Rocky River vs. Bay
What: Division II state semifinal
When: 7 p.m., Nov. 7
Where: Avon, 3075 Stoney Ridge Road.
Records: Rocky River 22-0-0, Bay 19-2-1
What’s next: The winner advances to the Division II state final Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus against the winner of Summit Country Day and Millersburg West Holmes.
What to look for: Two area rivals square off in a rematch from their highly anticipated Oct. 4 regular season match with far more at stake – a guaranteed GLC and Morning Journal-area team’s trip to the state final in Columbus. This is Rocky River’s third state semifinal in four seasons, and the second consecutive trip for Bay. Rocky River has blitzed past everyone this season, and Bay is one of only two teams in Ohio and Indiana that has scored multiple goals in a game against Patrick Hopkins’ side (Avon Lake being the other). At least five players on the pitch are committed as NCAA Division I soccer recruits, with Rocky River having two (Sophia Sindelar, Florida and Makenzie Russell, Dayton) to Bay’s three (Tessa Knapp, Notre Dame, Emery Aschenbrener, Dayton and Lizzie Fetterman, Navy). The Pirates won by five scores after a three-goal second half in the regular season, though Bay has the talent to play with Rocky River. Beth English and the Rockets will need to make major adjustments to the defensive game plan, as Hopkins’ side has several ways to attack, essentially a game of pick your poison and see what happens. Four of the players mentioned above will return in 2024, including the All-American Knapp and the ever-talented Sindelar as the main scoring threats for their respective teams. This match should be closer than the Oct. 4 edition, though Rocky River will be a tough team to beat without the proper adjustments by Bay.
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