by ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – The undefeated Bay Village Rockets took on their crosstown rivals tonight as they traveled to Rocky River to take on the Pirates. The Pirates handed the Rockets their first loss of the season by a score of 11-7. I spoke with Rocky River head coach Colleen Hile about the intensity of this rivalry game, “It is always intense as they are in our region and our neighbor. It is always something that they look forward too. It feels wonderful to win against a really good Bay Village team.”
The Lady Pirates showed no fear of the unbeaten Rockets with two quick goals by Olivia Konopka and Kaityln Byrne. The Konopka free position goal coming within a few minutes and then Oliva assisted on the Bryne goal a short while later to make it 2-0 with 18:44 to play. It was then that one of the best players in the state, Riley LaVogue of the Rockets made her presence known with a breakaway goal to cut into the lead at 2-1 with 17:57 left in the first. It was the first of 6 goals on the night for LaVogue.
Rocky River took their time with the ball, and kept it out of the hands of the Rockets for long stretches of time. They were patient, choosing their moments and spreading out the ball. Eventually the ball would go back to the Rockets who took a timeout at 10:04 to talk things over. They came out of the timeout aggressive but the Pirates got another big stop.
After a tremendous stop on defense, the Pirates went the length of the field in a matter of seconds. Excellent vision and passing by Reagan Connelly found a cutting Alexis Tisler who connected for the goal. Then, it was Grade Dewitt winning the draw and taking it in unassisted to improve the lead to 4-1 with 5:51 remaining.
The Rockets cut into the lead with 4:13 to go on a free position goal by LaVogue to make it 4-2. Bay Village had a chance to cut into it even more with a free position shot at 1:41, but it sailed north of the net.
The Pirates instantly took advantage with a transition goal from Bryne to extend the lead to 5-2 with 1:03 left. A Tisler goal and then a Connelly goal made it 7-2 in a matter of seconds as the Pirates flurried to end the half up 7-2.
Down 7-2, the Rockets needed a surge to get back in it, and they did so with a goal right off the opening draw from Riley LaVogue, which was her hat trick. LaVogue wasn’t done yet, merely a minute later, she struck again as the lead was cut to 7-4. Two minutes after that, Connelly picked up a yellow card for River which eventually led to a free position shot from LaVogue, that was saved by Acadia Hoover to keep it a three-goal differential.
After the Rockets couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage, they incurred a yellow card themselves on head coach Victoria Budzyn. The Pirates wasted no time making the Rockets pay with a free position goal by Dewitt to bring the advantage back up to 8-4. The Pirates poured it on a minute later with a free position goal by Grace Dewitt. Her hat trick made it 9-4 with 12:32 left to play in the contest.
Coach Hile talks about the big momentum swing in that moment, “Our man down defense has been something we have been working on as it has not always been our strong point, to see them hold strong made my defensive heart so happy because we have been working on it and getting better. I love when the offense can then take care of the rest for us.”
A free position goal by Konopka answered the earlier Rocket goal by Bridget Brown to keep the difference at 5, with the 10-5 Pirate advantage with 4:11 to play. The Pirates hung on for the 11-7 victory.
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