Rocky River vs. Copley girls lacrosse: Pirates take care of business in 13-2 rout

Another playoff game, another playoff victory for Rocky River girls lacrosse.

The top-seeded Pirates scored the game’s first 10 goals and didn’t look back in a 13-2 win over No. 8 Copley in a Division II, Region 5 quarterfinals on May 23.

They will get a third straight home postseason game on May 29 against either No. 4 Revere or No. 6 Wooster in the regional semis.

This year’s playoff run started with a 17-5 win over Westlake earlier this week. It was closer than the score indicated as River only led by two (6-4) at halftime before an offensive explosion. Instead of a half, it only took a few minutes in this one for the Pirates to get it going.

“One of the things we did struggle with on Tuesday was coming out fast and coming out ready to go. They said their feet kind of felt like cement,” Rocky River coach Colleen Hile said. “I was happy to see them come out fast today and play their way and their speed. The way that they play when they’re all on fire is really wonderful to watch.”

It’s no secret why the offense looked so good with how Rocky River was sharing the ball. The first five goals were scored by five different players, and seven scored in total.

Grace DeWitt and Alexis Tisler each scored three goals and dished out two assists to pace the squad. Kaitlyn Byrne had two goals and two assists in her own right and Elle Mocho added two more goals.

“The amount of goals that we have that are assisted just shows our teamwork,” Tisler said. “It’s so much harder to beat a team that’s full of good players instead of just one, which is why I think we’re so unstoppable. The connections we have with each other on and off the field are what help us succeed.”

Less than four minutes in, DeWitt got the Pirates on the board with an assist from Byrne. Alexis Tisler fed Addie Tisler for a goal and Alexis scored herself next to extend the lead to three. Byrne also got on the board to make it 4-0 after one quarter.

Reagan Connelly and Byrne scored to increase the lead to six before Alexis Tisler fired in two more goals for the hat trick. Her third goal was her 50th for the season. Mocho scored late in the half off of a pass from DeWitt.

“I think that’s us playing our game and knowing what we want and just going after it,” DeWitt said. “We want to be the lion this season, and coming out hot just showed what we really want.”

The score reached 10-0 early in the third quarter with a goal from Daisy Thompson. Led by a strong outing from goalie Acadia Hover and the defense, the Indians were shut out for the game’s first 29 minutes. Callie Conzaman finally got them on the board with 6:13 remaining in the third.

Mocho responded with her second goal on a sweet behind-the-back shot to make it a 10-goal lead once again. Gabby Smargiasso fired back for Copley, but DeWitt added two more goals in the fourth quarter to also earn a hat trick and her 60th goal for the year.

Making it this deep in the playoffs has become customary for this program.

“It’s so wonderful. Every single day when we come to school after a win, people are always asking when and where we play next,” Hile said. “To be able to play at home is such a gift. You feel at home here, this is where we practice every day. It’s really awesome, I’m going to walk in Friday with a big smile.”

THE SCORE

Rocky River 13, Copley 2