ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Oct. 23, 2023) -- The top seed in DII Region 6 of the Buckeye State Girls Soccer tournament is now 2-0 in tournament play. After routing No. 30 Lutheran West 8-0 Wednesday, the Rocky River Pirates hung the same score on the No. 26 Lake Catholic Cougars in Monday's
Northeast 5 District Tournament semifinal. And now the Pirates are headed for the finals of that district bracket: Rocky River will take on No. 12 Buckeye Thursday at North Olmsted High School (6 p.m. kickoff).
On Monday, the unbeaten Buccaneers scored five goals in the first half and three goals in the second. For a sixth straight contest (10th overall), the No. 2 (Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association DII Girls State Poll) Pirates (19-0) did not allow a goal. River closed out its 2023 home season 10-0 with 61 goals for and just eight against.
Junior Sophia Sindelar notched her 11th hat trick of the season, denting twine three times against Lake (2-9-3). Maeve Kelly and Ava Patti scored two goals each; Mia Carney scored one. Charlotte Dean (two), Carney, Kelly, and Rory Vesy filed assists.
The Cougars were held without a shot on goal.
Sindelar has now scored six goals over River's two tournament games. Her third goal Monday marked her 49th of the season.
The Double-R is now 15-4 over its last 19 playoff games. Since 2010, the Pirates are 43-12 (.782) in postseason play.
Should there be more big goals and wins this season, they will occur elsewhere. Monday's match marked Rocky River home finale this fall. River closed out its 2023 home season 10-0 with 61 goals for and just eight against. Since Oct. 9, 2019, the Checkered Buccaneers are now 45-3-2 in their Detroit Road environs. In playoff games at Rocky River Stadium, the Pirates are 11-1 over that same stretch.
The Girls Soccer team has turned Rocky River into a tourney town. Now, they want to make it a title town.
by Skip Snow