ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Oct. 24, 2022) -- The Rocky River Pirates were defeated by the North Royalton Bears 1-0 Monday. The loss in an
Elyria 2 District Tournament semifinal snapped an 11-match win streak and ended the Pirates' 2022 season.
The 10th-ranked (Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association, DI) Pirates were held scoreless for just the second time this season. They were bested for just the second time this season. And a bright Maroon & White season faded, like the autumn colors surrounding Rocky River Stadium fading into the background when the stadium lights were lit for a final time this fall.
Credit a visiting North Royalton squad with a terrific night on the defensive end. The Bears -- the No. 8 seed in DI Region 2 -- were athletic and alert in controlling the top of the box, allowing little room for River forwards to operate. That defense would be given a lead to protect in the 29th minute when Avery Keitlen dribbled down the left flank and launched a well-placed 15-yard whistler into the right side of the net.
The Bears went into halftime leading the third-seeded Pirates 1-0. Rocky River came out of that halftime applying pressure. River had a couple quality looks off a corner kick in the 43rd minute. The Pirates would have seven corners and five free kicks in reasonable proximity, but none would find twine on a frustrating night for the River offense.
Rocky River (15-2-1) had several quality chances over the final 12 minutes of play. More than a couple were from close range, including a golden opportunity that missed high in the 78th minute.
The crossbar logged a save on a Mia Carney effort. The right post did likewise on an Ava Patti rocket. As for shots on frame, the Double-R went 0-for-3 on the night.
And after seven weeks of 1-for-1 performances (River's last loss was Sept. 2), the Checkered Buccaneers went 0-for-1 on an unforgiving night when only a 100% success rate earns another match.
It was a heck of a season for a hell of a team. But a Bear of night on Oct. 24, 2022.CANNON FIRE ...
GULF SCORE: Rocky River closed out its 2022 campaign averaging 4.44 goals per game while allowing 0.67. Those averages rank third and tied-for-fourth, respectively, in program history.
PARTING SHOTS: North Royalton will face No. 6 Magnificat in the Elyria 2 district finale Thursday. ... The two Indiana teams that River played earlier this season will be playing in Hoosier State title matches this week, Carmel -- which tied the Pirates 2-2 Sept. 3 -- in Class 3A and Evansville Reitz Memorial -- which beat River 2-0 Sept. 2 -- in Class 2A.
SENIOR SALUTE: Monday's match marked the final contest for seniors Ava Blair, Rayna Kishna, Cara McKenna, and Annika Mocho. That quartet experienced just five varsity losses over the last three years. The four players combined for 101 career points and quadruple that number in defensive stops.
by Skip Snow