- finished the evening with two goals and two assists. Maeve Kelly clocked her first scores of the season on a two-goal evening. Kelly scored the lid-lifter in each half. Ava Patti, Annika Mocho, Mia Carney, and Olivia Byall scored one goal each. The netfinders logged by Carney and Byall marked career firsts. Byall also registered her first career assist in the match. Mackenzie Russell, Cara McKenna, Patti, Mocho, and Lexi Hammermeister were also credited with assists.
Rocky River held Elyria Catholic to just two shots overall and one shot on goal. Caitlin Rose stopped that one Panther shot on frame.
The Pirates are 4-0-1 since suffering their lone defeat this season on Sept. 2.
CANNON FIRE ...
SISTER ACT: Ava Patti scored a goal Labor Day weekend that moved her past sister Maya Patti and Rocky River's all-time points list. Maya registered 43 goals and 33 assists, totaling 119 points from 2017-20. Ava now has 129P (54G, 21A) in her career. The Patti sisters now rank fifth-sixth on that all-time program list, which is headed by Grace Bennett (210P: 82G, 46A, 2010-13).
RUSSELL HUSTLE: Russell has now logged assists in each of River's last four matches. Her nine helpers on the season are a team-high. Her Wednesday assist marked the 30th of her career; the junior is one of just 10 Rocky River players to reach that career level.
ON DECK: Rocky River next game is scheduled for Sept. 19, when the Pirates visit Belleville Clear Fork.
by Skip Snow
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