Gilmour vs. Rocky River boys soccer: Lancers start strong, but unable to sustain it in 5-2 season-ending loss
Oct. 17—Gilmour looked and sounded the part Oct. 17 prior to its Division II sectional final in the Northeast 3 District against visiting Rocky River.
The Lancers knew, on an awful weather night with a sharp wind blowing east, their smart possession game would have to be at its best to thwart the Pirates. Unfortunately, that aspiration did not come to pass.
Carter Richmond gave his side a dream start with an early strike, but Gilmour had trouble being consistently dangerous in the natural flow of attack en route to a 5-2 loss to River.
PHOTOS: Rocky River-Gilmour boys soccer, Oct. 17, 2022
The Lancers conclude their campaign at 10-5-2.
The hosts were outshot, 14-4, in what was a fair result in favor of the Pirates, who controlled midfield play and operated with width and assertion throughout.
"It just wasn't our night," Gilmour coach Joe Ciuni said. "We've played better, but I'm really proud of these boys. It's the most fun I've had coaching in 15 years. These guys are really into soccer. They coach themselves almost. They talk to each other out on the field.
"I don't know — you can't blame the weather, because both teams were in it and it was rough out there. We could never get it going."
Carter Richmond had given the hosts that 1-0 lead in the sixth minute, doing well near post with a right-footed strike that was a solid workrate goal, his seventh of 2022.
#NHsoccer Trying again here at HT to tweet this ...
Here's Carter Richmond's goal in the 6th for @GALancerAD pic.twitter.com/5pN8l5RzRV
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 17, 2022
But River's midfield intent, ballwinning and shape width was sterling throughout, and it grabbed an equalizer in the 22nd.
Fionn Harte, easy to spot on the pitch with his size and wise move to wear a black knit hat, slotted a lofting header far post off corner kick service wide right. It was the senior's fifth goal of the fall.
Stephen Cain gave the Pirates (6-6-5) the lead to stay on a free kick in the 46th minute.
Stephano Loizos struck in the 57th, and Charlie Russell followed in the 70th to put the result on ice.
"That was, without a doubt, I think the best game we've played all season," River coach Kevin Zerbey said. "We played really well and lost to Bay. We played really well and lost to Westlake. We've had a lot of guys out injured over the course of the season. There's been a lot of chopping and changing different starting lineups. So we've tried to preach to the guys, 'Work together. Stay together.'
"So to go a goal down — earlier in the season, I would have been like, 'I don't know what's going to happen.' These guys fought through, and I am really, really proud of them."
Eli Swirsky contributed a consolation goal in the 76th minute, the team-high 14th goal of the season for the senior striker.
But the result was essentially in hand by then, as River went back west with its season still going.
"That second goal early might have changed things, but we didn't push it through," Ciuni said. "They had very good skills and trapped the ball out of the air, with this wind and everything. They possessed it out of the air really well and kept it at their feet. Their one-touch passing was good.
"I think in the beginning, we were a little too aggressive, with adrenaline and kind of overrunning the ball. But give credit to Rocky River. They played a very good game."
#NHsoccer My postmatch analysis of Gilmour's 5-2 loss to Rocky River pic.twitter.com/bRsnZroNXA
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 18, 2022
