Soccer
Items: 70 |
|
Rockets defused by Locke in state semifinal loss
It was a classic case of so close, and yet so far.
State-ranked Bay had run the tournament gauntlet, winning district and regional titles and advancing all the way to the Division II state semifinal game. The next team standing in the Rockets’ way was Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy.
Oh, and some kid named Ben Locke.
Locke, a sophomore, was a one-man wrecking crew for the Royals. His three goals...
(569 reads) |
|
Frustrating day ends Demons' regional title hopes
Throughout the 2012 Division I soccer tournament, the Westlake boys had played sharp, crisp soccer. The Demons were opportunistic on offense and dominating on defense, having not allowed a goal in four games.
All that came to an end Saturday morning in Sandusky.
Westlake allowed a pair of unlikely goals and could not get through Sylvan Southview’s packed-in defense in a 3-1 loss in the Region 2 championship game at Cedar Point Stadium.
The loss ended Westlake’s season and prevented the program’s second-ever appearance in the state semifinals. It was a game that was played...
(621 reads) |
|
Medina defeats Demons with long-range OT goal
Through 80 minutes of tournament soccer, Westlake had battled state-ranked Medina on even terms in a scoreless draw. In fact, one could argue that the young Demons had given the Bees all they could handle in the second half.
But with one big swing of her right leg, Medina’s Nicole Bennett had her team moving on to the Elite 8.
With time running out in the first overtime period, Bennett launched a perfectly-placed 25-yarder on the move. The ball somehow found the back of the net and gave Medina a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Demons in a Division I regional semifinal Thursday night at Rocky River Stadium.
The win moved the ninth-ranked Bees...
(708 reads) |
|
Demons bedevil Bees, advance to DI regional final
Everybody knows that Halloween is a time for ghosts, goblins and trick or treat.
But Halloween 2012 will always be remembered for also having more than it’s fair share of Demons.
Westlake continued it’s winning ways on the tournament trail, drawing first blood in late in the first half and carving out a 3-0 win over Medina in a boys Division I Region 2 semifinal game at Nordonia’s Boliantz Stadium. Wednesday night’s win sends the Demons into the Elite 8 and Saturday’s regional championship game at Sandusky’s Cedar Point Stadium. There, Westlake will face a Sylvania Southview team that edged out Anthony Wayne...
(673 reads) |
|
CHAMPIONS! Demons stop Mustangs, win district
When Nick Wertman scored midway through the first half, the Westlake boys soccer team was one step closer to reaching a preseason goal.
And when the senior forward scored again with 19:02 left in the game, the Demons were able to cross another goal off their list and begin looking forward to the next one.
Wertman’s two goals were all the Southwestern Conference champions needed as the Westlake defense pitched it’s third-straight tournament shutout in a 2-0 win...
(618 reads) |
|
CHAMPIONS! Bay tops Fairview for district crown
OHSAA Tournament games are unique in that, just like playoffs, the winner moves on and the loser goes home.
At times, these games can test the character and depth of teams. Sometimes, things may not go the desired way and a team will have to overcome the challenges to be able to live another day.
On an extremely windy and brisk fall night at Bay Memorial Stadium, the host Rockets did not play their best soccer according to head coach Bob Dougherty, but were able to defeat the Fairview Warriors, 2-0, to win the school’s 22nd district championship...
(658 reads) |
|
CHAMPIONS! Demons clip Eagles for district title
Baseball may be considered the game of inches, but on Saturday afternoon in the Division I girls soccer district final at Avon, the Westlake Demons won a match of inches.
In a contest featuring several missed opportunities and close calls, Westlake cashed in on a goal from junior midfielder Megan Konrad to post a 1-0 win over its Southwestern Conference rival North Olmsted.
The victory improved the Demons to 11-6-1 on the season and secured their spot in Tuesday night’s Rocky River Division I regional semifinal against Medina. The Bees punched their ticket with a 3-2 win over Copley in overtime. North Olmsted, which defeated top seeded Magnificat to get to the district final, closed out its season with a 5-10-4 mark.
“It’s been quite an up and down season for us,” said Westlake coach Scott Jones. “We have...
(773 reads) |
|
CHAMPIONS! Elinsky's OT goal gives title to River
When opportunity knocked for Rocky River, the Pirates’ Abby Elinsky couldn’t get to the door fast enough.
After surviving a late Holy Name surge in the 79th minute, the Pirates battled the speedy Green Wave to a draw through the first overtime period. But with just 1:49 gone off clock in the second OT, the Pirates’ persistence paid off.
