ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (October 4, 2023) -- Rocky River's annual War by the Shore game against the Bay Rockets was a physical tussle between two accomplished squads ranked in the top-5 in the state. But the firepower in this Wednesday night Great Lakes Conference West Division match was mostly a one-sided barrage. Pirate cannons thundered throughout. But when it came to the Rockets' red glare, the rockets weren't there, and the Maroon & White prevailed by a score of 7-2.
The No. 2 Pirates (Ohio High School Athletic Association DII State Poll) trounced Bay -- ranked fifth in that same poll -- behind four goals from junior standout Sophia Sindelar, five assists from senior Ava Patti, six saves by junior goalkeeper Caitlin Rose, and a slew of alert defensive plays turned in up and down the field. Wednesday night's Buccaneer broadside included two River goals in the first five minutes of play (Maeve Kelly's ninth goal of the season, Mia Carney's third) and a 4-1 Pirate lead through 30 minutes. Bay (11-2-1, 2-1 GLC West) would get no closer than two the rest of the way.
Sindelar scored goals 3, 4, 5, and 6 on the night and has now recorded seven hat tricks this fall. She has tallied a remarkable 14 goals over River's last four games.
Patti was in on three of Sindelar's twine-finders. The senior forward's fifth assist in the match marked the 59th of her career, putting her one behind McKenna Klodnick (2010-13) for most career assists on program history.
When the Rockets were not dealing with Rocky River's dynamic duo, they were forced into miscues by the rest of River's Exemplary Eleven. Midfielders Olivia Byall, Mia Carney, Addison Russell, and Mackenzie Russell were fast and physical, diffusing Bay touches inside the midfield stripe before the Rockets could string a few together. Defenders Charlotte Dean, Lexi Hammermeister, and Rori Vesy were in on crucial stops closer to Rose and the River goal.
Rose was smart on her angles and saved by more-than-a-few blocked shots. Rocky River outshot Bay 28-18, and Pirate defenders dealt with perhaps five or six of those Rocket shots before they were even four feet downrange. The River 'keeper made four of her saves in the second half and for the game corralled a few bouncers on challenging short hops.
The Pirates (13-0, 4-0) put 12 shots on frame to Bay's eight. River's last goal on the night also marked a first: it was the first marker of the season (second of her career) for sophomore Grace Quaiser.
Both Bay goals were scored by junior Tessa Knapp.
Quaiser's goal in the 67th minute -- on a putback after a save of a Patti effort -- was not exactly the dagger in this game. Perhaps Maeve Kelly's second minute goal was. That score came off a Vesy throw-in and Patti centering pass, amid a flurry of early looks for the Pirates. The visitors didn't log their first shot until the ninth minute.
The mind's eye has that shot missing high. And that may well have been because by then the Rockets had already long been back on their heels.
CANNON FIRE ...
WITH THE DOUBLE-R VICTORY ...: The Pirates are now 27-2-1 over their last 30 home games (8-0 this fall) ... Rocky River has now defeated Bay in two straight meetings and three of the last four. Since 2013, the series is now knotted at 5-5-2 ... River's win streak moves into third place alone for streaks in a single season. The Pirates had win streaks of 16 games in 2013 and 2020.
MISS ASSIST: Ava Patti's five helpers tied Rocky River's single-game assist record. That figure had been hit twice before, by Grace Bennett against Vermilion on Aug. 9, 2012, and by Meredith Turk against Village Angela-St. Joseph on Oct. 9, 2000. Patti has logged 26A this season; she still needs six more to overtake McKenna Klodnick's 2013 season (31A). ... On Monday against Solon, Patti passed Grace Bennett (210 points, 2010-13) to become River's all-time points leader. Through Wednesday, Patti has 219P.
FOUR BY THE SHORE: With her quartet of Wednesday netfinders, Sophia Sindelar became just the third player in program history to register 80 points in a single season. Sindelar finished Wednesday with 82P (33G, 16A). The 2013 state-championship season saw the Pirates log a program-record 105-point campaign (Abby Elinsky) and a 93-point season (Bennett). ... Sindelar has scored a goal in all-but-one game this season (Sept. 1 vs. Zionsville). ... For River's lead in career goals, both Sindelar (78G) and Patti (80G) are on the heels of the program record (82G) held by both Grace Bennett and Abby Elinsky.
ON DECK: Rocky River will be on the road for its next three matches. That stretch gets underway Saturday afternoon at Victory Park in North Ridgeville, with the Maroon & White taking on St. Joseph. .. The next home match for the Double-R will be on Oct. 14; that’s the regular-season finale.
by Skip Snow
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