ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (March 19, 2024) -- Rocky River leveraged a solid second half at both ends of the field in taking down the Bay Rockets 9-4 in a rivalry season opener Tuesday.
The Pirates overcame a big Bay second quarter and went on to outscore the Rockets 5-0 and outshoot them 14-6 after halftime. With the victory in Northern Ohio Lacrosse League action on the chilled night at Rocky River Stadium, the Double-R ran its all-time record against its neighbors to the west to 19-0.
"This was a great team effort tonight," said Griffin Vehar, whose Pirates led 3-0 early only to fall behind 4-3 late in the second period. "We battled back through some adversity, and I thought we had great energy coming from our defense and our seniors."
Early in the second, Rocky River (1-0, 1-0 NOLL) was undone by a costly illegal-stick violation. Bay (1-1, 0-1) piled up three quick man-up goals, countering a trio of netfinders filed by the Pirates in the first frame. A Jaxon Dunn goal vaulted the Rockets in front, 4-3, at the 3:55-mark in the second. The home side answered at 2:12 when Dominic Ricketti planted a goal on a Rowan McDougal assist, and the War by the Shore was 4-4 by the shore at halftime.
The Sons of Blackbeard then got two big goals from senior attackman Brody Hahn. Hahn, one of nine returning lettermen on this year's team, scored a transition goal at 9:56 of the third. That goal, on a Cohen Blair assist, came after a key save by freshman goalkeeper at the other end. Blair and Hudson would figure prominently in defending the new River lead the rest of the way.
Hahn scored again at 7:15 on a William Sawyer assist. The Pirates would get one more goal in the third, on senior Andrew Lang's middle of three goals on the night. But it was the River defense turning that third period into an unqualified success.
Defensemen Cohen Blair, Trent Delventhal, and Tyler Stanciu gave no quarter. They shoved Bay attackmen away from the slot, offering up few good looks on shots. They spilled Rocket possessions and turned them into pellet time in Pirate crosses at the other end of the field. That trio finished with a combined 14 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Blair registered 7 GB and 3 CT on his own.
Rocky River outshot Bay 9-3 in the third; the Pirates outscored the Rockets 3-0. The Maroon & White took a 7-4 lead into the fourth and then clamped down on that advantage with the last two goals of the contest.
For the game, River outshot Bay 29-17. The Buccaneers put 18 shots on goal to the visitors' nine. Man-advantage time loomed large in the contest. River went 2-of-5 with the extra man; Bay went 3-of-6. The Pirates were sharp on 50-50 balls and grabbed up 43 ground balls to the Rockets' 21.
Jackson Dunn and Connor Nassman each had two goals for the Rockets. Dunn figured in all four Bay scores: he also had two assists.
Lang's three goals led the Pirates. The senior captain also filed an assist and two ground balls. Michael Bebie, Brody Hahn, and Dominic Ricketti each ledgered two-goal performances. Hudson went the route between the pipes and finished with five saves.
The contest marked the open of the program's 19th season. With the victory, Rocky River is now 13-6 across all its season openers. The Pirates are 14-5 in 19 home openers.
CANNON FIRE ...
MEET THE PIRATES: The 2024 Rocky River Boys Lacrosse squad returns four starters and nine lettermen from a team that went 8-10 (5-4 in NOLL play) a year ago. The 2024 roster is dotted with eight seniors: Patrick Connelly, Brody Connors, Trent Delventhal, Brody Hahn, Jack Hurt, Andrew Lang, Rowan McDougal, and Basil Petti-Kassovic. River's captains this spring are Hurt, Lang, and McDougal.
ON DECK: The Buccaneers will play their first road game of the season on Thursday. They'll take on NOLL foe Avon Lake in a 7 p.m. contest.
NEW NOLL: A slimmed-down Northern Ohio Lacrosse League now includes seven teams, down from 10 a year ago. The circuit members this spring are Avon, Avon Lake, Bay, Brunswick, Olmsted Falls, Rocky River, and Westlake. Each team will play every other NOLL team for a 6-game conference slate.
by Skip Snow
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