ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (May 28, 2024) -- Rocky River's postseason run came to an end in Tuesday's Region 5 semifinal at the Lacrosse Grounds on Detroit Road. The Pirates were undone 2-1 in a hard-fought defensive tussle against Toledo St. John's.

The two sides combined for just 13 shots on frame (Titans 7, Pirates 6), and goalkeepers Ian Horner and Gordon Hudson were both sharp in making several grade-A stops. St. John's -- the No. 7 seed in the region -- scored its two goals in the first period. The second-seeded Buccaneers halved the Titan lead with a Simon Pensom goal in the third. The second and fourth stanza's were scoreless exchanges with both teams coming with impressive stops time and again.

With the victory, St. John's advances to a Region 5 final on Thursday. The Pirates (14-6) end their 2024 campaign on a remarkable stretch that saw the squad yield just 14 goals over their last five games.

On Tuesday, St. John's, which also ousted River from the 2023 playoffs, outshot Rocky River 18-14. The Pirates were a plus-2 (RR 15, SJ 17) in the turnover exchange. The Titans went 7-0 on faceoffs in a patient game that saw just one penalty. Both netminder registered five saves.

Drew Duesing and Owen Strayer scored the Titans goals.

Cohen Blair logged three ground balls and four caused turnovers. Blair finished the season with a team-high 51 spills. Dominic Rickett ledgered five scoops and one spill.

The River loss brought an end to the prep careers of seven Pirate Greybeards (Patrick Connelly, Brody Connors, Trent Delventhal, Brody Hahn, Jack Hurt, Andrew Lang, and Rowan McDougal).

Those Double-R seniors were instrumental in the Pirates upping their season win total from eight in 2023 to 14 this spring.

 

"This team far exceeded expectations this season," said coach Griffin Vehar. "Our seniors made an impact that will have a ripple effect on our program and on lacrosse in this community for years to come."

by Skip Snow

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