COLUMBUS — The stage for any soccer team doesn’t get any bigger than Historic Crew Stadium for the state finals.
Rocky River made it back to Columbus after winning a title 10 years and two days to the date, with its opponent side of Summit Country Day looking for its 500th win as a program and fourth state championship.
With a deflected header going in for a goal with less than two minutes in the first half, Summit Country Day held on for a 1-0 win, ending Rocky River’s perfect season.
“Looking back on the season, it was a phenomenal year,” Rocky River coach Patrick Hopkins said, with Ava Patti, Sophia Sindelar and Mackenzie Russell seated to his right. “It’s something as a coach that you want to spend as much time as you possibly can with your team. I’m proud of these girls because I was with them the entire length of the season. We made it to the last day, which our goal was to win the state championship.
PHOTOS: Rocky River vs. Summit Country Day girls soccer, Nov. 10, 2023
“Every single day we got to be together was worth it. Win or lose, the hardest part of this day is we’re not going to be together tomorrow. Looking at this team and the girls they have here, we maxed out, we were with each other as much as we possibly could and we enjoyed every possible moment.”
The Silver Knights' defense held well in the first half despite continued pressure into their defending third by the Pirates.
The Summit defense was rewarded for its efforts with 1:16 left in the first 40 with a header goal from Zoe Jackson. With Avery Smythe on the corner, she launched it from the far-side corner and Jackson got it through in the scrum.
Rocky River had never trailed in any half all season, making the Silver Knight’s feat all the more impressive with a high-powered offense.
“I think they were the fastest team we’ve played yet and physical,” senior Ava Patti said. “They were able to get a foot on the ball without even touching us and kicking it out of bounds, so they did a good job of slowing us down. Me and Sophia (Sindelar) had a hard time to connect because they were just so suffocating.”
That aforementioned physicality was something Sindelar touched on following the match, giving the Pirates a battle all afternoon.
“I think they were a super physical team that had a lot of talent all-around,” Sindelar said. “Definitely props to them for coming out here and putting on a great performance against us. There’s nothing more to really say.”
For the three senior starters, the Pirates' career appearance leader Mackenzie Russel, Patti, and Maeve Kelly, who was out due to injury, got past their previous highwater mark, providing some solace in a disappointing ending.
“It’s just amazing what we accomplished,” Russell said. “We’re the second team in the program to ever get here. Obviously, it would have been nice to win, but I’m just glad that we made it here in the first place.”
