ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Aug. 19, 2023) -- Rocky River opened its 2023 season with a dominant 9-2 triumph over Avon Lake Saturday. The Pirates scored the first four goals of the game en route to building a 5-1 halftime lead. They would eventually triple up the Shoregals -- 12 to 4 -- in shots on goal in what marked River's widest margin of victory in a season opener since Aug. 17, 2013 (8-1 win over Beaumont).
With junior midfielder Sophia Sindelar involved in all four goals, Rocky River (1-0) built a 4-0 lead by the 32nd minute of the matinee contest at Rocky River Stadium. Sindelar would go on to register a monster 14-point game on six goals and a pair of assists. Her goal and point outputs established new Rocky River single-game records.
Ella Grode broke the early River run by getting Avon Lake on the board in the 33rd minute. The visitors wouldn't score again until the waning minutes of a contest being played out by Pirate reserves. Grode scored Avon Lake's second goal in the 76th minute.
For the match, three players besides Sindelar -- Olivia Byall, Maeve Kelly, Ava Patti -- found the back of the net. Sindelar and Patti each recorded two assists in the game. Caitlyn Rose (68 minutes: two saves, one goal allowed) and Rylie Quaiser (12, 0, 1) split time in the Rocky River goal.
The Buccaneers' big scoring numbers came against an ALHS program that over the last two seasons gone entire months without yielding nine goals. Over 2021-22, the Shoregals went a combined 36-3-4, allowing 0.70 goals per game.
CANNON FIRE ...
YOUNG BUCS: The River junior varsity defeated Avon Lake 3-0. Pirate goals were scored by Morgan Burnett, Clara DeWitt, and Haven Munk.
NET POSITIVES: Senior Morgyn Cruz and junior Charlotte Dean logged assists in the varsity contest. The points were career firsts for each.
RRECORD SSETTER: Sophia Sindelar's six goals broke a program record held by Melissa Jones, In 1989 Jones, logged three five-goal games. Sindelar's 14 points eclipsed a 12-point game registered by Jones against Admiral King on Oct. 21, 1989. ... Last season, Sindelar became the fourth Rocky River player to tally 30 goals in a season when she scored 31. Through Saturday's contest, the junior talent has authored a career line of 51 goals and 16 assist (118 points).
ON DECK: Rocky River's next game is slated for Wednesday when the Pirates host Holy Name (Rocky River Stadium, 8 p.m.).
by Skip Snow
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