ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Sept. 11, 2024) -- Rocky River edged rival Bay 1-0 in a key Cleveland West Conference match wednesday.
A Stephen Cain goal in the 51st minute was the lone netfinder in the hard-fought Pirates-Rockets duel at Rocky River Stadium. Goalkeeper Matthew Swislocki was kept upright and unbothered for long stretches behind a stalwart performance by the Double-R defense. Swislocki would face just two shots on frame, and he handled both.
The Rocky River (5-2, 2-1 CWC) goal came on a rebound of a 32-yard Steph Loizos direct free kick that could not be corralled by the Bay 'keeper. It marked Cain's second goal of the season and it sealed a second straight shutout for the Maroon & White (2-0 win vs. Valley Forge Sept. 4).
The 1-0 score marked River's first in a regular-season game since Sept. 23 last fall (vs. Lutheran West). The victory marked the Pirates' first over the Rockets since Aug. 30, 2017. Since then, Bay had been 8-0-2 against its War by the Shore neighbors to the east.
Wednesday's contest opened a stretch of three straight home matches for the Buccaneers. Rocky River will continue that stretch Saturday with a 3 p.m. game against Lexington.
by Skip Snow
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