Bay Girls Lacrosse Opens OHSAA Regional Playoffs with 22-9 Win Over Avon Lake

Bay opened Division II Regional Playoff play Monday night with a 22-9 victory over Avon Lake at Bay High School, using balanced scoring and steady play in goal to move on as the No. 1 seed in Region 5.

The Rockets put the game away with depth across the attack, finishing with 11 different goal scorers in the first-round win over the No. 11 seed. Layla Meaux led Bay with four goals and one assist, while Hadley Clark added three goals and three assists. Nolie Piktel scored three times, and Avery Schriner contributed two goals and two assists as Bay kept pressure on the Avon Lake defense throughout the night.

Bay also got multi-point efforts from Jill Tennant, who had two goals and one assist, Gracie Fitchpatrick, who finished with one goal and two assists, and Clare Messmore and Sydney Maybaum, who each scored twice. Emily Cline, Mallory Biondi and Shelby Gillette each added a goal. Clover Pierce, Kate Fitchpatrick and Emerson Yourkvitch each recorded an assist, underscoring how many Rockets were involved in the offensive flow.

That offensive support was matched on the defensive end by goalkeeper Sophia Crimaldi, who made 10 saves. Her work in cage helped Bay manage Avon Lake's possessions and maintain control as the Rockets advanced through four quarters of playoff lacrosse. Bay's ability to generate stops and turn them into transition chances helped fuel the scoring edge.

Bay controlled the rhythm of the game with repeated scoring chances and efficient finishing around the crease. The Rockets' assist totals reflected crisp ball movement, and the variety of scorers made it difficult for Avon Lake to key on any one option.

With the 22-goal output and a first-round playoff win secured, Bay moves forward in the Region 5 bracket after a performance that showed both its seeding and its depth. The Rockets got production throughout the lineup, timely saves from Crimaldi, and a decisive team effort when the postseason began.