That’s when Elinsky’s header off a Jill Krebs corner kick found the back of the net, sending Rocky River back to the regional tournament with a 3-2 win Thursday night before a large crowd at Rocky River Stadium.
The Pirates not ony avenged a 2-1 regular season loss to Holy Name, but more importantly earned their second-straight Division II District Championship...
(798 reads) |
|
Rockets top Pirates, soar back into district finals
Midway through the second minute, Bay senior Chris Eaton lined up the ball for a free kick just outside the box and to the left of the Rocky River goal.
Pirates head coach Kevin Zerbey had seen similar scenarios unfold several times throughout the season. The fact that this was a district semifinal game made what happened next a little tougher to take.
Eaton sent the ball into the box, and it found it’s way to fellow senior Matt Toth just to the right of center. Toth, unmarked, zipped the ball past River keeper Dominic Liva for a 1-0 Rocket lead with just 1:30 gone off the Memorial Stadium...
(753 reads) |
|
Green Wave washes away Rockets' district hopes
In the first four minutes of the game, Bay came out and put the pressure on visiting Holy Name as part of the still-arriving crowd filed into Memorial Stadium.
By the time those fans had taken their seats, the tide had already begun to turn in favor of the visiting Green Wave.
No. 3 Holy Name scored early in the fifth minute and tacked on two more goals in the first half to stun the No. 2 Rockets, 3-0, in a Division II district semifinal game Monday night. The loss abruptly...
(1025 reads) |
|
Second half comeback gets Pirates past Firelands
When Firelands sophomore Joshua Mallett scored to give his Falcons a 2-1 first-half lead, it seemed another chapter was being written in Rocky River’s season of frustrating losses.
But in the second half, the Pirates’ tale of woe took a big turn for the better.
River scored three unanswered goals in the second half and won it’s fourth straight sectional championship in a 4-3 win over the Falcons Saturday in Division II tournament soccer action at Rocky River Stadium.
The win upper the Pirates’ record to 8-8-1 and sent them into Wednesday night’s district semifinal game at Bay. The top-seeded Rockets advanced Saturday as well, taking out Benedictine, 8-0, in a sectional final at Memorial Stadium.
“At halftime, I told them this was their season,” said Pirates head coach Kevin Zerbey, whose team...
(619 reads) |
|
Blue Streaks start tourney trail with win over Falls
Getting off to a good start in tournament play is a big step for any high school team, regardless of seeding, field conditions or opponent.
Magnificat, the top seed in the Rocky River Division I district field, delt with all of that Thursday night. The Blue Streaks fought off an early challenge from visiting Olmsted Falls and rolled to a 7-1 win in a sectional final at cold and windy Rocky River Stadium.
“I thought tonight the first half was a well-contested game,” said Magnificat head coach John Fenix, whose team outshot the Bulldogs 23-4 on the night.
“They came after us and had a great solo-effort goal. We obviously have the...
(592 reads) |
|
Westlake passes first tournament test, tops Eagles
Last season in the Division I district title game, Avon came to Read Field and stunned a veteran Westlake squad with a 1-0 win over the Demons.
Wednesday night, two of the Demons’ more youthful players made sure history didn’t repeat itself.
Freshman Maya Bauer scored a first-half goal and sophomore Missy Murthy scored in the 58th minute to push Westlake past the visiting Eagles, 2-1, in a Rocky River Division I sectional title game.
The win moved the Southwestern Conference co-champions to 9-6-1 and into next week’s...
(745 reads) |
|
Early goals return the Dover Cup back to Rockets
The Dover Cup, and all the bragging rights that go along with it, once again belongs to the Bay Rockets and the West Shore Conference.
Behind a pair of first half goals from seniors Matt Toth and Ben Tepper, as well as some great work on the defensive side of the ball, Bay was able to take back the Dover Cup from Westlake in the battle of conference champions, 2-1.
The Rockets, who currently wear the WSC crown, improved to 9-4-3 on the season, while the Demons, champions of the Southwestern Conference, fell to 11-3-2. Both teams head into tournament play next week with high expectations.
“We set up the last two games as the conference championship (a 2-0 win over Rocky River) and a must win tonight to win back the cup. That’s what you want going into the playoffs,” said Bay head coach Bobby Dougherty. “Westlake held the cup, and to get it back we had to beat them. We couldn’t tie, or else...
(730 reads) |
|
Bennett goal allows Pirates to sneak past Streaks
Twice in the first half, Rocky River forward Grace Bennett had a breakaway opportunity in the Magnificat backfield. And both times, Blue Streak defender Alyssa Baumbick moved in to successfully stop the threat.
