ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (March 21, 2025) -- Rocky River opened its 2025 season Friday, and the Pirates got out of the gate with a bit of flair, prevailing 9-8 in a double-overtime thriller against Revere.
The sports teams representing Revere High School are called the Minutemen. Sixty-four such measurements of time would be needed in Friday's lid-lifter which was rife with no fewer than nine ties and lead changes. The final such mobilization of digits on the Rocky River Stadium scoreboard came one minute-and-one second into a second sudden-death overtime session when junior Emma Yezbak ended things with the Buccaneers' first goal in more-than-21 minutes of clock time. The Yezbak net-finder, filed on the 130th possession of the game, was the Pirates' answer to three straight Revere goals that had brought the visitors back from an 8-5 deficit.
That the contest included game efforts from both sides should surprise no one. River and Revere have now met in four straight season openers. The Pirates have defeated the Minutemen in all four; the last three meetings have been decided by two goals or less.
On Friday, Rocky River (1-0) built a 3-1 lead by the 7:07-mark of the second quarter. Junior Elle Mocho, a second-team all-Region 5 performer a year ago and a team captain this spring, netted two of those three River goals. Mocho would finish with a game-high five goals on the night.
Revere (0-1) was held scoreless in the opening frame but came back with a solid second, and the contest went into halftime with the familiar foes deadlocked 4-4. With draws looming large, the Pirates outscored the Minutemen 4-1 over the first 11 minutes of the third. But again, Revere battled back. The visitors registered a last-minute twine-finder in the third -- closing the gap to 8-6 -- and then outscored the Pirates 2-0 in the fourth. Bentley Huffman scored two of those final three goals for the Minutemen. Huffman and Lola Downing each finished with three goals in the game.
The first overtime session amounted to a scoreless exchange. Yezbak sent everyone home with the game-winner 61 seconds into the second session.
For the game, Rocky River outshot Revere 27-10. Behind the fine play of Yezbak, Grace DeWitt, and Addie Russell, the Double-R controlled 16 of 22 draws. DeWitt, a first-team All-Ohio performer as a junior last year, registered seven draw controls, five ground balls, four caused turnovers and a goal. River was a plus-6 on ground balls (18-12) and a plus-2 in turnovers (20-22).
Addie Tisler logged two goals and an assist. Clara DeWitt chipped in with two assists. Russell registered four ground balls, two caused turnovers, and five draw controls.
CANNON FIRE ...
MEET THE PIRATES: The 2025 Pirates return five starters and 10 lettermen from a squad that went 19-3 a year ago. The 2024 Buccaneers advanced to the DII Region 5 title game before being ousted by the Bay Rockets, who would finish the Buckeye State tournament as runners-up. The 2025 roster includes eight seniors: Grace DeWitt, Mckenna Kelly, Sarah Knox, Rimela Malaj, Bode McDougal, Ella Miller, Marabelle Newman, and Claudia Walsh. Grace DeWitt, Elle Mocho, and Addie Tisler are Rocky River's 2025 captains.
ON DECK: River is lined up for a War by the Shore tussle against Bay on Tuesday. The Pirates will host that game which is slated for a 7 p.m. opening draw. That contest kicks off the team's conference slate: the Pirates will once again compete in the seven-team Northern Ohio Lacrosse League. NOLL members include Avon, Avon Lake, Bay, Brunswick, Olmsted Falls, Rocky River, and Westlake. River went 6-0 in circuit play last spring, earning its second league crown in three years (2022). ... The Pirates and Rockets have battled to a 2-2 split over their last four games. Three of those contests were decided by two goals or less.
by Skip Snow
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