HURON, Ohio (Oct. 31, 2023) -- For a game played on Halloween, this one did not have too many scary moments for the Rocky River Pirates. A couple snowy moments perhaps, but no scary ones. Getting two goals early, yet another big game from its dynamic duo of Ava Patti and Sophia Sindelar, and a double-shot of Russell hustle, Rocky River advanced in
Buckeye State tournament play with an 8-0 conquest over Maumee.
The top seed from the Northeast District outscored the No. 3 seed from the Northwest District 7-0 in the opening period of a chilled DII Region 6 semifinal game that twice had snow flurries flying. It would be 22 more minutes --after a game effort by an overmatched Panthers (14-7) team -- before the Pirates (21-0) closed out their sixth eight-goal mercy-rule win in their last seven games. The Checkered Buccaneers are now headed to their fourth region final in the last five years (2019-21, 2023). On Saturday, they will lock horns and match wits with the Northwest No. 4 Mansfield Madison Rams, a team that downed Northwest No. 7 Lima Shawnee 3-0 Tuesday and has allowed just 1.09 goals per game for the season.
In Tuesday's match at Huron Memorial Stadium, Rocky River took a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute when Patti stripped the ball from a Panther defender and turned it into a scoreboard event on a low shot. For the night, the Pirates would rattle off 49 shots against a Maumee squad that for the season had yielded just 1.71 GPG.
River's second goal came in the seventh minute on a marvelous bit of technical offensive precision. Sindelar set up the play with a nifty long pass to Olivia Byall who used her speed to create a crossing opportunity. Byall's cross was well-placed and well-timed, and ... well, put into the back of the net by Maeve Kelly, who would score once more on the night and now has six goals in these playoffs.
With goals by Mackenzie Russell (from Mia Carney) and another by Patti (from Sindelar and Addie Russell), the Double-R doubled its lead to 4-0 by minute 20. The Pirates finished out the first half with Sindelar, Addie Russell, and Kelly all finding finding twine.
Patti's third goal of the night -- her 36th of the season -- ended the frozen affair 22 minutes into the second stanza. For the standout senior, the trio of goals marked her second straight hat trick and her fourth of the year.
For the match, River put 24 shots on frame to Maumee's two. Caitlin Rose handled both Panther efforts to register her 11th shutout of the season.
So, with the Pirates pocketing another 8-ball, Tuesday was more smite night than fright night. What may be scary for the other seven foes remaining in the DII tournament, however, is that this second-ranked (Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association DII Girls State Poll) River squad appears to be out to prove that ranking is twice what it should be.
CANNON FIRE ...
ON DECK: Rocky River will face Madison Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Bobcat Stadium in Bowling Green. The Pirates and Rams have met three times before, all in the previous four years. Madison defeated River in 2019 and 2020. The Buccaneers countered with a 4-0 victory over the Rams in 2021.
NET EFFECT: Over its 21 straight wins, Rocky River has averaged 6.57 GPG while yielding just 0.57. Those are the would-be best and fourth-ranked averages, respectively, in program history. ... In the postseason, the Pirates have scored 23 goals while allowing one. ... The Double-R is now 17-4 over its last 21 Buckeye State playoff games. Since 2010, the Pirates are 45-12 (.789) in postseason play.
ROSE METTLE: Caitlin Rose has now recorded 11 shutouts in back-to-back seasons. She has 36 in her career which is the all-time River record. The previous mark was held by Kim Leitch (31 shutouts, 2008-11).
FIFTY-FIFTY WINNER: Maeve Kelly's second goal Tuesday (34th minute, assisted by Ava Patti) marked a 50 milestone on two fronts. The netfinder marked the 50th of the senior's fine career and her 50th and 51st points scored this season. Kelly, who has scored at least one goal in eight of Rocky River's last nine games, has logged 50 goals and 32 assists over her career. Her 132 points rank seventh in program history.
by Skip Snow