A similar scenario occurred in the 47th minute, but this time with a much different result.
Bennett managed to get a step ahead and went on to score the only goal of the game to give the Pirates a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Blue Streaks in a battle of state-ranked and top-seeded tournament teams.
The Saturday night win, most of which was played in windy and rainy conditions, moved River to 14-2-0 on the season. The Pirates, ranked fourth...
(790 reads) |
|
CHAMPIONS! Rockets blank Pirates, reclaim WSC
The age old adage in sports is that defense wins championships.
On Wednesday night, the Bay girls soccer team showed why that axiom still stands in 2012.
The Rockets, after a two-year absence, reclaimed the West Shore Conference championship trophy by blanking defending champion Rocky River on it’s home turf, 2-0. The second-ranked team in Ohio Division II finished the league season at 7-0, while the fourth-ranked Pirates closed out at 6-1. Combined with the boys team’s 2-0 win over...
(845 reads) |
|
CHAMPIONS! Early goals give Westlake SWC title
Needing a win to lock up the Southwestern Conference championship, Westlake looked to set the tone early against Midpark.
Less than four minutes into the Saturday afternoon contest, the Demons began to do just that. And by the time the 10th minute ticked off the scoreboard clock, Nick Wertman and crew were well on their way to crossing one goal off their list.
Wertman scored four goals in that six-minute stretch, and the Demons went on to bring home a convincing 8-1 win over the Meteors. The win...
(828 reads) |
|
Curri's hat trick allows Rangers to rally past River
With 8:05 left in the first half, Rocky River’s Spencer Klodnick ripped a rebounded ball off a corner kick into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead over Lakewood.
While the Pirates rode that momentum well into the second half, one could sense a shift as the second 40 minutes ticked away at Lakewood Stadium.
The Rangers, behind a three-goal explosion from Mirsad Curri, managed to rally for a 3-2 West Shore Conference win Wednesday night. The victory moved Lakewood to 8-4-1 on the season and ensured the Rangers of finishing with a winning record in their first year of WSC play at 4-2 with one league game remaining.
Rocky River, on the other hand, fell to 5-7-1 on the season in losing it’s seventh game in the last eight. The Pirates also saw their WSC mark even out at 3-3, with their final league encounter coming Oct. 10 at Bay...
(735 reads) |
|
Wertman, Demons take control with win over Bees
With undefeated Brecksville coming to town for one of just two Southwestern Conference games left on the schedule, the task for the Westlake boys soccer team was laid out in simple black and white:
Win, and take the lead in the SWC standings. Lose, and depend on a lot of help from Amherst and Avon Lake.
The Demons, behind a pair of first-half goals from senior Nick Wertman, managed to take the winning route Tuesday night at Read Field. They handed the Bees their first loss of the season, 3-1, to take control of the conference race and move to 5-0-1 in the SWC.
Brecksville, now 11-1-1 overall, dropped to 4-1 in the conference with games remaining against the Comets and Shoremen. Westlake can win the SWC outright Saturday when it faces Midpark...
(906 reads) |
|
Meisenburg's goal propels Rockets past Westlake
In the midst of a scoreless game at Westlake’s Read Field, Bay defender Sam Meisenburg lined up a free kick from just inside 40 yards out. With both the Rockets and Demons taking their positions, the Bay junior made her approach.
Meisenburg, who already had two goals on the season, had just one thing in mind as the ball left her foot:
Score.
Meisenburg’s kick soared through the air, over the Demon defense and past a fully extended Alexis Carpenter for the first...
(890 reads) |
|
Early goal allows Magnificat to sneak past Eagles
There seems to be something about a Magnificat soccer uniform that brings out the best in the North Olmsted squad.
Last year, the Eagles ended the Blue Streaks’ season in the Division I tournament with a 1-0 win in double overtime. Saturday afternoon at North Olmsted Stadium, the Eagles gave the visitors all they could handle, with Magnificat getting out of town with a narrow 1-0 win.
The Blue Streaks, who were coming off their first loss of the season...
(861 reads) |
|
State-ranked Rockets relax, maintain first in WSC
After missing out on a number of scoring opportunities in the first half, Bay head coach Bob Dougherty had a bit of advice for his state-ranked Rockets:
Relax. Kick back. Watch the band.
It worked. After a rousing halftime performance by the Bay High Marching Band, the Rockets returned to the pitch and scored four goals in the second half to take out North Ridgeville, 4-0, in a West Shore Conference game at Memorial Stadium Wednesday night.
