ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (March 26, 2024) -- Rocky River pulled off an impressive Northern Ohio Lacrosse League triumph over defending DII Buckeye State champion Olmsted Falls Tuesday at Rocky River Stadium. A Pirate squad on a roll defensively (RRHS has now allowed just 4.0 goals per game through four contests) held the Bulldogs to just one goal on three shots on goal after halftime, and the Sons of Blackbeard earned an 8-5 victory.
Three times in the first half, Rocky River (3-1, 3-1 NOLL) potted goals within 90 seconds of Olmsted Falls getting a score. That served to snuff out any momentum grabs for the visitors, and after Andrew Lang and Rowan McDougal paired up on a big final-seconds goal in the second quarter, the Maroon & White went into halftime leading 5-4 over a team that had drubbed them 16-4 last spring (May 2).
Freshman twine-minder Gordon Hudson had much to say about that cushion at the break. Hudson was sharp in filing six saves over the first 24 minutes. He would be more upright and unbothered in the second half.
River defensemen Cohen Blair, Trent Delventhal, and Tyler Stanciu were a consistent physical force in front of Hudson throughout. In the second half, they were the lead edge of a Buccaneer sword that forced more than a few low-danger efforts from the Bulldogs (1-2, 0-1). In a masterful third frame, the Pirates outscored Olmsted Falls 2-0, with goals coming from Lang at the 8:08-mark and McDougal at 1:09.
The Bulldogs got within two (7-5) on an early-fourth-period goal by Dominic Fusco. The Double-R defense would hold the visitors to just three shots, all off-frame, the rest of the way.
Michael Bebie's second goal of the night came on a nifty man-up 12-yarder with less-than-two minutes remaining, and that closed out the scoring on a windy evening on River's home turf.
For the game, Bebie (two goals), Lang (two goals, two assists), McDougal (3G), and Dominic Ricketti (2A) all ledgered multiple points. Other box-score notables included five ground balls and a caused turnover for Blair, 6 GB for Hudson, a 9-6 faceoff mark for Michael McDonough, and a career-first goal for sophomore midfielder Simon Pensom.
Fusco and Jake Bill each netted 2G for the Bulldogs.
CANNON FIRE ...
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE: A year ago, Rocky River yielded 7.7 GPG on an average of 27.5 shots and 13.8 shots on goal. Through four games in 2024, the Pirates have held foes to 4.0 GPG on shots counts of 20.8 and 10.0, respectively. ... Sophomore Cohen Blair has logged 17 GB and 7 CT.
BANG-BANG: Andrew Lang's second goal Tuesday marked his seventh this season. Lang is tied with fellow senior Rowan McDougal for the team lead in that department. Lang has clocked his 7G on a sparkling 31.8% shooting percentage.
NET EFFECT: Through four games, two River goalkeepers -- Gordon Hudson and Ayad Mehulic -- have combined on a nifty .600 save percentage.
ON DECK: River's Tuesday victory sends the squad into an eight-day hiatus. The Pirates' next game will be April 4 at Solon.
by Skip Snow
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