WESTLAKE, Ohio (Aug. 28, 2024) -- The Pirates earned their second straight shutout victory while earning their first win in the newly-formed Cleveland West Conference with a 4-0 triumph at Westlake Wednesday.
The Pirates (3-0, 1-0 CWC), fresh off a 4-0 win at Avon Lake Monday, scored twice in each half, worked their way to a 9-2 edge in corners and put 11 shots on frame to the Demons' three. Senior captain Olivia Byall scored two goals to lead the charge.
Most of the first half was a scoreless exchange, and it was kept so by a quality save by senior goalkeeper Caitlin Rose. The Buccaneers broke thru with a Byall goal, the senior's first of the season, in the 33rd minute. The Double-R would get another late-half netfinder (Addie Russell from Sophia Sindelar), and the Maroon & White went into halftime leading 2-0.
A sharp-on-defense River squad was solid with its positioning, especially so in blocking more-than-a-handful of Westlake (2-2, 0-1) efforts, and the two goals would be one more than what the Pirates needed to stay undefeated on the young season. Lexi Hammermeister, Teagan Hopkins, Piper Tovissi, and Rori Vesy were the business end of the Buccaneer sword protecting the River end. Rose finished with three stops.
In the second half, Rocky River got goals from Byall (from Russell) and Sindelar (from Vesy).
Through three games, the Pirates have outscored opponents 10-1. River will look to up that differential when it returns to action Sept. 4; the Pirates will host CWC foe Valley Forge in a 7 p.m. match at Rocky River Stadium.
by Skip Snow
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