“We’ve weathered storms like this before where we’ve watched trying to figure out the puzzle,” Dougherty said. “The discussion we had at halftime was about how our guys...
(761 reads) |
|
Big second half powers Blue Streaks past Blazers
Magnificat head coach John Fenix was less than happy with his team’s first-half performance against visiting Hathaway Brown. But by the end of the contest, he managed to break out into a smile or two.
The state-ranked Blue Streaks, executing the corner kick to near perfection during an eight-minute span in the second half, broke open a close game and rolled to a 6-0 win over the Blazers at chilly Rocky River Stadium Monday night.
With the win, Magnificat boosted it’s record to 8-0-1 on the season, the only blemish...
(790 reads) |
|
Brown's goal keeps Rockets on pace in the WSC
Bay’s Alex Brown knew that her team needed to “get their mojo back,” so she took matters into her own hands.
Scoring at the 35:23 mark of the second half on a perfect pass from teammate Eva Rezek, Brown not only got the Rockets’ mojo back, but helped Bay to a 1-0 win over visiting Avon in West Shore Conference play Wednesday night.
With the win, the Rockets improved to 4-0 in the conference and 8-1-1 on the season. The Eagles, who suffered a 1-0 loss to WSC co-leader Rocky River in their last outing, slipped to 1-2-1 in the league and...
(986 reads) |
|
Thompson's goal allows Demons to salvage 1-1 tie
With just over 73 minutes played, North Olmsted was clinging to a 1-0 lead over arch-rival Westlake.
But the Demons, looking to hold on to first place in the Southwestern Conference, had just enough sense of urgency to make one last run.
With 6:50 left in the game, Dakota Swisher sent the ball to Adam Thompson on the left side. From just inside 25 yards, he launched a shot that found the inside of the far post. That allowed visiting Westlake to salvage a 1-1 tie and remain in the SWC race with two games remaining. North Olmsted, which got a goal...
(828 reads) |
|
Duggan's goal helps keep Blue Streaks unbeaten
After a scoreless first half, it seemed like either Magnificat or visiting Springboro would need some sort of picture-perfect play to coax the ball into the back of the net.
On a picture-perfect weather day in Rocky River, such a goal was delivered off the foot of Blue Streak sophomore Sydney Duggan.
Duggan’s shot from the far left side sailed over Springboro keeper Emily Moreland’s outstretched arms and into the net for the only goal of the game, giving Magnificat the hard-fought 1-0 win. It also allowed the Blue Streaks to remain undefeated on the sason at 6-0.
“What a great goal,” said Magnificat...
(849 reads) |
|
Rocket seniors shine, earn 3-1 win over Midview
With Bay holding a 2-0 lead over Midview and the end of the first half approaching, nobody in the crowd probably realized just how big a play they witnessed with six seconds left on the clock.
It may have been the play that prevented history from repeating itself.
After a foul in the box, the Middies were awarded a penalty kick. A goal from Midview junior Sylvester Messiah would cut the home team’s lead to one and result in a big momentum shift. But Rocket senior Matt Toth, one of 11 seniors...
(836 reads) |
|
Demons break through in second half, top Pirates
With both teams coming off a loss on Saturday, the Rocky River and Westlake boys soccer teams had plenty to play for as the two teams renewed their old Southwestern Conference rivalry Monday night.
With both teams coming into the game tied for first place in their respective conferences, some big-time bragging rights were on the line.
And with 55-plus minutes of scoreless soccer in the books, something had to give.
With the Pirates playing tough defensively, Westlake tried a more direct approach offensively, and it paid off. In the 56th minute...
(1021 reads) |
|
Avon's Eagles get the better of North Olmsted, 2-0
This one was for the birds…literally!
The Eagles of Avon, behind first-half goals from senior Fredrik Troupe and sophomore Daniel Minotti, knocked off the visiting Eagles from North Olmsted in non-conference play, 2-0, Monday night.
It was the first time the two teams have met on the soccer field, according to Avon head coach Chris Dore. He also said beating one of the area’s tradition-rich programs could turn into...
(1071 reads) |
|
Blue Streaks strike early, prevail 2-0 over Demons
In a battle of unbeatens, Magnificat drew first blood in Thursday night’s matchup with Westlake at Rocky River Stadium.
With both teams playing lock-down defense, it was the only goal the Blue Streaks would need.
Junior Natalie Coury took advantage of Anne Ubbing’s hustle play in the seventh minute to score to only goal of the night against the Demons’ staunch defense. The Blue Streaks added a penalty kick goal late in the second half to come away with a 2-0 decision and remain undefeated.
