WESTLAKE, Ohio (Sept. 20, 2023) -- Rocky River defeated Westlake 4-1 in a key Great Lakes Conference West Division battle Wednesday night.

The Pirates and Demons split a pair of first-half goals (Sean Broulliard for WHS, Chris Saade for RRHS). Zach Kern's seventh goal of the season broke the tie 11 minutes into the second stanza. Eleven minutes later, Kern was at it again; his eighth of the season was an insurance goal putting the Pirates up by two (3-1).

With River playing solid defense and Gio Lizzini clocking six saves during the game, the visiting side maintained that cushion until the late stages of the contest. Gabriel Schroth scored in the 75th minute to close out the scoring.

With the win, the Pirates (8-2, 2-0 GLC West) have now won three straight matches and six of their last seven. Their first win over Westlake since Oct. 6, 2018, looms as a key one because it puts the Sons of Blackbeard a half-game ahead of the Demons (6-3, 2-1) in the circuit standings.

The Pirates are scheduled to play a non-conference home match against Lutheran West Saturday.



by Skip Snow

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