OBERLIN, Ohio (Sept. 23, 2024) -- On Monday evening, Rocky River notched an impressive non-conference road win against a previously unbeaten Firelands squad. The Pirates outshot the Falcons 15-1 in a dominant second half that saw River turn a 1-1 halftime tangle into a 3-1 triumph. 

Firelands (10-1-1) went into Monday with an unblemished 6-0-0 mark in September. The Falcons had scored 37 goals over their previous five matches. In Monday's contest, they scored first when senior Jesse Yakunovich planted a 15-yarder in the ninth minute. Rocky River (7-2-1) would stifle the FHS offense the rest of the way.

Eleven minutes later, senior Noah Nagy tallied his fourth goal of the season off a nifty Pirate throw-in followed by a cross. Steph Loizos and Stephen Cain registered assists on the play.

In a first half that witnessed just five total shots (three for RRHS, two for FHS), the Yakunovich and Nagy goals stood as the only efforts to find twine.

Midway through the second half, Rocky River broke the deadlock when Sebastian Maher netted his fifth goal of the season and his third in the Pirates' last three games. Maher would assist on River's final goal, and he has now logged nine points across the team's last three contests.

Maher's netfinder came in the 59th minute. Seven Minutes later, he fed a pass to Loizos who banged home a 20-yarder to extend the Buccaneer lead to 3-1.

In the second half, the Maroon & White outshot their hosts 15-1. The Pirates put 12 of those 15 efforts on frame.

Matthew Swislocki went the route in the River goal. He carded one save in each period.

With the conquest at Firelands, the Lads in Maroon are now 4-0-1 since losing back-to-back matches Aug. 28 and Sept. 2. A stout River defense has allowed just two goals over that stretch.

Next up for Rocky River is the third of three straight games away from home. On Wednesday, the Pirates will travel to North Olmsted for a Cleveland West Conference tilt against the North Olmsted Eagles (7 p.m.).

by Skip Snow

# # # RR # # #