Magnificat, now 4-0, made it two big wins in as many nights. The Streaks earned a hard-fought 3-1 win at North Royalton Wednesday night before facing their longtime Westshore neighborhood rivals...
(994 reads) |
|
Bennett, Pirates strike early in win over Midview
After not scoring in last week’s win against Vermilion, the first couple of minutes against Midview Wednesday night must have been a moment of deja vu for Rocky River\'s Grace Bennett.
In the opening minutes, Bennett stole the ball and found herself one-on-one with Midview keeper Taylor Ceh, who made a great diving save. In the sixth minute, the River tri-captain was fouled in the box, but her penalty kick hit the left post.
Not to worry. Bennett broke her mini scoring drought six minutes later and went on to score a hat trick as the Pirates rolled...
(822 reads) |
|
Westlake blanks Amherst 3-0, wins fourth straight
Westlake boys soccer coach Mike Besu may not have gone as far as to say his team won ugly. But knowing what still lies ahead for the Demons, he is quick to take the win and move on.
Behind goals from senior Nick Wertman and juniors Adam Thompson and Dakota Swisher, Westlake remained perfect on the season, posting a 3-0 victory over visiting Amherst. The Demons improved to 2-0 in Southwestern Conference play and 4-0 overall on the season. But head coach Mike Besu knows...
(928 reads) |
|
Bay stays on a roll, tops Rangers in WSC opener
Bay head coach Jack Griffiths felt his defense would be pretty tough in 2012.
If his team’s offense keeps improving...look out.
The Bay girls scored a pair of goals in the first half and the defense continued its shutout streak as the Rockets beat Lakewood, 3-1, Wednesday night at Lakewood Stadium. Bay moved to 3-1-0 on the season, while the Rangers lost their first game and fell to 1-1-1.
Lakewood’s only goal came late in the 63rd minute when freshman Mallory Shaw...
(882 reads) |
|
A new era begins for River in 6-2 win over Eagles
While most teams had already played a game during the season’s opening week, the Rocky River girls team waited.
And waited.
Impatiently.
The Pirates, coming off the program’s best season ever in 2011, finally got out of the starting gate this past Saturday night. They scored four goals in the first half and fought off a determined rally by host North Olmsted in the second half to come away with a 6-2 win to start off the 2012 campaign. “Being the first game of the season, I’m always...
(973 reads) |
|
Lakewood scores early, holds on against Comets
Lakewood boys soccer coach Andrew Toth was a happy man Wednesday night. His players and their fans were pretty pumped up too.
A win over the defending Southwestern Conference champs will have that effect.
The Rangers, coming off their season-opening 4-0 win over Valley Forge, turned in their second-straight shutout performance with a 2-0 win over Amherst at Lakewood Stadium.
“Whenever you beat an Amherst team, you’re awfully excited because they’re such a strong community with great athletes,” Toth said after the game.
“We always look forward to this game...
(825 reads) |
|
Penalty kick gets young Streaks past Rockets, 1-0
If the age-old adage “defense wins championships” still holds weight these days, the girls soccer teams at Bay and Magnificat can look forward to banner seasons.
It was Opening Night at Bay’s Memorial Stadium as the seasoned and experienced hometown Rockets hosted a very young, but talented band of Blue Streaks. When it was all said and done, one goal - that coming on a first half penalty kick - was all the offense either team could muster.
Forward Alyssa Baumbick, one of three freshmen who started the game for Magnificat, drilled a penalty kick into the back of the net early in the 25th minute to give Magnificat a 1-0 win Tuesday night. The offensive opportunities...
(1077 reads) |
|
"Predictable' Eagles toppled by Tigers in opener
After going through just its third losing season in program history, the North Olmsted boys soccer team was looking to get the 2012 season off on the right foot.
Monday night’s season home opener, however, fell well short of the end result the Eagles had in mind.
Twinsburg, a perennial power on the east side, made its long trip to the Westshore worthwhile with a convincing 5-0- win over North Olmsted. The Tigers scored three goals in the first half in a 10-minute span to take control early in their season opener. “We were very predictable when we had the ball,” said North Olmsted head coach Chris Marsh...
(692 reads) |
|
Goal in final seconds thwarts Rockets in opener
Last season, the Bay boys soccer team went through a frustrating season where goals proved to be a rare commodity.
Saturday night, the Rockets showed signs of breaking that trend with a first-half goal against Chagrin Falls in their 2012 season opener. But it was the Tigers who made the most of their limited scoring opportunities in the second half.
