ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Sept. 11, 2023) -- A big second half helped Rocky River keep its undefeated streak alive in a Monday non-conference tilt against the Avon Eagles. The Pirates netted four goals after halftime in a 4-0 win over the Eagles.
Senior center forward Ava Patti figured in all four River goals, as the Pirates toppled Avon for the first time in eactly 10 years (4-0 win on Sept. 11, 2013).
After scoring nine goals in each of its last two matches, Rocky River (8-0) was held scoreless for 58 minutes on Monday. Solid backline play turned in by Charlotte Dean, Lexi Hammermeister, Addie Russell, and Rori Vesy kept the Pirates in the game despite the River offense being flummoxed by Avon goalkeeper Ariana Vakos. The Maroon & White developed chances but were unable to break through against Vakos, who finished the evening with 12 saves.
River's defenders did well to diffuse Eagle possessions before they could turn into dangerous shots. The Pirates would yield just two shots in the game; neither was on frame.
The Buccaneers broke through with an Ava Patti goal in the 59th minute. Nifty footwork 25 yards out by Mackenzie Russell developed into a parcel of turf which Russell turned into a pass to Maeve Kelly on the right flank. Kelly sent the ball across the goal mouth to a sprinting Patti, who got a touch in full extension to deflect the ball into the goal.
Goal No. 2 came 8-1/2 minutes later, and it, too, involved a dandy bit of tic-tac-toe. Patti and Sophia Sindelar played tic and tac. Kelly, with an upper-right 90 whistler from 15 yards out, was the toe.
River's 2-0 lead would be doubled over the final 10 minutes of play.
Patti reeled in her second goal of the match and her ninth of the season on a Kelly feed in the 72nd minute. Seventy-four seconds later, Patti assisted on Sophia Sindelar's 18th goal of the season.
CANNON FIRE ...
YOUNG BUCS: The Pirate junior varsity got a first-half goal from Ellie Holton (assisted by Margaret Nupp) and held on to defeat the Eagles 1-0 Monday. Rylie Quaiser was credited with six saves.
SCORING SURGE: With her two goals and two assists against Avon, Ava Patti has now tallied 22 points (7G, 8A) over Rocky River's last four games. For the season, the senior talent has scored 9G while adding 14A (32P).
CORRECTION: We had a misfire on the game information relayed to me for Saturday's win over Valley Forge. River's nine goals were scored by Sindelar (3G), Kelly (2G), Patti, Olivia Byall, Ella Hopkins, and Morgan Burnett. Patti and Sindelar each had 4A in that match.
by Skip Snow
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