Balanced attack leads Bay Rockets Boys Lacrosse past West Geauga in season return, 13-5

Bay Rockets Boy’s Lacrosse opened the season in commanding fashion Saturday at 29230 Wolf Rd., rolling to a 13-5 home win over West Geauga behind a fast start and a balanced offensive effort that never allowed the visitors to threaten.

The Rockets set the tone early, scoring “early and often” and taking control from the opening faceoff. Bay never trailed, building a multi-goal cushion in the first half and maintaining it the rest of the way behind steady offensive production and a back line that kept West Geauga from mounting any sustained run. By halftime, the Rockets had the game largely in hand and continued to manage the clock and possessions after the break.

Senior attacker John Messmore powered the offense with a game-high five goals and one assist, consistently finishing opportunities created by the Rockets’ ball movement. Messmore’s scoring helped stake Bay to its early advantage and provided key responses whenever West Geauga tried to close the gap.

Playmaker Grady Joyce was central to the Rockets’ distribution, recording three goals and three assists for a six-point outing. Joyce’s vision and passing helped unlock the West Geauga defense, as he factored into multiple scoring sequences that extended the lead. He combined with Messmore to give Bay a reliable one-two punch on the attack throughout the game.

Rocco Ereditario delivered one of the most complete performances of the day, finishing with three goals and two assists while also controlling possession at the faceoff X. Ereditario went 7-of-8 on faceoffs, repeatedly giving the Rockets extra possessions and limiting West Geauga’s chances to build momentum. His work on draws was a major factor in Bay’s ability to control tempo from start to finish.

Additional scoring depth rounded out the Rockets’ 13-goal output. Zavier Phinney added one goal and one assist, while Grady Frombach chipped in one goal. Beckham Marriott contributed an assist as Bay spread the ball effectively across its offensive unit. Defensively, the Rockets held West Geauga to just five goals, with the back line and goalkeeping group combining to keep the game comfortably out of reach in the second half.

With the decisive 13-5 victory, Bay opens the season on a strong note, showcasing efficient finishing, dominance at the faceoff dot, and a disciplined defensive effort. The performance provides a solid foundation as the Rockets move deeper into their schedule and look to build on the momentum from their return to lacrosse this spring.