Chagrin Falls tied the game in the 59th minute, then nailed the game-winner with just 23.5 seconds left to edge past the Rockets, 2-1, at Memorial Stadium.
After Chagrin’s defense and keeper Anthony Rizzo fought off a late surge by the Rockets...
(1049 reads) |
|
Pirates in regional final after 6-3 win over Blazers
After 40 minutes of play, Rocky River found itself in a 1-1 battle with defending state soccer runner-up Hathaway Brown.
That fight would not go the distance.
At that point, it was still anybody’s game. But two goals from Abby Elinsky in the first 13:12 of the second half ignited a five-goal, second-half haymaker that gave the Pirates a 6-3 win over the Blazers in a Division II Region 5 semifinal...
(893 reads) |
|
New goals await Pirates as regional play begins
Ever since a 1-0 loss to Westlake in last year’s Division I district title game, Rocky River had one goal in mind as it prepared for the 2011 soccer season:
Win the district championship.
The Pirates reached that goal last Saturday night in a solid 3-1 win over rival Holy Name. It gave them the first girls soccer district championship in school history and put them in the field of 16 teams remaining in Division II.
Needless to say, new goals have been set...
(734 reads) |
|
Avon blanks Demons, earns first DI district crown
There was a time not too long ago when things weren’t going very well for the Avon girls soccer team.
“The wheels were coming off,” said Eagles head coach Tony DiMacchia. “It was midway through the season, and we were dealing with a lot of adversity and a lot of injuries. We weren’t playing well, and we weren’t finishing well.”
All that seemed like ancient history as DiMacchia addressed the media at sun-drenched Reed Field. His Eagles had just finished beating top-seeded Westlake...
(926 reads) |
|
Leitch comes up big as River tops Bay in shootout
After 110 minutes of intense tournament play, some of it played in monsoon-like conditions, it all came down to this.
A shootout.
With both teams battered, bruised and exhausted, Bay and Rocky River prepared for the one-on-one match ups that would decide the winner. At stake: a berth in the Division II district finals Saturday night.
Not to mention big-time bragging rights.
For all intents and purposes, the game was decided on the first of the eight shots taken....
(1131 reads) |
|
Creech's last-second goal in OT lifts Bay past River
With :36.6 seconds left in regulation, Bay thought it had the game-winning goal against longtime rival Rocky River. An offsides call, however, negated a Chris Eaton header and sent the game into overtime.
The Rockets made sure the next time, even though there was little time to spare...
(986 reads) |
|
Bees leave Westlake with 1-0 win and SWC crown
Saturday’s Southwestern Conference championship game was a tough enough assignment for the Westlake girls soccer team.
Brecksville came to Reed Field with an overall record of 10-1-2 and an undefeated SWC mark of 6-0. The Bees were voted the top seed in the upcoming Division I Kent district tournament and had received votes in the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association poll.
Throw in dealing with a stiff wind from the west in the second half, and the task became even tougher for the Demons...
(750 reads) |
|
Heart, defense give Pirates the edge in title game
Last year, the outright West Shore Conference championship eluded Rocky River as the Pirates were forced to share the title with Avon. Three seasons ago, they were part of a three-way tie.
But on a crisp, fall night in Bay Village, there was no longer a need to share.
The Pirates were undisputed WSC champs. Unbeaten. Untied.
6-0....
(767 reads) |
|
CHAMPIONS! River edges Bay to win WSC crown
The battle between Bay and Rocky River for the West Shore Conference girls soccer championship was not for the faint of heart. The action was non-stop, and the intensity was palpable.
In fact, without the sport’s 80-minute time restraint, the two teams might still be going hard at each other today on the Memorial Stadium pitch.
But with the score tied at 2-2 and just 5:28 remaining, Rocky River took advantage of a golden opportunity. That’s when...
(1108 reads) |
|
Last minute goal ends Pirates' unbeaten streak
In sports, mere inches can make all the difference in the final outcome of a game.
Nobody knows that today as well as the Rocky River girls soccer team.
After having what seemed to be the go-ahead goal waved off in the 48th minute, the Pirates saw their undefeated season go by the wayside with 54 seconds...
(933 reads) |
|
Class dismissed: Demons return to field, win big
The Westlake boys soccer team is “starting to get there,” according to its head coach, Mike Besu.
That doesn’t bode well for the Demons’ future opponents, as visiting Midpark found out Wednesday night.
Westlake got on the board early and kept the onslaught going in the second half in a convincing 9-0 win over the Meteors at Reed Field...
