LEXINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 16, 2023) -- For the Rocky River Pirates, there was no weakness after a week off. No quarter given ... in either half. And after a strong performance against a senior-laden and state-ranked Lexington group, Rocky River's bus ride home was one that included a whole lot of happy Buccaneers.
That return trip to the Double-R came after the Pirates had returned to action with an impressive 1-0 victory over the No. 10-ranked (Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association) Lexington Minutemen. After a 52nd-minute goal from senior captain Zach Kern, six saves from senior goalkeeper Gio Lizzini, and what coach Kevin Zerbey termed as a solid, all-around win for a Pirate team that had not played since losing at Padua last Saturday.
Rocky River (6-2) lost that Sept. 9 game 2-1, snapping a three-game win streak in the process. On Saturday at Lexington, against an undefeated team called the Minutemen, it was the Pirates playing all-out every minute, defending every square yard of turf and every possession to the hilt.
That hard-nosed play against a Lexington squad loaded with 13 seniors would net a golden scoring opportunity 52 minutes in, on a handball in the box. Kern converted, scoring his fourth goal of the season. In a match that saw River land eight shots on goal to Lexington's six, Kern's would be the only twine-finder.
"It was really important for us to get a good bounce back from the disappointing loss last week at Padua," said Zerbey, whose Pirates now own a goals-against average of 0.88. "Doing it wasn't going to be easy, not only because we didn't have any games since last Saturday, but also because we were playing a tough, physical opponent on its Senior Day. I couldn't be prouder of the boys for how they came out and absorbed and adjusted, and then attacked."
The loss for Lexington (6-1-1) marked just its fifth in regular-season play since Sept. 14, 2021. In an odd twist on the concept of home-field advantage, the home side has failed to earn a victory in each of six all-time River-Lexington matches. The Pirates lead that series 3-2-1.
CANNON FIRE ...
SHORT REST: Rocky River goes from long rest to short rest. The team's next match will be on Monday when the Lads in Maroon host a non-conference battle against Firelands.
YOUNG BUCS: The Double-R JV lost 4-1 to Lexington Saturday. The Pirates' lone goal was scored by freshman Sebastien Maher. Sophomore netminder Matthew Swislocki registered 10 saves.
by Skip Snow
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