(1239 reads) |
|
Soccer: No. 6 Pirates take care of Avon Lake, 5-1
After a weekend full of Homecoming activities and college visits, Rocky River head coach Patrick Hopkins said he had some concerns heading into Monday night’s game at Avon Lake.
Turns out there was no need to worry. His state-ranked Pirates quickly put those concerns to rest.
River, the No. 6 Division II team in Ohio, dominated the first half of play and finished with a strong second half as well...
(1155 reads) |
|
Demon defense helps turn away Magnificat, 3-0
As it turned out, the tone was set in the early moments of Westlake’s battle with arch rival Magnificat.
Late in the first minute of Saturday’s girls soccer matchup, Blue Streak forward Shannon Fulton ripped a shot that was headed for the upper part of the goal. Westlake keeper Alexis Carpenter, however, made a leaping save, deflecting the ball off the crossbar.
That was one of the few scoring opportunities Magnificat would have the entire game...
(1052 reads) |
|
Soccer: Bay's offense fizzles in tie with Midview
Scoring goals has been a challenge so far this season for the Bay boys soccer team.
That problem reappeared Wednesday night in Grafton Township. The Rockets misfired on numerous scoring opportunities in a 1-1 tie with Midview in a West Shore Conference game.
“We did somethings very well, but you still have to finish,” said Bay head coach Bob Dougherty...
(888 reads) |
|
Pirates remain unbeaten with 3-1 win over Avon
One big part of any championship season, in any sport, is finding a way to win games involving your biggest rivals.
Another part of that equation is taking advantage of opportunity when it knocks on the door.
Wednesday night, opportunity knocked and the Rocky River girls soccer team answered. The Pirates took the lead late in the first half and added an insurance goal in the second 40 minutes...
(1046 reads) |
|
Soccer: Bay girls fall to Mustangs in final seconds
Valiant effort. Tough loss.
The Bay girls soccer team took on nationally-ranked Strongsville Monday night and were in the midst of a 0-0 tie with just seconds left. The Mustangs, with 19 ticks left on the clock, scored on a corner kick goal to come away with the hard-fought 1-0 win.
The Rockets, now 3-2-1, were tough defensively the whole night...
(1001 reads) |
|
Konrad, Demons dominate Braves in 8-0 SWC win
The three-goal performance of Megan Konrad would have been good enough Wednesday night.
Westlake’s sophomore forward, however, had plenty of help.
The Demons dominated play from start to finish in a convincing 8-0 win over Berea in a Southwestern Conference girls soccer matchup at Reed Field.
After missing on their first few shots of the game, the Demons began their onslaught...
(1094 reads) |
|
Soccer: Eaton's goal sparks first win for Rockets
When Chris Eaton’s 35-yard free kick sailed into the back of the net, it probably felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off the collective shoulders of the Bay boys soccer team.
In the 338th minute of the season, the Rockets’ scoring drought came to an end.
After a tough 1-0 loss to Cardinal Mooney Saturday night, Bay took out their frustrations on visiting Vermilion Wednesday night...
(929 reads) |
|
Streaks pull away in second half to top Rockets
With Bay struggling so far this season on offense and Magnificat coming off two tough losses in a row, something had to give Thursday night at Rocky River Stadium.
After a 0-0 tie in the first half and 67 total minutes of scoreless play, opportunity knocked for the Blue Streaks. Junior midfielder Alexandra Norton answered the call, and Magnificat’s brief losing streak was history.
(717 reads) |
|
Soccer: Demons get revenge; Leitch gets record
Some lineup changes and a good dose of revenge proved to be a combination that did the trick for the Westlake girls Wednesday night.
Senior forward Lauren Wichman scored a pair of goals in the first half and the Demon defense was staunch as Westlake went to Avon Lake and dominated the Shoregals, 5-0, in high school soccer action.
(948 reads) |
|
Eagles hold on for big 2-1 win over Brecksville
The North Olmsted boys soccer team was put to the test Wednesday night.
Trailing the Eagles 2-1 at the half, visiting Brecksville turned on the heat offensively in an attempt to swing the game in their favor. The young North Olmsted squad, however, proved up to the challenge and held on for the 2-1 win over the defending Southwestern Conference champions.
North Olmsted, now 2-2 on the season, scored first early on. The Eagles, who had just missed a point blank shot off a corner kick in the sixth minute, came back about a minute later...
(757 reads) |
|
Rockets sneak past Jaguars, 1-0, for second win
With the final minute of the first half ticking away, Bay’s Eva Rezek took the ball to her left and fired a crossing shot a few feet off the end line and into the crease.
Teammate Anna Irvine was there, ready for the tap in.
A St. Joseph Academy player, however, beat Irvine to the punch with 41 seconds remaining. Fortunately for the Rockets, the ball got inadvertently knocked into the back of the net for an own goal, allowing Bay to earn a 1-0 win Monday night at Memorial Stadium.
(1004 reads) |
|
Soccer: River girls win; Demon girls fall short
Despite being up 1-0 early in the first half, Rocky River head coach Patrick Hopkins was hoping something would spark his Pirates on to bigger and better things.
Then it happened.
A goal from visiting Olmsted Falls not only tied the game, it ignited a fire under the Pirates. They answered quickly with a pair of goals and maintained the lead the rest of the way in a 3-1 win over the Bulldogs Monday night.
(804 reads) |
|
Hail Mary shot allows Streaks 1-1 tie with Pirates
In American football, a long pass play is called a bomb. If that bomb comes at the end of the game and even comes close to scoring a touchdown, it’s called a Hail Mary pass.
Thursday night at Rocky River, the soccer version of the Hail Mary pass came via the foot of Magnificat’s Natalie Guido.
The senior midfielder’s long-distance goal off a free kick tied the score at 1-1 early in the second half.
(944 reads) |
|
Soccer: Demons blanked by Comets in SWC opener
It was not the type of night Westlake boys head coach Mike Besu envisioned for his team Wednesday night in Amherst.
“It was ugly,” Besu said.
The Demons made key mistakes on defense and allowed three goals in the first 15 minutes of the game as the host Comets rolled, 3-0, in the Southwestern Conference opener for both squads.
(867 reads) |
|
Rockets can't convert in 2-0 loss to St. Edward
In its season home opener last night, the Bay boys soccer team played some pretty solid defense in a scoreless halftime tie with St. Edward.
The offense?
The scoring opportunities for the young Rockets were few and far between.
(629 reads) |
|
Rocket girls settle for 1-1 tie with Shaker Heights
Up 1-0 at halftime, the Bay girls soccer team was pretty much having its way with visiting Shaker Heights.
The second half was even more of the same...except for one small detail in the game’s 42nd minute.
The Tigers’ speedy senior forward, Amber Goin moved from the right side to the left side to start the second half.
(943 reads) |
|
Demons open with narrow win over Brunswick
With senior forward Andy Haders scoring two goals in the game’s first 10 minutes, it looked as if Westlake would have a relatively easy time with visiting Brunswick.
They didn’t.
The Blue Devils made things interesting in the 48th minute with a goal on a penalty kick, but the Demon defense proved solid the rest of the way in a 2-1 decision Monday night at Reed Field.
(1379 reads) |
|
Soccer: Mistakes cost Eagles, Demon girls force tie
It was a rough opening night for the North Olmsted boys soccer team.
The Eagles were outshot 20-5 and made key defensive errors in a 3-0 loss at Twinsburg to open the 2011 season.
“They were the better team, but but we made some mistakes that helped them on all three of their goals,” said Eagles head coach Chris Marsh...
(863 reads) |
|
Berg, Pirate girls find a way against Twinsburg
Some how, some way, the Rocky River girls soccer team was going to find the back of the net and win its season opener against visiting Twinsburg.
Pirates head coach Patrick Hopkins was sure of it. He just wasn’t sure how.
“I knew the more opportunities we created, one would finally get in,” Hopkins said.
(1425 reads) |
|
Tigers edge Rockets in boys season opener, 1-0
In a season opener between perennial soccer powers, Chagrin Falls scored a goal in the 24th minute of the second half to earn a 1-0 win over visiting Bay Saturday night.
The Rockets, who had four freshman see their first varsity action, had their chances but couldn’t capitalize, according to head coach Bob Dougherty.
(587 reads) |
|
Eagles hold on for big win over West Geauga
Who could have blamed Erika Kleinholz for having at least a momentary flashback to North Olmsted’s 2010 season opener?
Last year, Kleinholz and her Eagles soccer team traveled to West Geauga and came back with a tough one-goal loss. But Saturday afternoon, North Olmsted fought off injuries, the heat and a determined West G squad to start off the 2011 campaign with a 3-2 win.
(1043 reads) |
|
Plenty of questions for young Eagles soccer squad
For the first time in a long time, there could be more questions than answers for the North Olmsted boys soccer team as the Eagles prepare for the 2011 season.
Last year, a veteran Eagles squad went 10-4-4 and lost to Westlake on penalty kicks in the Division I district championship game. But with nine players leaving via graduation, head coach Chris Marsh has a rebuilding project underway for the first time in years.
(652 reads) |
|
